Repairing Guides

how to repair pop up camper

by Dr. Ike Morissette Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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7 Easy Steps – How to Fix or Repair Pop-Up Camper Canvas

  • Measure the damaged areas
  • Locate the correct repair kit
  • Prepare the tent material for the repair
  • Cut the repair material
  • Apply the adhesive and the patches
  • Allow the adhesive to cure
  • Weatherproof the patches

Part of a video titled Pop Up Camper Canvas, Vinyl, & Screen Repair - YouTube
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14:23
So when it comes to canvas these are going to be on a lot of your older model pop-ups or sometimesMoreSo when it comes to canvas these are going to be on a lot of your older model pop-ups or sometimes in your bunk end windows canvas is a pretty simple repair. If you have like a small pinhole.

Full Answer

How to create a crazy comfortable popup camper?

How To Create Comfortable Pop Up Camper Beds

  • Memory Foam Mattress Toppers – You will need 2″ memory foam mattress toppers (or 3″ if you have room for it**) for both beds (I bought a king memory foam ...
  • Jersey sheet sets – I got ours from Target. ...
  • Blankets and lightweight comforters – Get these from a store like TJMaxx to save money (or use extras you have at home). ...

How to patch a hole in a pop up camper?

Part 2: Rebuilding/Repairing the Roof and Making it Water Tight

  • Rebuild Roof Structure with New Wood
  • Reattach Roof and Canvas to Camper
  • Seal Up Holes and Seams to Prevent Future Leaks
  • Cosmetically Repair the Ceiling

How to mouse proof your camper?

  • Examine the bottom of your RV to spot gaps and holes.
  • Look in the RV’s corners and along their edges for holes and gaps.
  • Carefully investigate the areas where the RV’s plumbing and wiring come into your living area.
  • If your RV has slide outs, check their seals. ...
  • If there are access panels anywhere in your RV (e.g. ...

How to replace a roof on a camper?

What is the best rubber roof coating for RV?

  • Proguard Liquid Roof RV Roof Sealant.
  • Flex Seal Liquid Rubber in a Can.
  • EternaBond RoofSeal Sealant Tape.
  • Dicor Rubber Roof Acrylic Coating.
  • Sashco Through The Roof Sealant.

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How much does it cost to replace a pop-up camper top?

Generally, it's $300-$325 per linear foot. So if you're replacing the entire roof on a 36-ft rig, it will cost around $7,000-$12,000. Also, consider that they could find more damage underneath the roof, which requires additional cost and repairs.

How do you fix the canvas seams on a pop-up camper?

0:496:34POP-UP CAMPER SEAM STITCHING (NOT) A DIY HOW-TO! - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo this is what i'm doing i put this fabric fusion adhesive stuff i spooged it all up in there andMoreSo this is what i'm doing i put this fabric fusion adhesive stuff i spooged it all up in there and then i put these little clips to hold everything in place while i'm sewing. It.

How do you repair a hole in a pop-up camper roof?

0:584:39How To Repair Holes in an RV Roof - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd try to get it as clean as you can once the roof is clean we start by applying dicor self-MoreAnd try to get it as clean as you can once the roof is clean we start by applying dicor self-leveling lap sealant to each screw hole until they're all covered.

How do you fix a leaking seam on a pop-up camper?

3:055:17How to WATERPROOF your POP UP Camper! - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou know try to spice it up a little bit. Especially around the around the air conditioner. Mine wasMoreYou know try to spice it up a little bit. Especially around the around the air conditioner. Mine was leaking right in the corner of where the air conditioner met on one side.

How do you repair a canvas seam?

To do this, simply rip out the seams holding the old hook and loop to the canvas. Then you can sew the new product in its place! The back side of hook and loop should always be protected from the sun. If yours was not backed with canvas, we recommend adding a canvas flap for it during the replacement process.

Does Flex Seal work on RV roofs?

Metal RV Roofs Flex Seal will adhere to almost any surface including wood, metal, aluminum, plastic, fiberglass, rubber, vinyl, or just about any dry (or even wet) surface. You just need to be sure to clean your RV roof before applying Flex Seal.

What is the roof of a pop up camper made of?

​​What are pop-up camper roofs made of? Pop-up camper roofs are made of 1” x 2” boards that form the pop-up ceiling frame. On the inside, there is a thin sheet of luan (plywood) attached to a foam core. This soft roof is what allows the pop-up camper to have its “pop” properties.

What type of plywood is used for RV roofs?

Walnut plywood is a great choice for RV roof repair because it is extremely strong and durable. This type of plywood is often used in construction because of its strength and ability to withstand heavyweights.

Remove the Exterior Trim to Assess Damage

In order to unscrew the trim, the first step is to take out the vinyl trim insert that covers the screws. If your camper looks anything like mine, the vinyl trim is probably cracked, broken, moldy, or all of the above. This trim should just pop out as you pull on it.

Detach the Canvas and Remove the Roof

If you find, like we did, that you’ll need to replace a good amount of the wood on your pop up roof, it’s time to detach the canvas and then remove the roof in order to rebuild it. If your water damage is minimal and the wood is still structurally sound, you might be able to skip ahead to Part 2 – Seal Up the Roof to Prevent Future Water Damage.

Remove Rotted and Water Damaged Wood

In the video above, you probably saw just how rotted away some of the wood on our camper was. This thing had clearly been taking a lot of water for a long time. We opted to completely remove all four sides of our roof, as well as replace the outside edge of 1 x 2″ framing.

