Pop top caravan renovation guide

Your pop top caravan is looking worse for wear. The skirting has holes, the gas struts don’t work and the interior feels dirty and drab. You want to fix it up but you don’t even know where to start.

Not to worry! A pop-top caravan renovation is fairly straightforward and painless if you follow the right advice.

Use this pop-top caravan renovation guide to plan your upcoming project. It will help you to:

• Replace parts on your pop-top caravan

• Style your pop-top caravan's interior

• Add additional features to your pop-top caravan.

You’ll also find pictures and links to 18 of the best pop-top caravan renovations on Camplify.

Plus, you’ll discover how to make a return on your investment and create a passive income stream by hiring out your caravan on Camplify!

What is a pop-top caravan?

Stan the Starcraft - one of the best pop-top caravan renovations on Camplify

A pop-top caravan is a tow vehicle that has a pop-up canvas or vinyl roof. The roof can be lowered whilst travelling and raised once you arrive at camp. This means the caravan is aerodynamic on the road but provides plenty of headroom when set up. It also means that the caravan is easier to store in a garage or shed.

A pop top is the best caravan to buy if you want an option that is easy to store without compromising interior living space.

Pop-top caravan renovation guide

Replace the pop-top vinyl or canvas skirting

Pop-top skirting is the vinyl or canvas material that expands and collapses when lowering or raising the roof of your caravan.

If your caravan is an older model and still has its original skirting, it may be worn, faded or torn from years of usage and UV damage. This allows bugs, rainwater and cold air to leak inside.

Replacing the skirting on your pop-top caravan renovation is not as daunting as it may seem. Most of the time, the skirting is simply attached via buttons. However, in older models, the skirting may be nailed to the frame, in which case you simply need to remove the old nail and hammer in a new one.

White and beige pop-tops allow more light into your caravan, making it feel airier and more spacious. On the other hand, darker colours help to block out the sunlight if you prefer a cooler environment.

This will likely be the most expensive part of your caravan renovation, with pop-top skirting generally costing more than $1,000 in New Zealand.

Whilst you’re at it, also check whether your external caravan awning needs replacing. This is a good time to do it.

Pop-top caravan renovation example: Cozy Pop Top Camper (Dairy Flat, New Zealand)

Replace the pop-top caravan struts

If the pop-top on your caravan is stiff or difficult to lift, you should replace the gas struts that assist in raising the roof. In some older model pop-top caravans, you may not have gas struts at all, in which case installing a set would make setting up camp easier.

The gas struts on a pop-top caravan are easy to replace. On most models, you can simply remove the old struts by snapping them off the ball stud. Then simply snap the new struts on and you’re good to go.

If you want to order new gas struts online, check out The Gas Strut Guys. Based in Australia, this provider has a massive range of gas struts for pop-top caravans and they offer fast and affordable shipping to New Zealand.

Pop-top caravan renovation example: Stan the Starcraft (Tauranga, New Zealand)

Choose a colour scheme

What kind of colour scheme already exists inside your pop-top caravan? You may notice that the original manufacturer chose a few different colours to help divide the interior into distinct sections: cooking, dining and sleeping.

When deciding on a colour scheme for your pop-top caravan, you can make life easy by using similar colours to what already exists. Otherwise, you can start afresh and choose a unique new scheme.

You’re going to need to choose a colour for each part of your pop-top caravan renovation:

• The walls and cupboards

• The fittings (door handles, knobs, towel racks, etc.)

• The upholstery

• The curtains

• The benchtops.

Painting the walls and cupboards white will make your pop-top caravan feel larger than it actually is. Much like new skirting, it will freshen your interior to modern and airy.

Pop-top caravan renovation example: Camp Penguin (Australia)

Replace the flooring

It’s common for the flooring in old pop-top caravans to be dirty, worn and unsightly. In most cases, the flooring is beyond salvation and needs to be totally replaced.

Think about which type of flooring you want in your caravan: timber, carpet and/or vinyl? Timber is a durable option that is easy to clean. Carpet is more comfortable but it is difficult to clean. And vinyl is an easy and lightweight option but it may not be as durable as timber.

