Exploring RV Customization Ideas: From Simple Touches to Major Upgrades

Lippert Scouts and retired Air Force veterans Bob and Grace Bouchard, known as 2Veterans.OnTheMove, embarked on their full-time RV journey post-military service. Since 2019, they've explored the country with their faithful canine companion, Bailey. Through their travels, they’ve found passion in sharing their experiences to inspire others, and in this post, they’ll offer valuable insights into RV customization ideas — from simple upgrades to full-scale transformations that make any RV feel like home.  

By Grace & Bob Bouchard of 2Veterans.OnTheMove 

When people think of customizing an RV, they may assume it involves a large-scale, costly renovation. The reality is that RV upgrades can range from simple decoration accents that bring a space to life to major installations, like suspension upgrades.  
  
We have toured a variety of RVs owned by full-time, part-time, and weekend travelers, and it is always fun to see all the different personalized touches they have done because it has shown us that it is more about tailoring things to fit your family. At the root of customization is doing what personally works best for your family’s needs, how you travel in your RV, individual styles, and overall budget.  
  
Similar to other aspects of RV life, we recommend approaching RV customization in phases. We prefer to be familiar with our capabilities and how the space will function for us day-to-day before deciding if we need or want to make changes. We also understand that sometimes only a few minor adjustments are needed to really make a big difference. 

Just like any other home, making small changes can help bring color and life to a space. Specifically, when you’re talking about small spaces like an RV, it doesn’t always take much to make a big impact. Making minor additions or changes can also allow you time to figure out what works best for you or what is truly needed in an area while minimizing how much you are spending over time. 
 
One of the first areas where we did this in our RV was the bathroom, as we knew there wasn’t much needed to brighten up the room. We added peel-and-stick wallpaper and found a sheer curtain with floral features to hang in front of the shower door to give it a residential feel. Both were simple and low-cost updates that added a bit of color to the space, as well as some privacy for the shower, and it immediately transformed the overall mood of the room.  
  
Customization isn’t simply about adding wallpaper for a pop of color, though. It can also be about improving security, and one of the easiest ways to do that is by swapping out the standard keyed RV lock with a keyless RV lock. The installation for many aftermarket keyless RV locks is simple, and most don’t require any cutting on your RV door! It’s a quick way to upgrade your RV travel safety while also simplifying your adventures with the ease of locking and unlocking your RV door with the push of a button.   

Depending on how much time you spend traveling in your RV, you may decide you want to personalize beyond more than simple features. 

When you spend more time traveling with your RV, you are bound to discover that not all days will bring perfect adventure weather. Your travels may find you on some cold, rainy, or even extremely hot days where being outside by the campfire isn’t necessarily the ideal option. We have learned from experience that making the additional effort to personalize our inside living space has made all the difference on days we may need to spend inside the RV.  
  
Two changes that took a little more time and money but made the biggest impact were adding curtains and replacing our RV furniture. We knew switching over to residential furniture would not only fit our style and comfort level, but it has also provided us with more options for sitting together as a family, which is key for our travels. Additionally, by replacing our dinette chairs with benches, it cleared the space underneath the dinette table. It’s now a space for our dog, Bailey, and also serves as additional storage with compartments in each bench. 

For the curtains, we removed the window boxes, added curtain rods, and custom-hemmed curtains to match up with our uniquely sized RV windows. Doing this significantly brightened up our inside living space with natural light and removed the feeling of being in an RV, even on a hot day when the shades are kept down to minimize heat. 

Adjustments can also include installing components, such as additional batteries that can provide both comfort and functionality. Will a few extra batteries allow you to operate your RV the same as you would if you were connected at a full-hookup RV site? No. However, adding to your battery power bank can provide you with enough power that you may not always need to find an RV park to stop at for a quick overnight stay. The comfort of knowing you have that flexibility can help expand how you approach your travel routes.  

Custom RV ideas are not limited to the interior of your RV. With over five and a half years of traveling, safety on travel days has always been a priority for us.   
 
A few ways to increase safety would be by upgrading your braking system or installing a new hitch to improve your towing capabilities. We also know what it’s like to come across rough roads that can cause costly repairs, so safety and protecting the investment in our home-on-wheels by improving our RV suspension have always been high on our list. 

This past summer, we had the opportunity to upgrade to the new CURT Touring coil suspension, and it has hands-down been a game-changer for our RV journey. 

CURT’s TCS is engineered with a rigid, connected axle, making it perfect for heavy 5th wheels. The track bar design stabilizes the axles and suspension and reduces chassis movement during extreme turn situations. Additionally, the advanced coil technology helps reduce shock to the frame by 50%, extending the life of our RV and reducing service and warranty needs.  
  
We have traveled over 2,000 miles on a variety of routes with the CURT Touring coil suspension and can truly say it delivers a smoother ride! We have also driven over some of the same rough highway roads we experienced with our leaf spring suspension, and the improved ride quality with the TCS is undeniable!  

From simple things, like everything inside the RV staying in place, to more notable benefits like reduced fluctuations in tire pressure during travel and minimized jarring or chucking while towing over rough roads and bridge transitions, every detail contributes to a smoother journey.

Not only is this upgrade helping extend the life of our RV, but it has drastically enhanced our overall driving comfort during travel days for the entire family.   

Whether you are a full-time, part-time, or weekend traveler, it is amazing to see the unique changes families can integrate to suit their RV travels and family needs. From simply adding throw pillows or an area rug to converting the garage of a toy hauler into a master bedroom or enhancing your towing experience by upgrading your suspension, there are countless ways to make your RV feel more like home. 
 
If we have learned anything along this journey, it’s that things aren’t one-size-fits-all. It’s important to keep in mind that everyone has different abilities, finances, and access to equipment, so customizing your RV is not always going to look the same as the RV in the next site over.  
  
It’s about being intentional with the upgrades or changes you decide to incorporate into your RV. With a wide range of options, you will be sure to find a way to customize your RV in a way that will elevate your family’s overall RV experience.   
 
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