How to Paint a Camper Shell

How to Paint a Camper Shell

camping,trailer image by Greg Pickens from Fotolia.com

Campers are more like your house than a tent. They are major investments and require constant maintenance chores. For example, just like with a house, one of the most direct ways to give a camper a fresh appearance is to slap on a new coat of paint onto the camper shell. However, many camper shells are made of fiberglass, and fiberglass-painting experience is not commonplace.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:
  • Bucket
  • Hose
  • Old rags
  • Car wash detergent
  • Mineral spirits (possible)
  • Hand sanding block
  • Medium and fine-grit sandpaper
  • Paint sprayer and/or hand roller
  • Small paint brush
  • Acrylic primer
  • Acrylic paint
Step 1
Wash the camper shell using the hose, rags and car wash detergent. If there are stubborn stains on the shell, use mineral spirits to break them down. Allow the wash to dry before proceeding.
Step 2
Sand the shell with a hand block and medium-grit sandpaper, such as 120-grit. Continue until you have smoothed and polished the surface of the fiberglass shell.
Step 3
Wash the shell a second time. This is a touch-up washing to eliminate any dust, grit or skin oil that got onto the surface during sanding. Those elements can ruin the finish of a new paint job.
Step 4
Apply a coat of acrylic primer to the camper shell using either a paint sprayer or a hand roller. Use a brush only for touch-ups. If the first coat of primer does not completely cover the original color of the fiberglass, apply a second coat. Allow each layer six to eight hours to dry.
Step 5
Sand the shell again with a hand block and fine-grit sandpaper, such as 300-grit, to smooth the primed surface.
Step 6
Apply another layer of acrylic paint to the camper shell using either a paint sprayer or a hand roller. Use a brush only for touch-ups. Allow six to eight hours for the coat of paint to dry and then apply a second coat. Ultimately, three to four coats of paint will be necessary.

Article Written By Edwin Thomas

Edwin Thomas has been writing since 1997. His work has appeared in various online publications, including The Black Table, Proboxing-Fans and others. A travel blogger, editor and writer, Thomas has traveled from Argentina to Vietnam in pursuit of stories. He holds a Master of Arts in international affairs from American University.

Write for Trails.com
  • Editor's Pick

    5 Top North American Wildflower Hikes

    5 Top North American Wildflower Hikes

    Springtime brings a sense of new beginnings and new life as flowers begin to bloom and fill the air with their sweet and pleasant fragrance. Luckily we can see wildflowers all summer long, since spring hits at different times throughout North America. See flowering cactu...

    More National Parks...
  • Popular Article

    National Park Substitutes: Great Spots Without the Crowds

    National Park Substitutes: Great Spots Without the Crowds

    Coping with crowds at national parks can get tiresome, especially during the peak tourist season. If you want to escape from the herd, or just take a breather from the bustle of bigger attractions, the United States has plenty of less-visited but still worthwhile spots t...

    More National Parks...
  • Featured Destination

    Prevent Yourself from Getting Lost While Hiking

    Prevent Yourself from Getting Lost While Hiking

    When you're hiking you're going to want to make sure you stay found. What I mean by that is that you've put an itinerary in the car, you know the area that you're hiking to, you know the route and the trail you plan on being on, you know what the trail markers are going ...

    More Camping Basics...

Hotel Finder

Destination
Check-in
Check-out
Adults (18+ yrs)
Children (2-17 yrs)
Get Rates and Availability

Outdoor Gear & Equipment

ALL NEW Trails Gear Store powered by:

Trail Finder

US Map

Search by Keyword