Demo day! For some people this is their favorite part! This means that you have located your project camper, and decided it was the one to work on! Now it is time to get to work. But first- demolition!

Here are three important things to remember during demolition.

1. Have a plan for your layout

Before you start demo it is important to have a good idea of what direction you are going with the layout. This will help you know what needs to come out and what needs to remain.

There have been times when my plan is to remove the gross stuff and move in the new and pretty things and once I start demo I find more than I wanted and end up taking out waaay more! If something is not right – like a water issue on the floor or weak frames on the bunk beds, etc- now is the time to take it out so that it can be improved in the rebuild.

Having a plan for the layout will make the messy process of demolition a little more structured and less chaotic. Break it into sections and tackle one area at a time. Eventually it will get done and the most rewarding parts can begin!

2. Safety first

Demolition of a vintage camper can be dangerous. There could be rusty metal, lead paint, asbestos, mildew, gas lines, electrical wires, broken glass, spiders (eek!), and who knows what else. Wear some heavy duty gloves and a mask when tearing the old yucky stuff out of the camper.

Sometimes the campers do not come apart that easily and you have to use tools to cut them out. Eye protection is also a good idea, but I will be honest- I don’t usually wear those unless I am using power tools.

It is good to work in pairs during demo because there are often heavy things that need to come out and also because it can be dangerous and having two people there is good practice.

3. Look for things than can be salvaged

You know that saying that someone’s trash is another person’s treasure? Well, that is definitely true when it comes to vintage campers. Did you know that the wings on a shasta camper can sell for $800? Just for the wings! Did you know that the stove, oven, and fridge on an old airstreams are in high demand to a niche market?

Original things to the camper need to be removed carefully (if they must be removed at all). I like to try and preserve a few things original to the camper when possible even if that means removing it and then adding it back during the remodel. This adds a special touch to a flipped camper. Something old and something new.

Some things are simply junk, but if in doubt look into a resale price before removing and disposing of things from the camper. You could sell these things to someone and help them with their project.

When I am doing demo I can’t help but think of the history of the camper and all the years that these things were in there. Rather than looking at it as destroying a vintage camper I like to think of it as bringing an old camper back to life with a new look- like a camper facelift 🙂

Demo can be gross and can seem neverending, but once it is done then the rebuilding can begin! I have a love/hate relationship with demo. I do enjoy demolition, but by the end I am so over it!

Happy demo day!!

Until next time,