Everything you need to know about materials for interior walls in RVs

Important things to think about before purchasing interior wall material for RVs

When renovating the interior of a pre-owned RV, the insulation, walls, and ceiling likely need some TLC. There are a lot of dings and scratches on the walls. The window and door seals and seams may have deteriorated if the RV has been parked for an extended amount of time, enabling moisture to enter and the growth of mold and mildew.

When purchasing new wall panels for RV material, it's critical to take into account two crucial product qualities to handle these two problems and ensure that your redesign will last the test of time:

Resilience. RV walls sometimes sustain damage from objects dropping off them in transit and people knocking into them while navigating the cramped interior. An optimal choice for RV wall cladding should withstand impact and touch. 

Water and moisture resistance. RV owners most frequently need to rebuild the inside walls and ceilings because of water damage and mold development. It's also an issue that must be resolved immediately, since failing to do so may necessitate replacing more than just the paneling. 

Which interior wall material is the most common in RVs? 

RV walls typically consist of three layers: an internal layer, an insulating layer, and an exterior layer that forms the shell of the vehicle.  

The inside layer of most RVs, which consists of the walls and ceilings, comprises two distinct materials. Medium-density fiberboard (MDF) or thin plywood is typically used to cover the walls of RVs. Higher-end or more costly campers could also include vinyl paneling. Meanwhile, PVC or fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) wall panels are commonly seen on RV ceilings since they are both moisture-resistant, lightweight, and don't require painting. 

There are a few advantages and disadvantages to each material to consider, regardless of whether you decide to use two distinct materials for your RV's walls and ceilings or would rather furnish the entire area with one product.

What is a van camper?

You've never driven a camper van before? We'll explain it to you, so don't worry. These are van-derived camper vans that are used for optimum mobility and can accommodate many people for sleeping. They are even utilized in daily living. Their sales and rents are on par with those of motorhomes, and their demand is only increasing annually.

Camper vans and motorhomes are comparable in size, with a focus on mobility rather than comfort and room. For this reason, they are sometimes referred to as caravans or forgo caravans, even though they are not the same thing.

Historically, the adaption to turn the van into a living vehicle was made by the German company Volkswagen in collaboration with the German brand Westfalia. As a result, Volkswagen held a larger share of the market. Mercedes-Benz purchased Westfalia to modify its Vito and Viano vans.

Certain manufacturers provide incredibly small camper vans that come equipped with a kitchen, a double bed (often with a lift-up top), and a convertible lounge bed. However, they lack a bathroom or shower.

In recent decades (and years), several manufacturers of motorhomes and caravans have entered the camper van market. These independent manufacturers offer a fully equipped vehicle with beds, a full kitchen, a refrigerator and freezer, a toilet and shower, etc.

Do motorhomes and camper vans share the same equipment?

Despite their relatively tiny size, this kind of vehicle is unique in that it has all the camping features of a motorhome.

In certain nations, campers are van additions that cover the back end and come in a range of styles and materials. Although they can also be made of wood or aluminum sheets, fiberglass is the material used most frequently.

One characteristic that sets camper vans apart is their lack of visibility; most of them don't have any external signage indicating that they are equipped to sleep inside, which is against the law in several towns. Due to this benefit, camper vans are quite popular among outdoor enthusiasts since they can be parked in many urban areas and used for camping in locations that are not suitable for motorhomes.

Comprising a van is an additional trend that is becoming more and more common. The process involves converting it into a residential vehicle, which calls for an engineering project, authorization papers from the vehicle manufacturer, and a trip to the technical inspection of cars to complete the necessary homologation.