Truck Camper Remodel
Arctic Fox 990 with dry bath.
We finished the remodel on the 2002 Arctic Fox 990, just in time for the big COVID-19 pandemic and stock market drop. Ugh! About halfway through the remodel, we decided to sell this cute camper because we found one locally that’s a little bigger and newer. I have a feeling that the dinette in our newer Lance with be replaced with a couch because I LOVE how roomy the couch is and how much more storage you seem to get with it. Added bonus: Minnie loves cuddling with us on the couch too and she has a great view when we have to leave her inside.
Anyway, read on to see how it turned out!!
We used Glidden Gripper primer and then painted the interior with high-quality Sherwin Williams paints: White walls (untinted satin “extra white” enamel latex) and Serious Gray for the cabinets and steps (basically any visible surface that was brown went to gray).
We put in a self-stick faux tile backsplash and it turned out so nice! You can find it here: Art3d Peel and Stick Wall Tile.
Curtains are from WalMart. You can get them here: Eclipse Samara Blackout Energy-Efficient Thermal Curtain Panel. They are used to cover the rear window and the door to block heat (or cold) and light. We also put Reflectix in the windows under the pleated shades if it’s hot or if we want to sleep in a little bit in the morning…as if Minnie would allow THAT!
Kitchen 
View from the bed 
Pull out pantry 
All clean outside too! 
Fridge and another pantry 
New backsplash too! 
I love this floor!
We took out the faded blue carpet and installed new Traffic Master Grey Distressed vinyl plank flooring from Home Depot. It’s so much easier to care for when you’re out with dogs. Just sweep and go! No vacuuming required!
The couch is a futon. You can buy it on Amazon here: DHP Emily Futon or at Walmart here: DHP Emily Futon. We didn’t install the legs, removed all the unnecessary hardware from the base, and used some odds and ends from Home Depot and WalMart to install it so it would slide out to be used as a bed or lounger and not move otherwise. We used some plastic cutting boards from WalMart and this bullnose tile edging trim from Home Depot to use as our slide guides and it works perfectly!
I really love the clean lines from removing the valances above the pleated shades and we were able to add a great shelf behind the couch. The walls are ready for decoration!
As a couch 
As a bed 
Split lounge 
Split lounge
We removed the bathroom door and enlarged the opening. We are both tall and broad-shouldered. We could hardly use the bathroom at all. Removing the wall next to the toilet and installing a “flexible” door system (panels from Ikea) made this room much more functional and less claustrophobic. Let’s face it, there’s no privacy in a truck camper no matter what. The solid sliding door did nothing to reduce noises or smells and the panels don’t either. We usually use the time that the other is using the “facilities” to take Minnie for a walk. If you’re looking at truck campers (or any RV), then you’re probably pretty comfortable with your travel companion.
Tiny bath 
Includes toilet paper! 
Lots of bath storage 
I made a padded headboard using one of the WalMart curtains, a piece of plywood and some padding. It was nailed in place and covers the window. We blocked the window because it was either really hot or really cold and too much light. We covered the glass with vinyl on the inside and out to help block the light and protect the glass. It was super-easy to apply and looks great. We bought this one from Amazon: VViViD XPO Matte Gun Metal 5ft x 1ft Vinyl Wrap Roll with Air Release Technology
Our mattress also came from Amazon. It came wrapped in heavy plastic and stuffed in a tiny box. Wrangling it around was interesting. Somehow I ended up on the wrong end and had to scoot out underneath! It’s really comfortable and I ALMOST switched it for the one in our new Lance. You can get one just like it here: Best Price Mattress. I imagine I’ll be ordering a new one soon too!
The bedding is from WalMart. Hey, there seems to be a theme here! We live in a small town with limited options. My hubby would say that Amazon and WalMart are my best friends. Ha!
I need a new project now. Who knows what we’ll do next! Hopefully there will be a TRAVEL adventure soon. Fingers crossed that the COVID-19 crisis ends soon and we can hit the road and somebody can take this beautifully remodeled camper out too!
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I love this! What do you do to organize the Black Hole cupboards by bed???
