Cosmetic Changes
When we purchased this 1995 Built for Two in 2021 it was in lovely shape. No stains on the walls, no significant scratches in the woodwork, brand new floors and upholstery, everything in good working order. But we're people who just cannot leave well enough alone and we wanted a brighter, more modern look while keeping all the Born Free Quality. So we broke out the peel and stick, researched some upgrades, and looked into storage solutions. Then we got busy!
BEFORE
AFTER
Entry
This was the view from the back door looking toward the cab. All surfaces were in great shape, we just didn't like how dark it was with all the oak surfaces (our former travel trailer was all light maple and white walls and we wanted a lighter feeling without painting anything). Note the closed cabinets and TV over the cab.
Floor and Upholstery
The prior owner had the carpeting removed in 2020 and replaced with a mixed brown/grey LVP. This runs in the main cabin only. This dark brown upholstery is still on the cafe booths. It is no longer on the couch (which was replaced with a mattress). You can see the formica color on the table top (which is still in place and in like-new condition).
How We Bought It
Driver Side Cafe Table-Bed
The cafe booth/table set up was installed in 2020 by the previous owner (purchased from RecPro). The seat covers hinge open with lots of storage below. The booth converts into a twin size bed. This cafe seating/table is still in place and ready to be used under the driver side day bed.
Passenger Side Couch
The couch on this side was the original foam couch (albeit with new upholstery) but rock hard. The seat was removed and disposed of . The back cushions are still in use, and just covered with slip covers. You can see the glossy black face of the refrigerator in the foreground.
Daybed (new)
This is the (new in 2023) mattress in place sitting on top of the cafe booth. We have a piece of 3/4" ply supporting the mattress to make it firm and flat. We leave it set up this way all the time, since we didn't like the booth and we wanted two good beds. You can remove all this and use the booth instead (and it drops down into a not very comfy bed). During the day it has a slipcover (it's blue even though it looks grey here), at night we add a fitted twin sheet. There are grey shams that we use as back cushions that hold our sleeping pillows during the day. We ordered the mattresses from Amazon and they are: ZINUS 6 Inch Ultima Memory Foam Mattress, Fiberglass Free, Pressure Relieving, CertiPUR-US Certified. The shams are BOSOWOS Pillow Shams Standard Size Set of 2, Ultra Soft Breathable Quilted Pillow Cases 20 x 26 inches for Sleeping, Grey Diamond Standard. Since we don't use the bed, we put in an EZ Reach table, you can see 3 pictures of this in More Photos.
​
Underneath this daybed is a cafe booth/table set up. We have seat belts that can be added to those seats.
​
​
Fold Down Couch (new)
We wanted two comfy twin beds so we removed the couch seat on the right side, and replaced it with a platform for a mattress. The seat lifts up and provides additional storage (very shallow, for bed pillows or blankets). This is how it looks during the day, with a regular couch depth, and with a bolster along the back, which is actually a piece of 6" memory foam covered (not professionally!) with fabric that matches the privacy drapes in the cab.
You can also see here the Roku TV we added, and it's new position over on the side. It is on a Kanto arm that rotates and pivots in all directions so you can point it toward any location in the coach. During the day it tucks up against the wall.
​
Both couches also have an overhead LED light fixture for general lighting that has hi/lo settings, a high intensity, focusable reading light at each end (four total). The passenger side couch has seat belts installed.
​
We added curtains to replace the blinds. They are removable and washable.
What We Have Now
Couch-to-Bed Step 1
We installed a 10" wide "flip up" panel on the front of the starboard side couch that can be lifted with one hand and clicks into place. There are four folding brackets (from Amazon) underneath, each of which is rated to hold 220 pounds--although we've never tested that! Putting the flap down in the morning is a two-handed process but does not require any great strength. You can see here there is still room for each person to get out of bed and access the rest of the coach when in fully extended position.
Couch-to-Bed (Step 2)
Once the piece is flipped up on the front of the couch, pull the mattress toward you. The bolster falls into the available space up against the window. While this means there is a seam in the mattress, since it is in the last 10" toward the wall it has never been a problem of separating or feeling uncomfortable. We put a twin fitted sheet over the whole area for sleeping. The slipcover is the blue you see in the photo to the left. I'm not sure why the colors are grey or brown in some of the photos!
Overhead Storage
Since I'm only 5'3" the overhead cabinets were not very useful for us. We removed the doors and added baskets to all six overhead areas. The baskets are very good quality (Container Store Elfa) and easily lift down so you can see what is in them. We use some for our clothes and some for things like art supplies, dish towels, dog supplies, etc.
​
Due to the curved shape of the walls there is a little additional space behind the baskets. It is enough to hold a bottle of wine (on its side) or a first aid kit, or other small items.
