Our 1986 Cub Drifter Pop-Up Camper Renovation

Before the HiAce and long before the Camroad, there was our 1986 Cub Drifter pop-up camper—the project that properly started our renovation journey.

When we bought it, the camper wasn’t exactly ready for an adventure. The pop-up roof was broken and there was plenty of work waiting for us. Naturally, our first decision was to repair the roof just enough to take it camping almost immediately.

That first weekend away gave us the chance to see how the camper worked in real life. It also convinced us that a quick tidy-up wasn’t going to be enough. Once we returned home, we made some big decisions about its future and the renovation grew into a complete transformation.

Starting Again Inside

We stripped out the old interior so we could rebuild it around the way we actually wanted to camp.

One of the biggest additions was a new plywood kitchen fitted to a two-metre heavy-duty pull-out slide. The whole kitchen could be stored securely inside the camper for travelling, then pulled outside when it was time to cook.

It gave us a useful outdoor cooking space without taking over the small interior.

Restoring the Original Canvas

The canvas was another major part of the renovation. Rather than replacing it, we restored it using Bush & Beach canvas sealer with a grey tint.

The treatment gave the tired canvas a much fresher appearance while keeping the character of the original 1986 Cub Drifter. It became one of the most dramatic before-and-after moments of the project.

Building the Living Space

With another camping trip approaching, we had a firm deadline for completing the seating and bedding area.

In a camper this compact, everything needs to serve a purpose. The new layout gave us somewhere comfortable to sit during the day and a practical sleeping space at night, while still leaving room for the essentials.

There were the usual rushed moments and changes along the way, but eventually the separate pieces began to feel like a complete camper again.

The Finished Camper

The final result was a bright, practical little pop-up camper with restored canvas, a pull-out kitchen and a freshly built living and sleeping area.

Unfortunately, the recording of the final stage went missing, so our completed renovation tour had to rely on photos—and a mostly functioning memory—to recap the last part of the build.

After all that work, the Cub Drifter eventually went to its new owners. Letting it go closed one chapter for us, but the experience and confidence we gained from the renovation carried directly into the projects that followed.

The camper taught us that we enjoyed more than just travelling. We loved finding an older vehicle with potential, working through the problems and creating something that could take us on new adventures.

And, as it turned out, this was only the beginning.