Repairing Guides

how to repair pop up camper top

by Rory Considine Published 3 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 Roof Repair - Replacing Roof Side Walls
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And then you strip down the the old caulk. And use this nice caulking tool it's got a sharp edge toMoreAnd then you strip down the the old caulk. And use this nice caulking tool it's got a sharp edge to it that'll that'll dig out some of the cracks.

Full Answer

Are popup campers worth it?

Whether you are camping in a remote location or just getting away for the day with the kids, you might have considered a pop-top camper van. Is a pop-top worth it? A pop-top is worth it if you don’t have room for a full-size RV or need a combination commuter and recreation vehicle.

Why to choose a pop up camper?

  • You get a real-feel for camping and the outdoors that is more comfortable than just using a tent.
  • While being lightweight has its drawbacks, a pop-up trailer is much easier to tow and back up onto a lot than a large pull-behind camper. ...
  • Many tent trailers are small enough to fit in a garage for easy storage out of the elements.

More items...

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 heat up a pop up camper?

Tips to heat a pop up camper without electricity

  • Get a wood stove: This is based on fire and will produce some smoke but very minimal. You however need to be careful about fire.
  • Use portable heater: Battery powered portable heaters can work inside pop up campers. ...
  • Solar heaters: You can buy such solar kits that harness the sunlight, and give back direct heat, or provide heated water. ...

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How do you reseal the top of a pop up camper?

1:064:38Part 5: Making the Roof Watertight by Sealing Seams and Holes - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo after the entire skin is clean and dry. We use to turn it on teeth to seal up all the edges. SoMoreSo after the entire skin is clean and dry. We use to turn it on teeth to seal up all the edges. So to start using this I dry fitted the pieces I would need. So to go around the corners.

How do you repair a fiberglass roof on a pop up camper?

1:125:30Coleman ABS Pop-up Camper Roof Repair (Part 1) - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWe had a little bit of delamination a little movement here. So we put a tension rod just so thatMoreWe had a little bit of delamination a little movement here. So we put a tension rod just so that dries just try and standard liquid nails it may work it may not but.

How do you repair a plastic pop up camper?

2:1014:23Pop Up Camper Canvas, Vinyl, & Screen Repair - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIf you have a larger tear or hole in your canvas is to pick up one of these iron-on. Patches so thisMoreIf you have a larger tear or hole in your canvas is to pick up one of these iron-on. Patches so this of course you put on the area where you have that hole. Apply high heat with an iron.

How do you repair a Coleman pop up camper roof?

11:3913:06Fixing Roof Rot on my Coleman popup Camper // BEDLINER!!YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBut uh put some fresh silicone and all the joints. So it's all nice and waterproof. For the centerMoreBut uh put some fresh silicone and all the joints. So it's all nice and waterproof. For the center seal here you can actually buy all these replacement parts on colemanparts.com.

Can You Use Flex Seal on a pop-up camper?

Yes, you can use Flex Seal on the canvas of your tent-trailer, hybrid camper or pop-up camper. Flex Seal will adhere to almost any surface including wood, metal, aluminium, plastic, fibreglass, rubber, or vinyl or just about any dry surface ( or even wet).

What is my pop-up camper roof 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.

How do you fix a cracked camper shell?

0:162:30How to fix a camper - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe people would have to fix it and I'm going to show you an easy quick fast way to do it all you doMoreThe people would have to fix it and I'm going to show you an easy quick fast way to do it all you do is you simply grab a quick patch you tear it open and take it out of the package.

How do you repair RV body damage?

0:1115:02DIY: How to Repair RV Auto Body Damage - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd I wasn't really gonna do anything about it and the friend of mine said oh I can fix that. So youMoreAnd I wasn't really gonna do anything about it and the friend of mine said oh I can fix that. So you put in that stuff it's called fiberglass bondo.

How hard is it to replace the canvas on a pop-up camper?

Replacing your pop up camper canvas takes a bit of effort but it is possible. You can take the whole unit to a professional who will fit it with a new batch of fabric, or you can do it on your own at home.

How do you use a grizzly grip?

Apply two good coats of grizzly grip directly over the fiberglass, if you are going directly over the foam, just apply two coats of grizzly grip directly over it, no need to scuff it or wipe it down with a solvent.

How do you clean an ABS roof?

1:246:08Pop Up Camper ABS Roof Cleaning - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo you just spray some of this stuff on here from experience you don't need a lot because it reallyMoreSo you just spray some of this stuff on here from experience you don't need a lot because it really suds up after. You. You scrub it.

