This post may contain affiliate links or mention our own products, please check out our disclosure policy.

Fun 1984 Fleetwood Prowler Remodel With Repurposed Materials

This post was updated on March 15th, 2024

North Carolina resident Julia Fowler and her boyfriend were looking to downscale their life when they purchased a 1984 Fleetwood Prowler fifth wheel. They thought it would make for a cheap and quick “fixer upper”.

Six months later, with about 80% of the trailer rebuilt, they now live in a beautifully renovated home on wheels. They made up for the unexpected expense of the remodel by repurposing materials and cleverly making use of second hand items.

Sometimes when it comes to recycled material, it pays to not know too much about “what is done” and not done. For instance, their lovely front door is a cut down version of a traditional home door they found at Habitat’s Re-store!

Sign up for the newsletter today!

Please enter a valid email address.

An error occurred. Please try again later.

× logo

Thank you for subscribing to the Do It Yourself RV newsletter, keep your eye on your inbox for updates.

Creating the illusion of space by framing in a skylight.

Sleeping loft with skylight
Julia Fowler

Throughout the home there are handmade touches and creative ideas. For them, the sleeping loft felt too closed in, so they reframed the roof to allow for a skylight. Problem solved.

Wooden counters and metal back splash (from an old propane tank) look at home in the kitchen.

kitchen cabinet slideout
Julia Fowler

In the kitchen, innovations abound – from a slide-out work space hidden in a drawer to some really cool skateboard deck storage shelves and a countertop made from standard lumber!

Skateboard decks repurposed as kitchen shelves.

skateboard deck shelf
Julia Fowler

Mason jars are attached to their shelves for storage that is immediately hip and practical. Unscrew the jar to access contents, then screw on the lid and hit the road! An old propane tank became a neat metal backsplash, something we’ve never seen done before.

Counter space doubles as a desk area.

more kitchen details
Julia Fowler

Julia sewed the new upholstery for their sofa and added a couple of yoga bolsters to act as arms – voila! Everything old is new again. But, that’s not all, instead of the typical convertible bed space, they opted for additional storage under the seat cushions.

Fresh upholstery and added storage underneath.

reupholstered sofa
Julia Fowler

You’ll find more storage underneath movable stairs that lead up to their sleeping loft. The stairs are simple, constructed of heavy-duty plywood risers and rustic lumber treads for a homey feel.

Travel themed map decoupage.

map decoupage cabinets
Julia Fowler

In the bathroom, Julia wallpapered the entire space in old maps, for a travel themed bath that is one of the trailer’s best features!

Large mixing bowl adapted as vessel sink.

steel bowl vessel sink
Julia Fowler

The “vessel” style sink? Oh, that’s a metal mixing bowl with a drain kit in its flat bottom. That towel rack over the kitchen sink? Driftwood found on travels. Even the typically cheap-looking RV cabinetry in the bath got the map decoupage treatment too – making them look fashionably unique.

Added storage under sleeping loft stairs.

storage under stairs
Julia Fowler

It seems that thinking of the trailer as a “home” instead of a “home away from home” led to some really innovative thinking. Julia and her boyfriend applied design techniques not typically seen in travel trailers.

Future plans? They hope to travel and would eventually like to raise the roof and install more traditional siding to make it more of a legit “tiny house”. But, we love it just the way it is!

Custom driftwood towel bar.

driftwood towel holder
Julia Fowler

1 thought on “Fun 1984 Fleetwood Prowler Remodel With Repurposed Materials”

Leave a Comment

Welcome! Please follow these guidelines:

  • Be kind and respectful.
  • Keep comments relevant to the article.
  • Avoid insults, threats, profanity, and offensive remarks.
  • Refrain from discussing gun rights, politics, or religion.
  • Do not post misleading information, personal details, or spam.

We may hide or remove comments at our discretion.