After battling numerous problems with our previous RV, we finally got it fixed and then we traded it for a new toy hauler!
Of course, I had to personalize the inside of this RV beyond the manufacturer’s decor. I also “had to” remove the stickers that went over the exterior of the windows so we could fully enjoy our view. That was a fun process!
RV organization is an ongoing process. I’ve added cabinet shelving, light sensitive motion lights at the steps and in the bathroom, and I utilized a lot of storage baskets. I LOVE baskets!
Here’s a few of my decor upgrades:
Created some wildlife silhouettes for the overhead cabinets & added cabin decor above.Added a splash behind the stove for light reflection. I love how it turned out.Replaced the standard pole table between the chairs with a light weight storage cabinet.Added “beach” decor to our bedroom.Added a splash behind our bear themed bathroom.Created a “bear” toilet paper holder to replace the holder under the sink.
The “bear” toilet paper holder was a combined effort of the two of us. I hated having to reach into the cabinet to get toilet paper. (That action had unsanitary implications written all over it.) I saw a bear toilet paper holder online and asked my husband if we could make it cheaper than buying it. He built it, I painted it. It holds 3 reserve rolls below the roll. I now “always feel like, somebody’s WATCHING me.”
And yes, that’s an espresso machine & Keurig on the counter. (Don’t judge.) We now have a separate SodaStream for our RV instead of taking ours with us from our house.
Our RV is self contained with a generator, solar, and batteries.
Our goal is personalization without compromising our warranty. Once the warranty is expired, we’re free to make all the changes we want. But for now, we are sticking with simple personalization.
For example:
We didn’t like the pseudo curtains. They seemed to create a closed in feeling, so we removed a few screws at the bottom, and released the tops that were held up by Velcro, and BAM! We now have a wide open view. We left the blinds that pull down, that are hidden behind the box valances. I considered removing the box valances, until I noticed they are connected to the blinds. (That might be a post warranty personalization!)
In 2018 we traded our 2014 Forest River Rockwood Signature Ultra Light 5th wheel for a 2018 Jayco Eagle HT 27.5. It was a big decision; getting a new RV would cost more than keeping our old RV, but there were features we wanted in our RV that we couldn’t get without upgrading our RV.
The floor plan we agreed upon.
Click picture for larger view.
Comparing manufacturer brands can be challenging when you go shopping for an RV. If you’re out looking, one of the first thing you might notice is that most brands seem to use the same floor plans. That’s because after one manufacturer comes up with a layout that sells, most manufacturers follow the lead. The real differences are in the manufacturering process, the features, the packages, the standards, the options, and the factory decor options.
How Did We Decide?
We knew how much we wanted to spend, and that we wanted to keep the cost of towing the RV down. We set our weight and length limit. We knew we wanted an RV with a big back window view, 8 CF refrigerator, 50 AMPs with 2 AC units, all weather insulation package, and the ability to tow behind the RV. Ample storage was important. We were interested in solar (or solar ready), and the potential to add a generator so we could dry camp. Rear camera ready would be a plus.
As we shopped, we would find an RV we liked, but we couldn’t tow anything behind it. We’d find another, but it wasn’t well insulated. One was too heavy. Another would meet my interior expectations, but the exterior storage didn’t meet my husband’s expectations. If we got everything we wanted, the price and weight went up! We finally agreed on a 2018 Jayco Eagle 27.5, after we narrowed down our dream RV list. It is spacious; however, it doesn’t provide maximum interior storage. Fortunately, I can be creative in that area! Just need to think tiny living and be organized. I can use every nook and cranny to make things work for us.
Factory RV Decor…
2018 Jayco Eagle HT 27.5 factory decor:
The fireplace doubles as an electric heater.
Storage under the table & chairs; 2 folding chairs stored under the bed.
Swivel Rocker/Recliners
Couch makes into a bed.
8 CF Refrigerator
Comes with a countertop extension.
Storage under the bed.
Click a picture for a carousel view.
RV Decor After (so far)…
I love personalizing the factory decor in our RV. As soon as we moved our stuff in the RV, I started adding my personal touches. It is an ongoing process:
Added some cabin decor. I bought a moose rug to put in front of the fireplace.
I’m thinking of taking the factory “curtains” down in the back to open it up more. LOVE the view!
Factory Pillows
I added pillow covers. This area is a work in process color wise. Our Yeti cooler doubles as a coffee table.
Organizational skills are a necessity in an RV! Added a small kitchen cart with baskets.
I upgraded the shower head.
Beach Theme
Note the factory pillow to the left.
I covered up the factory pillows with beach themed covers.
Click a picture for a carousel view.
Additional items I bought to put in our RV:
I bought this rug to put in our RV kitchen.
I bought this rug to put in front of our RV fireplace.
I bought this rug for our RV bathroom.
I’ll post more pictures of this ongoing RV decor process in the future. Until then…