Thank you! We put wire shelving in all of the upright “bedroom” cabinets. We stored sheets, blankets and coats in space bags and put them in the front cabinets. We keep most of our clothes in packing cubes in the cabinet at the foot of the bed on the passenger side. We like the packing cubes that we have: eBags Packing Cubes. Electronics, like our satellite receiver and DVDs, and extra kitchen items go on the driver’s side foot of the bed cabinet. A 3-qt Instant Pot fit in there perfectly! We put shoes and other gear in the lockers and organized them with plastic tubs or dishpans. Here is a pic of the cabinet at the foot of the passenger side:
And here is a picture of the cabinet at the head of the bed:
Thank you!!
So you bring your own satellite dish? I’ve never used the dish on our rooftop.
Alsp, since you removed the balanced (which I love!) What did you do to hide blind hardware? (Forgive me if I missed that in the article)
Absolutely love what you’ve done!
There is a dish mounted on top. We hardly ever used it.
We screwed the blinds onto 2×2 lumber painted the same as the cabinets and screwed the boards to the wall. Then I sewed strips of fabric leftover from the curtains and used velcro to attach it to the wood.
Also, without the dinette, what do you use as a table?
Doing the futon for sure!
We’d planned to use a Lagun mount for a table and we did add bracing for it inside the cabinet, but we never installed one. We used the storage area under the futon to carry a couple of folding tables (the camp chairs fit perfectly behind the futon) and we almost always ate outside or just balanced a plate on our laps (while Minnie drooled nearby). We had a couple of folding cup holders on the wall before we completed the remodel, which held coffee cups or water bottles.
This is great! We are looking into getting a lite camper for our family of 4+ a fur baby. We have 2 young boys who will obviously grow into teens so all the lite campers seem to small for the future of our fam. I love how you converted the dinette area. Would you think it would sleep a 6 and 9 year old boys comfortably for a few years? We figure once they’re older they could just sleep in a tent. I’m also curious about the painting process for all the cabinetry. How intense is that? Did you sand and prime and also, how is it holding up? Any peeling? If you have any step by step instructions on some of this I’d be super interested in reading all about it. Maybe you could make a biz out of customizing campers for people. Super cool. Thanks.
When the futon is flat it’s only 43″ wide (and only about 6 feet long), so it’s just 4″ wider than a twin bed. Maybe you could find one with a bunk bed? We bought Lance 1050S and it came with a bunk setup (which I removed almost immediately because we will NEVER use it). The Lance is larger, lighter and newer than the camper we remodeled. We spent four weeks cruising around Montana, Wyoming and Idaho in the Lance this summer. I definitely would not want to do that with 2 more humans. We had rain and cold and sun and excessive heat, often in the same day. It’s cramped even with a dinette slide if you’re unable to be outdoors. There are companies that have truck campers (with the truck) for rent. I’d suggest maybe trying a rental for a weekend before you invest in your own.
Since we sold this Arctic Fox camper, we don’t know how the paint is holding up. We did use high quality paint from Sherwin Williams. Before painting everything we used a liquid deglosser and/or sanded before priming. We removed the cabinet doors and painted them in the garage but everything else had to be painted in place. It was winter and pretty grueling work. We’d have to have a big indoor heated shop to do it again. I wouldn’t be opposed to working on a classic travel trailer some day but I wouldn’t want to make a business out of it.
Can you provide more info on how you installed the futon? Super interested in that! More info on how to make it slide… etc would be great!
I took NO photos of this process for some reason. Since we sold the camper, I can only attempt to explain.
We tried to find affordable drawer slides or something, but couldn’t find anything pre-made that looked like it would work. We ended up using a combination of 3/8″ tile bullnose edging trim and poly cutting board cut into 2″ wide strips. We screwed plywood down to the cabinet frames (we put 2×2 lumber, using L-brackets, between the cabinets under the futon for added strength). Then we attached the edging trim onto the plywood base and on the futon with the poly cutting board strips as shims. The futon could then only slide forward and backward but not lift up or shift side-to-side, as the edging was locked into place with the cutting board strips. We put a couple of stops at the back to prevent the futon from sliding too far back and a couple of screws in the futon frame to keep it from sliding too far out. We added handles under the front to pull the futon out (they’re barely visible in some pictures) and some straps to the back to pull the back forward to click the seats into position. I’m sorry if that’s as clear as mud. Here’s an illustration:
Absolute genius. Been trying figure out what to do for sofa. And save our storage after taking out booth. Glad i came across your job,
Could i get some info on your panel curtains for the Bathroom, they look interesting.
Thank you
The panels and track are from Ikea. You can find the panels here: FÖNSTERVIVA Panel curtain