If you want to replace the upholstery in your camper or RV, then an auto upholstery kit may be the solution. Learn about upholstery kits for cars, campers & RVs in this guide.
When it comes to reupholstering a camper or RV, there are many excellent options available on the market today. One of the more popular options is choosing an auto upholstery kit.
These kits are packaged deals that include all of the materials that you will need to completely reupholster the interior of your vehicle. They include precut fabrics, padding, adhesive, and other essential items. Using a well-designed upholstery kit can be very beneficial for anyone looking to tackle the interior of their camper or RV on their own, and save money in the process.
In this article, we explain how to select a suitable auto upholstery kit for your camper or RV, tips for classic car upholstery kits suitable for valuable vintage vehicles, plus a few brand recommendations.
When to Use an Auto Upholstery Kit
Although car upholstery kits are a great way of saving money when refreshing the interior of your camper or RV, they are not always the best option. It’s important to know when to use an auto reupholstery kit, and when you should hire a professional to do the job instead.
Using an Auto Upholstery Kit
If you have at least some basic skills and are fairly comfortable with working with a wide variety of different tools, then it might be beneficial for you to try reupholstering the interior of your car or camper using an auto upholstery kit. Of course, being able to take pride in the restoration of your vehicle plays a crucial role in determining whether to use a kit or not. After all, they are a great way of saving you money, and allow you to complete all of the reupholstering work on your own.
Hiring a Professional
Not everyone has the time or patience for a DIY project of such great magnitude. Most motor vehicle upholstery work is complex in nature, as there are countless designs that use very intricate patterns. If you lack the necessary experience in working with upholstery and want a flawless and professional-looking result in the end, then it might be a better choice to hire a professional to get the job done right the first time.
How to Choose an Auto Upholstery Kit
When it comes to choosing the right upholstery kit for your project, there are several factors that you need to take into consideration when making a final selection. Not all kits are created equal, so it’s important to take the time to determine which factors are more important to your particular project.
Factors to Consider when Choosing Upholstery Kits for Cars, Campers & RVs
Quality of Materials
Kits for motor vehicle and car reupholstery come in many different shapes and sizes. And although they are a great way of saving money, it is important to not cut corners when choosing a high-quality kit. Take the time to look for kits that make use of quality materials including foam, fabric, and adhesives. After all, you get what you pay for.
Fit and Compatibility
Although there are some kits that are universal in nature, it is best to always choose an option that is specifically designed for your make and model. These specially designed kits, come precut with all of the panels that you need to re-assemble and cover your vehicle’s original interior. While specialized kits are more expensive, they are definitely worth the added price.
Type of Material
When selecting, take the time to determine what type of material you want to cover the inside of your camper or RV. There are many different kits available on the market today, and they come in a wide variety of materials including vinyl, leather, and cloth.
Color and Design Options
Pay close attention to the colors and design options that are available from the supplier. You want something that matches your camper’s aesthetic and of course your personal preferences. Whether you are looking for a single-color design, or are seeking a flashy, multicolored design, find something that will add value to your camper or RV.
Ease of Installation
Even if you have a significant amount of experience with DIY automotive work, working with upholstery can be quite difficult. Check to make sure that the kit you are purchasing not only comes with excellent instructions, but that the supplier also provides you with video tutorials and top-notch customer support to assist you throughout the installation process.
Included Tools and Hardware
You will find that a wide variety of kits will come complete with the necessary tools and hardware to complete the job. However, not all kits are all-inclusive. Before making a final selection, verify that the kit includes the tools, hardware, and other accessories that you need to get the job done right the first time.
Customer Reviews and Ratings
Take the time to read any reviews or ratings about the particular manufacturer or kit from a number of different sources. By selecting different sources for your research, you can reduce the chances that the reviews or ratings are biased in one way or the other.
Price
Of course, price plays a very important role when it comes to choosing an auto upholstery kit. While purchasing a kit is a great way of saving you money, it is important to make sure that you also find something that’s well within your budget. You need to consider both how much you are willing to spend, as well as how much you are willing to compromise on the final quality of the product.
Warranty
Believe it or not, many kits available on the market today come with some form of warranty or satisfaction guarantee. Make sure to select a product that has a guarantee or warranty of some sort.
