Personalization and customization are the way of the world today, and campers are no different! I love transforming my environment to reflect my lifestyle and personality, so I wasted no time upgrading my 12 ft Sunray 109 Sport.
Although the upgrades are mostly skin-deep, I have some larger upgrades planned for the future. For now, let’s dive into the adjustments that transformed my stock camper into my cozy hotel room on wheels.
What You’ll Learn
Sunray Sport 109 Exterior Upgrades
For those who own a Sunray, you probably have the same distaste for the lack of thought and effort put into the tongue organization. I currently have a plastic battery cover, my spare tire mount, loose solar panel wiring, and my propane tank all mounted to the tongue of my camper.
Since my towing vehicle is a Jeep Wrangler — with my spare tire on the rear — having the camper spare tire mounted on the front causes a couple of issues. The first is that if I get jackknifed while backing into a spot, my tires kiss, which is less than ideal. It also requires me to tow with a hitch extender to ensure I have enough space to make any turns.
I don’t mind the hitch extender by any means! However, the spare tire could have been mounted in a less intrusive location by the manufacturer. In the future, I’ll most likely move my spare tire underneath the camper by the axle since I have plenty of space courtesy of the 6-inch lift kit.
Another upgrade I highly recommend making is getting rid of the crappy plastic battery cover box and replacing it with a metal-sided toolbox. This upgrade would have to be done after the spare tire is moved but it’ll be worth it!
Not only do you get an easier and more reliable way to access your battery, but you also get additional space for an extra battery if you’d prefer or some storage space that’s out of the way and protected from the elements. Both options are more valuable than having a spare tire mounted to the tongue.
Exterior upgrades I’ve already made
Now that we’ve covered my wishlist and recommendations for other Sunray owners, here’s a list of updates I’ve already made that required minimal effort and delivered a pretty quick return on investment:
- Ziptied a rug to my exterior step to knock off dirt and debris from my shoes or feet before stepping inside the camper. Get yours here >
- Installed a stick-on license plate holder on the bottom center of the rear kitchen hatch door instead of mounting it to a fender or having it hang precariously off the back “bumper.” This is the type I chose >
- Refinished my fenders in bedliner coating to prevent rust and improve durability
- Cleaned and applied a coat of wax to protect the exterior from the elements while camping or parked in my storage space
- Applied a canvas protectant and fabric guard spray to my awning and awning storage bag to ensure water could bead off easily
- Purchased velcro straps for added security and stability to secure my stowed awning when towing or storing. Something like this works well >
All of these upgrades were simple to do. Most of them ensure that I postpone typical wear-and-tear as much as possible while others are simply tiny tweaks that better align the camper to my preferred way of living on the road.
Now let’s get into the really fun stuff: interior upgrades and alterations.
Sunray Sport 109 Interior Alterations
Let me start by saying that I fell in love with the warm-tone interior of the Sunray 109 Sport instead of the light, spacey grey tones with black accents. The warm “wood” interior felt more comfortable and welcoming.
That being said, that is the only difference between my standard model and other models available on the market!
But to make my camper (aka my tiny hotel room on wheels) a cozy home away from home, I focused on making some minor upgrades to personalize the space and breathe some life into it while improving my level of comfort.
Easy upgrades that make all the difference
I first applied a wildflower wallpaper to the back wall to break up all the wood veneer interior. I chose a peel-and-stick wallpaper from Amazon that was surprisingly easy to install. I even had to redo a patch because my iPad mount fell out of the wall and took some of my wallpaper hostage during that process.
Side note: I am still looking for an iPad mount that works effectively for my camper. If you have one, drop it in the comments.
I purchased a 2022 model Sunray 109 Sport, which means that I had some super groovy grey and white cushions that are reminiscent of the type of cushion shape and design you’d see at Johnny Rockets or any other old-school diner.
They’re fun and cute to look at but the dense piping to create that fun design is not fun to sleep on for more than a couple nights. I take week-long trips all the time and I’m rarely willing to give up a good night’s sleep.
On one trip to Virginia, I wandered down to the local Walmart, picked up a 3-inch Full-size foam mattress topper, and cut it to size back at camp. This was hands down the best decision I’ve made when it comes to upgrading my sleeping arrangement.
The second best thing? Buying a set of Beddy’s! I chose a Navy Blue color to provide dimension and visual contrast to both the wood walls and my wallpaper.
For those who don’t know, Beddy’s is basically a grown-up sleeping bag that’s made for a bed. The bottom sheet and top sheets are connected, making it easy to keep everything together.
This is critical for RVs and small spaces. Plus, making my bed in the morning is a breeze! I just zip up the sides and I’m ready to take on the day.
Improving aesthetics and insulation
To really take my minor upgrades to the next level, I chose a black and white patterned peel-and-stick floor tile to lay down on top of the existing flooring. There was nothing specifically wrong with the vinyl flooring tiles that were already installed, but the color sucked the life out of everything which I did not enjoy.
