When a 28-year-old father’s family trips to Spain were canceled twice, he was undeterred in making sure they at least had a staycation. Transforming an old, run-down caravan for just 2,000 pounds (approx. US$2,600) into a stylish space, his family are now enjoying their time outdoors.
Daniell, who lives in Doncaster, England, received the old caravan from a family member for free during the first lockdown. The painter and decorator knew that getting the job done professionally would cost at least 4,000 pounds (approx. US$5,200), thus he kitted out the dream space on a budget, using eBay finds and revamping it all by himself.
Although his partner was unaware of how he'd transform the space, Daniell was confident and had everything planned. He first completely stripped the rear-end interior and left the top half of the front end in place.
Then he enlisted help from his electrician friend to strip out the electrics, after which he removed the plumbing on his own.
Starting from the front and working through to the back, the project was a time-consuming affair. However, the DIY enthusiast continued to work on the project.
The family’s new getaway is designed to be ideal for their needs. Ever practical, Daniell made the most of every inch of space by converting the two-berth into a four-berth.
“We fixed the double bed, got the measurements for a UK small double mattress, and built the base out of CLS timbers and 9mm plasterboard,” Daniell said.
He handcrafted bunk beds with a frame made from CLS timbers and plasterboard whilst the mattresses were made from the repurposed foam of the sofa, with old fabrics that were taken off, cleaned, and cut to the size of a single bed.
The tired, unloved caravan also had damp patches where the old shower used to be, thus Daniell stripped all that out, treated the walls, and stuck on vinyl floor tiles, finishing them with yacht varnish.
“I applied three coats of yacht varnish to seal them from the water, silicone all around, and installed a new waste pipe and water feed,“ Daniell said. ”I also installed a new water diagram pump to feed the water from the onboard tank.”
A hot-water shower, a caravan shower tray, and a small plastic caravan sink were all bought from eBay.
For the flooring, Daniell purchased a cheap lino from a local flooring shop and placed it throughout the caravan.
After a thorough scrub, the existing fridge was made good as new, but the kitchen area needed more attention. Ingeniously, Daniell used wardrobe end panels for the worktops and shelf—a cheap alternative to standard worktops—which he purchased from B&Q.
Additionally, he also fitted a new battery, sockets, LED lighting, and a small electric hob from eBay.
On completion of the project, Daniell was ecstatic with the result as the entire space was bright and cheerful; a far cry from the drab interior of the old.
Daniell estimated that, by taking on the project himself, he saved the family at least 2,000 pounds, not to mention the costs associated with traveling abroad. The young family now relishes going on caravan trips in the warmer months, spending time on long weekends to unwind. The kids are also overjoyed as they have the freedom and space to roam around freely and make new friends.
For those interested in transforming a caravan, Daniell offers a piece of advice, saying: “Do your research, think about what you actually want from the caravan, and use that as your starting point.”
