Nailgun Nelly brings RVs back to life

This DIY enthusiast transforms forgotten RVs into road-ready masterpieces—and she can teach you how!

During the early days of the pandemic, fresh off a backyard studio build, Janelle Payne found herself eyeing a weathered camper sitting idle next door. What started as a spontaneous project quickly turned into a passion. Janelle (better known online as Nailgun Nelly) dove headfirst into the world of RV renovations.

Her style is a blend of grit, creativity, and an uncanny knack for making small spaces feel like home. Janelle has tackled electrical systems, custom cabinetry, and weight-conscious design—all while inspiring others to give DIY a go. In this interview, she opens up about her process, her favourite tools, and her popular book, DIY Camper & RV Reno.

What inspired you to start tackling DIY projects, especially for RVs and campers?

I honestly feel like DIY has been a part of me since I was a little girl. I was always wanting to redecorate my room and build little projects in the backyard. When I became a home owner, the desire to fix things up, with very little money to hire out, was more of the driving force. I would always try and do little upgrades as I could figure things out. This eventually turned into bigger and bigger projects as I acquired tools along the way and learned from prior mistakes. The camper renovations were by complete accident as I wanted a project during the pandemic after renovating a studio in our backyard and it seemed like the perfect timing to do so when my neighbour wanted to just get rid of hers in the backyard. It worked out and I fixed it up and the rest was history! 

What was the first big DIY RV project you ever completed?

The very first BIG DIY project was our small studio build we completed on our property.  We converted an old horse tack room into a 350 sq ft chic studio that we intended on renting out to travel nurses/professionals in our area. (Which ended up being perfect timing as we completed this project just as the pandemic was starting). It was the first time I built cabinets, designed an entire living space all the way from electrical and plumbing rough ins to the actual visual design.  I built the entire kitchen cabinets from scratch and was able to bring our vision to life. It was definitely the most rewarding project we have done.

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced in a DIY project, and how did you overcome it?

So many challenges come with every DIY project I take on. One of the biggest challenges was when we purchased the Ford Transit van unexpectedly and all of a sudden needed to figure out how to go about building a camper van from scratch! I always knew this would be a one-day project, but the opportunity presented itself much quicker then expected so I had some MAJOR feelings of being overwhelmed with all that a camper van build entails. Particularly figuring out the electrical wiring which took me probably about a month to wrap my brain around!  

YouTube is an absolute gem when it comes to so many things you may need to learn and is definitely a huge resource for me. My father-in-law is also my right hand man with helping me through so much of the plumbing and electrical in my projects!

Where do you get inspiration for your designs and projects?

My number one place to get inspiration is browsing Pinterest. I always have some sort of style that just pops into my mind as soon as I see a space. From there, I look up different aspects of the design on Pinterest to create an idea board. I will say a lot of the designs in my DIYs happen by accident, when I am forced to come up with something clever to fix an issue that was either existing or one I created by accident!

What are some common mistakes people make when renovating an RV?

Not being conscious of the weight that you must stay within. All trailers have a GVWR and when creating a design or making alterations to these rigs, you have to be conscientious about how much weight you remove along with what you add back in. Another mistake is not knowing what size products to use in an RV—for instance they are built with two-by-twos—and ensuring that you use shorter nails, etc., because of the thinner walls, for example.

What are your top three must-have tools for camper DIY projects?

This is a really difficult question, but the number one tool you will need is a drill/driver because it is the most commonly used tool and needed in pretty much every project. For a more beginner friendly tool, a sander and brad nailer would be the next two more commonly used for smaller projects. But if you feel more comfortable with tools, a miter saw and multi tool would be essential in helping you build different things to be added into your projects.

What advice would you give someone who wants to start DIY-ing their own RV or camper but has no experience?

My biggest advice would be to buy my book DIY Camper & RV Reno. It has a wealth of knowledge and walks you through so many beginner friendly tutorials, whether it be laying floors, painting cabinets and other lightweight additions for your camper. It is a great starting point to get the ball rolling. I usually recommend painting first because it is fairly simple and requires very little tools and can make a huge impact in a small space like an RV. The other major piece of advice is to be patient! Not only during the modifications you make but also when looking for the right RV to get. I waited until I found one for free and the second one was only $300! This took so much pressure off of me in case I messed something up! In time you will find someone wanting to just get rid of an old rig and that is when you capitalize on the deal!

What are some budget-friendly tips for upgrading an RV?

Once again, another reason I usually would recommend paint first is because it is a huge impact for very little money. Another budget friendly tip for upgrading an RV is changing the window coverings as so many of them are bulky and dated and it really brightens up a space just to make that change. One last one would be to upgrade the light fixtures or faucets because it is a fairly simple change, but can have a huge impact with minimal tools required.

If you could renovate any type of camper or RV with an unlimited budget, what would it be?

I honestly would probably renovate another van because it was the most unique and fun experience and there are some amazing things you can do, especially with an unlimited budget!!! It is also pretty much impossible to find a lower priced van with a good engine and life in it still as compared to an RV. So an unlimited budget would make this purchase way more feasible! If I were to pick an RV, my husband and I have always wanted to do a Omni Super C or Motorhome of some sort, which is a perfect combination of a van and RV in one and they make some super luxurious ones that are definitely out of our price range!

What’s your dream travel destination in your RV?

My dream travel destination would be the entire East Coast, making our way down to Florida and the Gulf of Mexico for the winter to avoid the cold! I love all of the historical stops that would be along the East Coast and Florida has always been on my bucket list!

What’s next for Nailgun Nelly—any exciting projects or plans on the horizon?

So many big things are in the works for Nailgun Nelly! Currently we have a 1959 Ken-Craft that is ready and waiting for us to renovate within the next month or so. We are just starting to lay the foundation for a workshop that I am finally going to get for all of my projects to come! I am super excited about the workshop because it will definitely be much more bougie than the normal one you may think of and I can’t wait to deck it out!