Special Considerations for Classic Car Upholstery Kits
Here are some additional considerations that you need to factor in when selecting an upholstery kit for a classic car or vintage camper. Ensuring that you choose a high quality classic car upholstery kit intended for your model, will help ensure a high quality finish that may even improve the value of your classic vehicle. Don’t cut corners with valuable vintage cars, campers and RVs, otherwise you can risk damaging the appearance and slashing the value of your prized possession permanently; when in doubt, take it to a professional auto upholsterer for assessment.
Classic Car Upholstery Kits – Important Considerations
Authenticity
When it comes to restoring a classic car or camper back to its original state, you want to look for classic car upholstery kits that are designed to match the original materials and design as closely as possible. If you cannot locate an authentic dealer of OEM parts, then look for something that is as authentic as possible.
Availability of Parts
Let’s face it, one of the biggest challenges with restoring a classic car or camper is that many car interiors are extremely hard to find. This is why many enthusiasts opt to upgrade their car’s interior to a custom design instead.
Customization
When all else fails, you want to choose a classic car upholstery kit that provides you with the amount of customization that you need to truly bring out the beauty of your vintage vehicle. Look for kits that are high quality, and feature highly customizable options that will make your camper or RV look stunningly beautiful.
Auto Upholstery Kit Recommendations
Although there are many different suppliers of auto upholstery kits, here are some recommendations of the most popular suppliers operating in the USA.
Popular Auto Upholstery Kit Suppliers in the USA
Legendary Auto Interiors
Website: https://www.legendaryautointeriors.com/
Since 1983, Legendary Auto Interiors has been providing some of the highest quality car reupholstery kits available on the market today. They offer a wide range of options for both classic as well as modern cars that will suit just about anyone’s personal preferences.
TMI Products
Website: https://www.tmiproducts.com/
It was back in 1982 when TIMI Products first opened its doors, and since then have grown to become one of the leading car upholstery suppliers in the industry. They are well known for providing an extensive selection of kits and customization options. TIMI can cater to just about any make and model.
Acme Auto Headlining Co.
Website: https://www.acmeautoheadlining.com/
Acme Auto Headlining is one of the oldest and most well-respected names in the industry. Founded back in 1948, Acme has been providing a range of original-style kits for a large selection of classic cars. While many other manufacturers focus mostly on newer cars, Acme has been a reliable source of authentic OEM products for decades.
Kee Auto Top Manufacturing Co.
Website: https://www.keeautotop.com/
Key Auto Top first opened its doors back in 1964 and has been providing both convertible tops and upholstery kits for a wide range of classic cars ever since. When it comes to restoring your vintage or classic car to its original condition, you can come to rely on the quality products provided by Key Auto Top Manufacturing.
Distinctive Industries
Website: https://distinctiveindustries.com/
It was back in 1969 when Distinctive Industries first opened its doors to the public. They offer a large selection of high-quality reupholstering kits for classic American cars. The vast majority of their selections include original style materials and patterns, allowing car enthusiasts to restore their classic cars to their original condition.
Final Thoughts on Using an Auto Upholstery Kit
When it comes to refreshing camper and car upholstery, ultimately, you have a few options. If your camper is older and holds little value, whether sentimental or monetary, the cheapest solution is to make some basic DIY repairs to damaged upholstery without replacing the lot. For this, you can purchase a simple car upholstery repair kit, or work through our step-by-step tutorial to repairing torn upholstery fabric in cars.
Alternatively, if you own a classic vintage camper or RV that holds value to you, the choices are to take your vehicle to a professional upholsterer that specializes in car upholstery, do it yourself, or use an auto upholstery kit. In this case, it’s really a case of ‘you get what you pay for’.
DIY Upholstery
Unless you are seriously committed to learning how to do the work from scratch properly and have an experienced upholsterer guide you through it in person, it’s not a good idea to attempt your own upholstery replacement on a valuable vehicle. The risk is that you will mess up the job, and subsequently devalue your vehicle.
If, on the other hand you have won yourself a cheap fixer-upper camper, then learning to do your own upholstery on it can be a rewarding job, both creatively and for future resell value.
Professional Upholstery
This is the safest option and takes the responsibility out of your hands, but can be very costly, especially for classic cars, vintage campers and any other vehicle models that require customization, or hard to source parts and fabrics.
Auto Upholstery Kit
This is a good balance between DIY and Professional Upholstery. The challenge is finding a kit that will fit your particular vehicle.
If you are considering finding and using upholstery kits for cars to brighten up your camper or RV, the next logical step is to research your vehicle model to see if auto upholstery kits exist for it, whether original or after-market. The results of that search will determine ultimately whether an auto upholstery kit is your best option, or not.
Happy upholstering!