We also added peel and stick wallpaper to the front and underside of the cabinets. Here you can also see that we've removed the wooden frame around the windows. The blinds could not be cleaned, and were discarded. The frames are in storage. Both overhead bays have under cabinet LED lighting with two settings.
​
THIS CAN BE REVERSED: We have the doors, the frames, and the hinges in storage. The wall paper will peel off.
Above-Cab Storage
We removed the TV and the doors on the overcab area in order to make it one big and accessible storage area. We installed lights also. Inside this cabinet is an original 110 outlet. This is the area under the black accessory panel seen on the exterior of the coach. That black panel is not (and never was) a window.
​
Here and throughout the entire coach we've upgraded all the original lights to LEDs. Much brighter, they don't make heat, and they use far less battery draw. There are two large baskets (that match the others) that go in here also, but this photo shows all the storage that is available behind the baskets.
​
You can also see the privacy curtains. They are on a track around the FRONT of the cab (near the windshield) so you can still access the front seats or store things there once parked..
​
This CANNOT be fully reversed. We cut out the frame of the original doors, and made the opening larger. If you wanted to close this back up you would need to install a curtain or put in a lift door on a locking hinge (like the original doors on the side compartments.). You can remove the wallpaper though.
Peel & Stick Wallpaper
This is a close up shot of the wall paper which is considered a "grasscloth". It does have a bit of 3D texture to it (which keeps the oak wood grain from bleeding through) and it is a very low gloss finish (almost matte). It is on blues and greys. We ordered from Amazon and it is Lillian August Antioch, Luxe Sisal Sea Breeze.
Cab Upgrades
We installed new seats in 2021. These are the Venture style captain's chair from Shop4Seats. It looks like they don't carry this model anymore, but we have the receipt which lists them as FlexSteel. They have manual pneumatic lumbar support and each has 2 arms that rotate up and down. The right seat will swivel around to face the cabin. The left seat swivels but the cafe boot blocks it from turning.
​
We removed the carpet from the floor of the cab and installed a dark grey vinyl liner from StockInteriors. It has a rubber backing and it is glued down. The dog house is still carpeted.
Kitchen Passenger Side
This is the original 2-burner stove. The new placement of the stainless paper towel holder is on this side.
​
We removed the original microwave and replaced it in 2022 with a microwave/convection/air fryer. This is a unit that is meant to be installed into a cabinet and we've tested it for heat radiation by running it for an hour at top oven temperature. To be more safe we also lined the cabinet in this heat resistant fabric, protecting the wiring and walls.
​
The new unit is smaller than the original and pulling it out revealed a big unused empty space to the left. We cut the cabinet hole wider (you can see above) and we keep a small coffee maker and an electric teapot back there (you can plug them in behind the microwave).
THIS CANNOT BE REVERSED since we cut the cabinet into this new shape. You can remove the wallpaper, of course.
Kitchen Driver Side
The sink is double basin stainless steel, we upgraded the faucet. Disclosure: the faucet only pulls out a few inches and not the length you would expect. This was due to the issues with the hose storage running into the drawers. Disclosure: The right hand sink cover has a chip out of the formica.
​
We added brushed nickel drawer pulls and knobs throughout for a more updated look. We've replaced all of the door and drawer catches with a different type that don't require the squeeze or push to open.
​
There is a magnetic knife rack on the wall. Under cabinet lighting with two settings.
​
The backsplash is peel and stick from Amazon and is real metal. I have a few sheets of it left. This is reversible EXCEPT the holes drilled for the pulls and knobs (which you could fill and stain, I guess).
Refrigerator
This is the original Dometic refrigerator, model RM2607. The panels in the front are removable and we covered them with peel and stick brushed look stainless steel (easy to keep clean!). This can all easily be reversed and the fridge will be glossy black.
Refrigerator Inside
Refrigerator and freezer work great. We had it serviced in 2022 and it keeps ice frozen when on "3" of 5 possible cold settings. All shelves are removable for washing. No actual upgrades here. Runs on propane or shore power, changes over automagically. (Refrigerator baskets not included in sale).
Pantry
This was originally the clothes closet (because we all need to carry our cocktail frocks and dinner jackets when camping). It still has the original closet rod. We installed these pull-out pantry drawers to hold food, glassware, etc. We kept some space to the left for our few hanging clothes and can store TP and paper towel in there also. These are screwed to the floor of the closet but totally removable. They are also part of the Container Store Elfa collection.​
Bathroom
The previous owner installed a accessible-height full porcelain toilet in 2021 --- ooo la, la; ce'st chic!! We added two towel holders to the bathroom door and replaced the ceiling light with a much brighter LED bulb. DISCLOSURE: the fan is original and pretty loud.
Check out the More Photos Page for more photos!!