What is wrong with pop up campers?

Written by Mike Gilmour in RV Guides. One of the most common problems with pop-up camp trailers is damage to the tent portion of the trailer. Making repairs to the tent canvas or vinyl is easy if you follow a few simple steps and do the proper preparations.

What to do before storing pop up camper trailer?

Before you store your pop-up camper trailer after the repairs, you should apply a fresh coating of weatherproofing to the tent. Several commercial products are easy to apply and do a great job of weatherproofing tent canvas or vinyl.

What happens if you don't give a tent adhesive time to cure?

If you don’t give the adhesive time to cure, you may find that your tent is in worse shape than before the repair if it is now a glued together mess that refuses to unfold and go flat.

Why is it important to keep a pop up tent in good condition?

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.

Can you fold a tent if it is not cured?

Closing and folding the tent can cause unexpected problems if the adhesive is not allowed to cure completely.

Can you patch a pop up tent?

In general, you should follow these guidelines in patching each damaged area of your pop-up tent trailer material.

Do you need to be square to repair a patch?

Patches do not need to be square or round. Patches can be irregular in shape to fit the area that needs repair.

What to do if your camper roof is worn out?

If your camper roof is worn out or damaged then a repair is necessary.Repairing the roof will assure that you and your company will get adequate and warm shelter from weather conditions and other external factors while camping. Fortunately, repairing it is easy as long as you detect the damage early and know what to do.

Why does my pop up roof need to be repaired?

There will be times your pop up camper roof needs repair due to cracks from small accidents or extreme weather conditions. It is almost inevitable, especially if you use it a lot (or have had it for quite some time).

How to repair ABS?

Here are the supplies and materials you will need to prepare beforehand in order to do the repairs: 1 Safety Equipment#N#Prepare your safety gloves, goggles, and face mask. You will need to dress appropriately, with protective gear and clothes that you can easily work in. 2 Drill 3 Metal File 4 ABS Cleaning Solvent 5 ABS Powder 6 Methyl Ethyl Ketone Powder#N#The ABS Powder and Methyl Ethyl Ketone Powder is used for filling the cracks on your roof. You can also replace these with a LEAK STOPPER or FIBERGLASS REPAIR TAPE. 7 Water 8 Glass Container 9 Strrier 10 Old rags or clothes 11 Old and disposable paintbrush

Who rebuilt Robert's camper?

Check out Robert’s Pop Up Camper Remodel, Yadi. He totally rebuilt his from the ground up.

How to remove a car body panel?

On the bottom, you can see that there are screws and washers holding the panels in place. Just remove the screws and washers, and the body panels can be taken off pretty easily.

How to repair plastic sand?

Try a flame treatment with propane torch. Just run the flame over area to hear it up and open the pores of the plastic. Check with water to see how water reacts. It should not sheet or bead off of treated area. Use multiple passes if nessacary. Once satifieds sand with 150 grit then try the repair and should have no issue.

Why put adhesive on the outside of a camper?

We did that for two reasons… 1) It was easier to pull the paper backing off the adhesive as we went along if the adhesive was on the outside. 2) We wanted to make sure the adhesive formed a barrier on the outside in case of rain. It was a tight fit anyway, so both sides are snug and sealed well, but we just wanted to be sure.

How to patch cracks in plastic?

The MEK will eat into the plastic a bit and give you a nice surface for your patch to adhere to. Use a Popsicle stick or paint stirrer to patch your cracks and then let them dry.  Again, use the respirator and gloves when working with your MEK patch “goo.”  Once you’ve got your crack patched to your satisfaction, you can sand it down a bit with some fine grit sandpaper or steel wool.

Is it easy to install a seal?

Good luck with the seal. Ours was super easy to install, and I’m glad we spent the extra money to do it.

Can you repair an ABS roof?

I thought so, too.  After a lot of research, though, I realized that you could still repair that ABS roof, and, in many cases, the owners of the repaired Coleman ABS roofs were happier with the results than had they gone with a traditional pop up camper roof.  We had minimal cracking in our ABS roof.  There were a couple of medium sized cracks on one corner, a few small hairline cracks along the lip of the roof, and some spidery cracks under the awning rail.

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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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Preparing The Pop-Up Tent Material – Clean Is The Key

  • When you have the repair materials in hand and time to spend working on your pop-up tent camper, your next project is to clean the tent fabric around the damaged areas. The adhesive used to make the repairs must be applied to clean fabric. Make sure that the areas around the damaged portions are free of 1. Dust 2. Dirt 3. Grease 4. Oil 5. Any water...
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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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