Truck camper upgrades don’t have to be dramatic to matter.
When you spend time in a space this small – with two adults and two dogs – even minor annoyances become very noticeable, very quickly.
After a few rough roads, a few flying objects, and more sweeping than I care to admit, we realized something:
Our camper didn’t need a full remodel.
It just needed to work better for us.
So we started making small, practical upgrades – the kind that don’t look flashy in photos but make everyday camping smoother, cleaner and less chaotic.
None of these changes were expensive. None of them were extreme.
But every single one made a big difference.
Here’s what we changed – and why.
1. The White Shiplap Kickboard (Because Things Fly)
During one particularly rough stretch of washboard road, something we had sitting on the dinette launched itself mid-transit and nicked the wall.
If you’ve ever driven a truck camper down a rough back road, you know the kind of chaos I’m talking about. It’s one of those things that no one tells you about owning a truck camper.
After that, we realized our camper walls were not going to survive us long-term.
Originally, that lower section of the wall was dark wood. It made the space feel heavier and smaller — especially on cloudy days.
So instead of just patching the damage, we added a white shiplap-style kickboard along the bottom portion of the wall. It’s just a piece of decorative board cut to length!
And honestly? It changed the entire feel of the camper.
Not only does it protect the wall now (if anything else goes airborne during transit, we can replace a board instead of worrying about permanent damage), but the white instantly brightens the space.
It feels lighter. Cleaner. A tiny bit bigger..
It also shows every single fleck of dirt, so it guilts me into cleaning more frequently.
For such a small change, it made a big impact — both functionally and visually. It’s probably the truck camper upgrade I’m most proud of.
2. Washable Dinette Covers (Because Dogs)
Our dogs love camping.
They also believe the dinette belongs to them.
Between muddy paws, fur, and whatever mystery dirt comes in from outside, the original cushions didn’t stand a chance.
Instead of constantly stressing about ruining them, I had custom washable covers made for the dinette.
Game. Changer.
If you’re considering this, I highly recommend finding someone local to sew them so you can pick out the fabric yourself. That way you can choose something durable – and more importantly, something that won’t show every speck of dirt.
Because dogs.
Being able to choose the fabric meant I could go with something washable, forgiving and practical instead of just whatever was available online.
Now when we get home from a trip, I toss them in the wash. No scrubbing. No panic. No trying to “spot clean” something that refuses to cooperate.
If you camp with dogs, this is one of the simplest camper upgrades that makes a huge difference.
Visually and functionally.
I wrote a post about how we keep our truck camper clean with dogs if you’re looking for some ideas!
3. A Hook for the Broom (Because I Am a Serial Sweeper)
I am a serial sweeper.
Seriously. I sweep approximately 47 times a day.
Again – dogs.
And two humans. One of which refuses to take his shoes off at the door.
In a truck camper, dirt multiplies quickly. Two adults and two dogs in a small space means sand, leaves, and mystery debris show up constantly.
We switched to the Camco adjustable broom that shrinks down to about the size of a hand broom. It’s compact enough to store easily but still big enough to actually sweep the floor.
Before we switched to the adjustable broom, we had a full size broom that slid around during transit… or knocked us in the head every time we sat down on the toilet.
Neither was ideal.
So we installed a simple hook in the bathroom to hang the Camco broom on.
That one hook solved three problems:
- It saves space.
- It keeps the broom from sliding all over the camper.
- It stopped accidental concussions.
In a space this small, even the broom needs a designated home.
And as someone who sweeps 47 times a day… yes, we need it.
4. Replacing the Sink
The original sink technically worked.
But it didn’t work well for how we actually use the camper.
We don’t have a separate bathroom sink, which means this little kitchen sink does double duty – dishes, food prep… and yes, washing my face and brushing our teeth at night.
So when it wasn’t functional, we felt it constantly.
We replaced it with a sink that has a slightly deeper basin and paired it with a taller faucet. That little bit of extra depth and height made a huge difference – especially when washing dishes or trying not to splash water everywhere during my nighttime skin routine.
Fun fact: I installed the sink myself because I was too impatient to wait for Chris.
Also fun fact: I installed it wrong the first time.
There was a brief moment of panic. And then we redid it.
But once it was in correctly, it completely changed how the kitchen functions.
It’s not a dramatic renovation. But when your sink is responsible for dishes and beauty routines, those small upgrades matter.
Before You Head Out…
Before your next trip, grab our free Weekend Truck Camper Pre-Trip Checklist –
the exact one we use so we don’t forget
something important. (Again.)
5. Ditching the Factory Valences
I don’t have a before picture because it was that ugly.
The factory valences were bulky, dark, and covered in a gray floral pattern that I refused to look at for one more second. For a truck camper built in 2018, they certainly chose a fabric straight out of the 90s.
They made the entire space feel heavier and smaller than it actually was.
So we removed them and replaced them with simple wooden valences.
And when I say simple, I mean simple.
It’s literally just a piece of white 1×4 trim wood that Chris screwed together to sit slightly off the wall.
That’s it
Nothing fancy. No custom carpentry. Just clean, bright boards that instantly elevated the space.
The difference wasn’t dramatic in square footage – but it was dramatic in feeling.
The camper felt brighter. Lighter. Less like a formal living room from 1996
Sometimes the biggest upgrade isn’t adding something complicated.
It’s simplifying.
The Bigger Lesson
None of these changes were expensive.
None of them were extreme.
They were just intentional.
Truck campers aren’t one-size-fits-all. The more we adjusted ours to fit our habits (and our dogs), the more enjoyable camping became.
If you’re new to truck camping, give yourself permission to tweak things. Make it functional for your life — not just how it looked on the lot.
And before your next trip, grab our free Weekend Truck Camper Pre-Trip Checklist so you don’t forget something important in the middle of all those upgrades.
If you want a peek at what our weekends look like, I wrote a post recapping our weekend camping with the dogs.
What upgrade made the biggest difference in your camper? I’m always looking for Chris’s next project!