Also, consider whether you want to use one type of flooring throughout the whole pop-top caravan? Or would you rather mix and match, such as timber in the kitchen and carpet in the bedroom? This is a personal choice. Whilst it can be more visually appealing to use one type of flooring throughout, having different types of flooring can help to separate living and sleeping areas.

Pop-top caravan renovation example: Stan the Starcraft (Tauranga, New Zealand)

Replace benchtops and fittings

Replace your benchtops and fittings (like drawers and cupboards) if they are damaged or falling apart. Otherwise, if they’re holding up ok, they may just need a simple facelift.

If your benchtops and fittings are made of timber, you’re in luck. It should be fairly easy to sand, prepare and paint timber parts so that your interior looks like new.

However, if your benchtops or fittings are made of synthetic material, you likely can’t sand them back. In this case, you are better off trying to cover old surfaces with a vinyl wrap.

Whilst you’re at it, you may also want to repaint or replace the fittings (e.g. knobs and handles) around your caravan so that they’re sparkly and new.

Benchtops and fittings draw a lot of attention from the eye, so they should look clean and blend into the interior colour scheme.

Pop-top caravan renovation example: Blissful Rental (Tasman Region, New Zealand)

Replace curtains and blinds

Chances are that your pop-top caravan still has its original curtains and pelmets. After years of collecting dust and being exposed to the sun, they’re probably looking thin and tattered? Update your interior and invest in a new set of short curtains or roller blinds.

Roller blinds are an easy option because they come in different widths and can be raised or lowered to let in your desired amount of sunlight. They are also easy to clean with a vacuum or steamer.

Curtains are charming but it can be difficult to find the right length for your model of pop-top caravan. If you can’t find a suitable length for your renovation, you may need to cut and sew a full-length pair to be shorter.

Chances are that you can use the existing curtain rail, meaning that the curtains can simply be hooked on to runners. Blinds can take a little longer to install and may need to be screwed in.

Pop-top caravan renovation example: Blissful Rental (Tasman Region, New Zealand)

Add additional storage

You can never have too much storage in a caravan. Whilst you’ve probably already got a heap of room in your cupboards and drawers, here are some simple storage solutions you can add to make your pop-top renovation more functional:

• Hang old crates or baskets on the wall

• Hang pocket storage next to your bed

• Hang a fruit hammock from your kitchen cupboard.

Pop-top caravan renovation example: Sunny the Van (Australia)

Add lighting and accessories

Put the finishing touches on your pop-top caravan renovation and give it some character. Simple decorations like fairy lights and plants can breathe life into your van and make it feel more homely.

More advanced accessories like televisions will need to be thought out in terms of placement and power usage.

Pop-top caravan renovation example: Glamp Van (Australia)

15 of the best pop-top caravan renovations from Australia

Want more ideas for your pop-top caravan renovation in New Zealand? Why not borrow from our friends over at Camplify Australia!

Many of the pop-top caravan models are the same in both countries, so you can easily knick a few of the following renovation ideas. Just click the link for more photos and information.

1. Mr Moustache

2. Beach Shack

3. Kim’s Jayco Lark

4. Cosy Retro Caravan

5. Unhinged

6. Gidget the Glamper

7. Little House

8. Retro Pop Top

9. Coral

10. Camp Hawk

11. Frankie

12. Modern Retro

13. Little Gem

14. Poppy

15. Betty

Earn a return on your pop-top caravan renovation

There’s a quick and easy way to start earning a return on the money you invested in your pop-top renovation - when your caravan’s not in use, rent it out on Camplify!

There’s currently a lot of demand for pop-top caravans on Camplify New Zealand, so now is your opportunity to get ahead of the growing market. Join today and start working towards your first five-star review!

Why Camplify?

Each year, heaps of Kiwis earn up to $10,000 by hiring out their caravan through Camplify. It provides a quick and easy way to generate long-term passive income and earn a return on their investment.

And the best part is, Camplify takes care of many of the expenses involved in hiring out your vehicle, including:

• Comprehensive hire insurance.

• 24/7 AA nationwide breakdown cover for hirers.

• Dedicated customer support.

If you’re interested in joining Camplify as an owner, try our earnings calculator and see how much income you could generate each year by renting out your unused caravan!