By choosing a floor tile that added some contrast and visually showed when it was time to do some light sweeping, I created a space that brings me joy and complements how I like to live.
It also added another layer of insulation on the bottom of the camper. This came in handy when I was living on the road in Florida during the summer of 2023.
These peel-and-stick flooring tiles are super easy to clean and they instantly brighten up the space, which is exactly what I wanted.
Now, let’s look at how I used yet another peel-and-stick option to improve my kitchen space.
Easy Kitchen Updates to Make Today
I love to cook — more specifically, I love food! I love playing around with new flavors and ingredients to create simple and nutritious meals made of whole foods.
The first “red flag” I noticed in the Sunray 109 Sport kitchen is the wood veneer backsplash. I have stained numerous shirts with oil-covered foods and I just knew that any oil stain on that wood veneer would drive me crazy. Plus, it’s not easy to clean which is a problem within its own right.
To quickly fix any issues with cleanliness or aesthetics, I purchased peel-and-stick backsplash tiles from Amazon. I chose a white subway tile style with white “grout” to provide a stark contrast to the warm wood tones, black outline of my fridge, and my 2-burner gas stove top.
Eventually, I’d love to swap out my kitchen sink for something that has a white basin with a black faucet to really pull everything together but that upgrade will be saved for another day.
Installing the backsplash was super simple — so much so that I installed it at a campsite on my first camper trip! All you need is a sharp exacto knife and a wooden picnic table. You probably could get specific with it and add a measuring tape to that list of tools.
But, if you’re all for “efficiencies,” you can just eyeball it. That’s what I did and I only created one little area of concern because I had to cut around a couple of outlets and a switch!
Now, whenever I cook greasy foods or make a mess while cooking, clean up is a breeze and I don’t have to stress about staining something I don’t know how to replace.
Who needs a microwave while camping?
Another upgrade I wholeheartedly recommend is removing your microwave. I think it’s very odd that Sunset Park RV includes a microwave on the Sport version since it’s clearly equipped to spend some time off the grid.
But since I’m not the manufacturer, all I can do is alter it to better suit my needs! One of the main issues I have with the kitchen is the lack of storage space. That’s why removing the microwave was an easy decision to make.
By pulling out that appliance, I effectively created a pantry space to store extra food for long trips. I’m still figuring out the best way to maximize this newfound space since it has a lot of height. When I find something that works well, I’ll share it!
For now, I use a wire basket to prevent items from shifting too much when underway. I also use this space to store my collapsible dish-drying trays and collapsible dish-washing basin which is quite convenient.
Adding much-needed kitchen storage
In addition to creating more space by removing the microwave, I wanted to create a kitchen space that was easy to use. This required setting up some command hooks to hang towels and spatulas. It also meant installing two Ikea storage bars with various attachments that allow for ultimate customization.
I installed one white bar at the base of my upper cabinets right above my sink. I installed a second bar behind my kitchen faucet. The combination of having both of these — outfitted with cups and hooks — ensures I have everything I need right at my fingertips.
I typically store my Swedish dishcloths in a mounted cup, hang Turkish towels on the hooks, and keep my toothbrush and toothpaste in another cup for easy access. Overall, these two minor upgrades make my camper kitchen feel more versatile and equipped to support my on-the-road lifestyle.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size bed is the Sunray 109?
The interior bed design is a pull-out sofa bed. When fully extended, the bed is 54″ x 74″, which is equivalent to the measurements of a Full size bed.
Who makes Sunray 109 sport?
Sunset Park RV is the manufacturer of the Sunray 109 Sport. They also manufacture other Sunray models, like the Sunray 149, Sunray Toy Haulers, and Sunray 129.
How much does a Sunray sport weigh?
The Sunray 109 Sport has a dry weight of 1280 lbs. Here are some additional specifications to give you a high-level overview of the Sunray 109 Sport:
- Sleeps 2
- Hitch Weight: 120 lbs
- GVWR: 2000 lbs
- Dry Weight: 1280 lbs
- Fresh Water Capacity: 16 gals
- Length: 12 ft
- Ext Width: 8 ft 6 in
- Ext Height: 7 ft 6 in
- Int Height: 4 ft 6 in
Make Your Camper Unique to You
Everyone has different preferences and interests which is why it’s important that you take the time to make your camper into everything you want it to be! From peel-and-stick tiles to tongue reconfiguration, the possibilities are endless.
My best recommendation to new camper owners is to spend a couple of nights in your new RV before you make any upgrade decisions. While you’re getting familiar with where everything is and where you wish things were, keep a running list of all your ideas on your phone! This was a really helpful tip my dad passed along that helped me keep track of all my thoughts.
When you’re ready to make an update, refer to that list and prioritize the updates that will make your next trip better than your last.
Happy camping!
[…] previous experience hanging wallpaper is solely from installing peel-and-stick wallpaper on a very small wall in my Sunray 109 Sport camper. This endeavor to hang Spoonflower wallpaper was an entirely different […]