It takes a whole lot of work to transform a camper, trailer, or bus into a place to call home—but as these self-starters show, RV renovations can be done on a budget with style to spare. Read on for a look at five of our favorite homes on wheels that have been converted and updated for less than $30,000.

A Tired RV Is Refreshed for $21K

Phoenix, Arizona–based couple Steve and Trina Sholin purchased a 350-square-foot, 2004 Jayco Designer RLTS-33 ft Fifth Wheel camper that was in desperate need of updates. The Sholins removed the outdated wallpaper and furniture from the original trailer and replaced all the flooring with new wood laminate. The complete overhaul came in at a total of $21,345, and then the couple put it back on the market for $27,000—a fantastic value considering the amount of elbow grease it took to fix it up.

A 1972 Airstream Sovereign Is Transformed Into a Family Home for $23K

Courtesy of Colleen Cashio
" layout="wide" credit="Add credit" photoUserId=""/>

Arkansas couple Colleen and Zach Cashio spent two years overhauling a 1972 Airstream Sovereign—where they now live with their sons, Ezra and Harvey, and their Australian Shepherd Luna. The Cashios knew that the Airstream would become their full-time home—so it would have to be practical and family friendly. For $23,000, they created room for the boys to play with their toys, a bedroom that’s separate from the living area, and a large kitchen that fits an apartment-sized fridge, a 24-inch oven, a 24-inch cooktop, and a microwave.

A Couple Give a 1969 Airstream Globetrotter a Dreamy Makeover for $19K

Denver couple Kerri Cole and Patrick Neely, the husband-and-wife duo behind Colorado Caravan transformed this 1969 Airstream Globetrotter for just $19,180. The couple has been transforming vintage Airstream trailers into sales offices, bars, and hotel rooms for motor lodges. This total gut renovation involved ripping up rotted flooring and paneling and re-insulating the walls. The space currently serves as the couple’s sales trailer and showroom, but if the mood strikes they also have the option of taking it out on the road.

Shop the Look

A Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van Turns Into a Chic Tiny Home for $27K

Jack Richens, the expert custom van renovator behind This Moving House, pulled out all the stops for this incredible van conversion. “Short of pouring foundations, converting a van is a lot like building an entire house,” he explains. Here, he transformed a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van into a chic, 91-square-foot mobile home with a kitchenette, a cozy sleeping berth, lots of nooks and crannies for storage, and additional heating and insulation so that the van can weather winter in the mountains during ski season.

A Prison Bus Becomes a Couple’s First Home for $26K

Meag and Ben Poirier were living in Maine in 2016, when they snapped up this 31-foot bus on Craigslist for $8,000. Formerly a prison transport vehicle and a mobile command center for the Sheriff’s Department in Fairfax County, Virginia, the bus came with a storied history. Over the next two years, the Poiriers spent most weekends converting the bus into a 165-square-foot home, making everything from scratch. “Our lights, refrigerator, fans, device-charging station, and kitchen appliances all run off of solar,” says Meag. “We are able to spend extended periods of time boondocking in beautiful and remote areas of the country with these systems in place.”

Related Reading:

8 Ways to Renovate an Airstream

See How an Oregon Couple Renovated Their 1966 Airstream

Appears In

Budget Breakdown: A Prison Bus Becomes a Couple’s First Home For $26K

5 Camper, Trailer, and Bus Conversions for Less Than $30K