I have had a lot of questions over the years about my camper projects. I thought the best way to answer the most common questions may be to break the topics down into a series of about 10 or so posts touching on each one.

Let’s start at the beginning- how to find a good camper project.

So, you have seen the picture perfect photos of vintage campers and think it may be fun to try it yourself. You are right! It can be fun and it is rewarding-but only if you find the right camper to work on!

Here are my top 4 ways to find a camper project. In my next post I will talk about things to look for before purchasing a camper to work on. Today I just want to touch on how to find a camper project.

1. Facebook Marketplace

I have found several vintage campers on Facebook marketplace. Sometimes you can get lucky and even find the perfect camper project in your own town! If not, you can expand your search radius and I bet you will find something within 50 miles. Often times the people have had their camper online for a while and are willing to accept a reasonable offer, too.

I have found several campers that are for sale because the person wanted to do a project themselves, but just never had time and are just trying to break even. There is also not a high demand for a vintage camper project so they probably have not received a lot of serious buyers. Know what you want and keep an eye out on Facebook marketplace because the listings are always changing and when the right one comes along you will be ready!

2. Word of Mouth

You will be surprised how well this works! When people hear that you are looking for a camper project word gets around and you will start to hear of random campers that people are hoping to sell. Sometimes this is the best way to find a camper because the seller may not want to deal with posting it online and the people inquiring about it and would rather sell directly to a friend of a friend. I have found a few campers this way and they were gems!

3. Drive Around

This is probably my favorite way of finding a camper! The hunt is so fun! I love driving around with my eyes wide open looking for a camper! If we are on a trip to a ballgame and I am looking for a new camper projects I will take the back roads whenever possible and look around for campers in the front of homes with for sale signs.

I will even look for campers on the property that look like they may not be used but would be a good project! I keep a few bill of sales in my glovebox just incase I drive up on the perfect one. I keep a 2 inch ball hitch on the back of my van incase a camper needs to follow me home 😉

I have found a few campers this way and they were so fun to work on! This way of finding a camper is one that you can often get the best deals on because the sellers are not getting much attention on their camper just sitting in the front yard with a sign. My kids would even help me scout for campers on our little road trips!

4. Good ol’ Craigslist

Remember Craigslist!? This is how I found all my campers before Facebook Marketplace. It is still around and some people do not use social media and they exclusively use Craigslist to sell things. Since not as many people use CL anymore, the campers that you do find here are likely ones up for a good deal since demand for a project camper is usually low. When they are pretty and finished the demand is high again, but few are up for the work required to get there.

So, here are my top 4 ways to find a camper project. Now not every vintage camper project is one that you will want to buy, but this is where I always start looking. I will talk next about things to look for when you are considering a camper for a project. Every step is important, but searching and selecting the right camper to work on for several months are two of the most important steps in a successful project!

Good luck and happy hunting!!

Until next time,