Reasons and Types of Damaging On Pop-Up Camper

Nothing is durable like a lifetime and not your pop-up camper too. After a time by becoming unaware you may face those troubles. So, what are the possible sakes to happen this?

How to Fix Pop-Up Camper Canvas (8 Steps)

Many damages don’t require such cost and effort to fix that can be solved by anyone. And I think repairing is easier and budget-saving than pop-up camper canvas replacement.

Emergency Canvas Repairing During Camping

Suppose you will go to the camping area and discover damages on your pop-up canvas. What do you do in such an emergency? The situation will be, neither you will go back nor stay pleasantly with such errors.

Tips to Maintain Pop-Up Camper from Impairing

As I always say, prevention is such a thing that can keep you far from facing many troubles.

Last Thoughts

So, does the process look harder than the replacement or installation of a new one? I don’t think so. The steps are so simple as well as cost-effective to anyone.

Step 1: What the Old Floor Looked Like

The floor was covered with roll vinyl. The most noticeable soft spot was in the back, not a big problem since it was under the bed. The white corner under the bench seat shows you the type of rot the camper had. The sub-floor was particle board that had been wet too long.

Step 2: Out With the Old

So I was able to pull the camper into the garage and open it up. Then I used hydraulic jacks to raise it up on jack stands. Please use proper jack stands and NEVER work under the trailer with only jacks holding it up. Once up on the stands I pulled up the old vinyl roll flooring. Underneath I found a mix of plywood and the original particle board.

Step 3: New Floor Framing

At the edges I screwed 4" wide plywood to form "tabs" that the new sub floor could fasten to. Also I planned to insulate the floor with 3" of Styrofoam. I had a big stack of 3" mahogany strips, but any solid wood should work.

Step 4: Galvanized Under Belly

To protect the Styrofoam from the road a friend helped me cut and bend sheets of galvanized sheet metal. This is the type of metal used for heating ducts and is fairly easy to work with. Do wear gloves, the edges can cut you when you least expect it.

Step 5: Styrofoam Insulation

With all the sheet metal panels in place I cut the Styrofoam on the table saw to fit. The foam is easy to cut, but be careful, the saw blade can grab it away from you, keep your fingers safe! Can you believe it, 3" of empty space and the trailer company never thought to fill it with insulation??

Step 6: New Sub Floor

I used 6mm ( 1/4" ) plywood meant for tile under layment for the new sub floor. I used construction glue everywhere and lots of screws. Be sure to counter sink for the flat head screws so they don't stick up where the new bamboo floor needs to lay flat.

Step 7: New Bamboo Flooring

So starting on the left side of the camper I snapped a chalk line to have a straight line for reference. Then I trimmed the bamboo strips to fit against the cabinets and match the straight chalk line. I used screws to hold the flooring down. I used #2 x 3/4" stainless steel flat head wood screws and pre drilled all the holes on the drill press.

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Measure The Damaged Area Or Areas – Order Enough Material

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Open your trailer and erect the tent portion. Carefully exam both the interior and exterior parts of the fabric tent and make notes on the size and location of each repair you intend to make. Add up the area of the repairs to get the total amount of repair fabric and other materials you should order. 1.Don’t forget to check the win…
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Locate The Right Repair Kit – Match The Materials

  • The key to making a functional repair on your pop-up tent trailer is to match the repair kit with the type of material on your trailer. Pup-up tent material comes in several varieties. 1. Canvas 2. Vinyl 3. Sunbrella Fabric 4. Window Screen Material Check the owner’s manual that came with your pop-up tent trailer for recommendations on which material to use to repair the fabric portions of you…
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Making The Repairs – Cutting The Repair Material

  • For each area that needs repairing, cut two patches of similar shape and size. When cutting your patches, there are a few things you should remember. 1. Patches do not need to be square or round. Patches can be irregular in shape to fit the area that needs repair. 2. Allow enough material around the edges to ensure that the patch extends onto undamaged tent material at least one in…
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Applying The Patches – Working with The Glue

  • Depending on the material you are repairing and the kit you use, the specific instructions may vary. Always follow the directions that come with the repair kit you are using to apply the glue and the patch material. In general, you should follow these guidelines in patching each damaged area of your pop-up tent trailer material. 1. Start on the insideof the trailer. 2. Apply the adhesiveaccor…
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Allow The Adhesive to Cure Completely – Patience Is Important

  • Don’t be in a hurry to close your pop-up tent camper and put it back into storage. Closing and folding the tent can cause unexpected problems if the adhesive is not allowed to cure completely. If you get impatient and close the camper to soon, the uncured adhesive may stick to any fabric that comes into contact with the repair. If you don’t give the adhesive time to cure, you may find …
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Restoring The Weatherproofing on Your Repairs

  • The patches you have made on the tent material on your pop-up tent trailer are not weatherproof. Also, if you cleaned the areas around the damage, you may have compromised the weatherproofing on the entire tent portion of your camper. Before you store your pop-up camper trailer after the repairs, you should apply a fresh coating of weatherproofing to the tent. Several …
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Conclusion

  • Maintaining your pop-up tent camper in the best condition possible is the key to protecting your investment in the trailer and to ensure that you can continue to enjoy your trips and adventures. Repairing the tent material on your pop-up camper is a job that most trailer owners can accomplish. Following a few simple steps and doing a little pre-planning can make the process …
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