Pop-up campers are famous nowadays for their small size and better camping experience. You can open the tents made of canvas fabric on their upper side to extend the space.
How to Fix a Hole in a Pop-Up Camper Canvas? You can fix a hole in a pop-up camper canvas using duct tape, iron the patches, sew with needle and thread, apply rubber cement, use polyurethane glue, and a canvas repair kit.
These are collapsible campers; people fold their canvas tents during towing and storage. These are also known as soft-side camping trailers because the walls are made of fabric. These do not protect in summers and winters because of the lack of insulation layer.
What causes holes in a pop-up camper canvas?
Canvas tents in pop-up campers are durable, but you can see their fabric deterioration with age. These are water-resistant fabrics to prevent moisture on the interior side.
These are made of resistant and durable fabric, but it is vulnerable to wear and tear because of outside exposure. The chances of wear and tear increase because of long-term exposure to sun rays.
UV radiations from the sun make the fabric brittle, and these can tear easily. The issue comes when you plan a trip in areas where the temperature is relatively high.
Moreover, the issue also comes because of rodents and pests from the camping grounds. These are present in campsite areas because of the presence of food sources and trees.
Rodents and pests can chew the fabric to find the food source and make holes. Mice usually chew this fabric when they feel food smell from them.
In addition, wear and tear are common in accidental cases and when something harsh hits their surface. The issue also occurs when you park campers on the ground and tree branches accidentally fall on these tents.
These are more susceptible to wear and tear when you do not park them in cool and dry places. Poor maintenance and storage in moist and warm areas allow molds to come on them.
Molds grow on their fabric and weaken them, leading to smaller to larger holes.
How do you fix a hole in a pop-up camper canvas?
It is easy to fix the damaged pop-up camper canvas with different methods depending on their size. You can use gluey materials and duct tape for invisible pinch holes and seal the larger ones with a new patch of the same fabric.
Duct tape
It is the clothing tape, which is sometimes coated with polyurethane material. It is moisture-resistant and has more durability because of its fabric material.
It is used for sealing, packaging, and patching smaller to larger holes. You can use it if you see a small tear in the canvas of the pop-up trailers.
These are not suitable for larger wear and tears because they are less effective than other gluey substances. In addition, it is not a permanent solution to seal the tent because these are not completely waterproof.
Moreover, the stickiness of these tapes also decreases with time. Keep this tape with you during trips to quickly cope with emergencies.
Clean the damaged surface and remove the dust, grease, and water residues from them because these affect the stickiness of the duct tape.
Take out the tape from the roll according to the size of the worn-out fabric. Apply it on the affected area and press it with your hand for better binding.
Iron on the patches
You can use the iron-on patches to seal the hole in canvas tents of foldable campers. These patches contain the dried gluing material on one side.
Mild heat treatment melts the glue, and these can bind firmly with your fabric. Use the scissor or sharp blade to remove the damaged fabric and threads from their surroundings.
Remove the dust from their surface with a brush and put the cotton cloth on them for ironing. You cannot directly iron the canvas and vinyl surface because these cannot resist high temperatures.
Put the iron patches on the affected area and put another cloth on these patches for pressing. Move the iron on the press cloth about 5 to 7 times.
Remove the press cloth and check the stickiness of the patches from their edges. You can also use a hair dryer to give mild heat treatment if these are available.
Needle and thread
Fixing the larger holes in canvas fabric with a needle and thread is necessary. Match the thread according to the color of the fabric. You can use the speedy stitcher for better sealing and save time instead of hand sewing machines.
Use the needle and heavy-duty string for binding because the fabric is thick and durable. Sewing does not create a water and airtight seal on the affected area.
Use the beeswax or seam sealer to completely seal the area so water cannot enter. Take the canvas fabric and cut it according to the sewed area.
Use the gluing material and spread it on the new patch for their binding on sewed area. It will fix the damaged part on the pop-up camper canvas.
Use rubber cement and polyurethane glue
You can fix the small holes with a simple patching technique, and you do not have to hold the canvas with the sewing technique. Rubber cement is water and weather-resistant material and last longer.
You can use the rubber cement to add the new patch to seal the damaged surface. It comprises elastic polymers that can make permanent and long-lasting bonds.
You can use the polyurethane glues on the pop-up camper canvas for invisible pinch holes. It has a hard and rubbery texture similar to epoxy, which comprises long chain molecules. Apply these on the affected area and then dry it for a few minutes.
Canvas repairing kit
It is better to keep the canvas repair kit with your while traveling. It contains fabric patches and glue material for their binding.
It is the quick and reliable method to fix smaller to larger holes in your pop-up campers with tents. Cut the damaged area and remove the dust and grease from their surface for better adherence.
Cut the new patches according to the dimensions of the damaged area. I prefer to add extra inches so it can surround the additional area of the tent, which is weak and at risk of tearing.
Apply the glue on these patches and then find them on the affected surface. Apply pressure on their edges with your hands for better adherence.
Leave it for a few hours to dry, and do not fold the canvas right after its application. Drying time depends on the brand of the repairing kit, so read the instructions in their manual.
What happens when you do not fix the hole in the pop-up camper canvas?
It is necessary to fix the holes in the canvas of pop-up campers for comfortable camping and trip. Water during the rainy season gets inside through these openings.
Water entry can damage wooden furniture, walls, and floors. In addition, it can also increase the risk of damage to electrical appliances, which can lead to electric shocks.
Molds can also grow on the walls, floors, and the fabric of their tents when exposed to water. In addition, you can also feel the smell from the interior because of mold and bacterial growth in humid places.
Small rodents and pests can also enter inside and make their nest in the pop-up camper. They can also find and ruin your food packages because of their smell.
In addition, you cannot sleep comfortably at night because of the entry of bugs and small insects that can bite your skin.
It can also disturb the internal temperature because the interior becomes hot in the summer and extremely cold in winter. It is better to fix the small holes because these become large and difficult to repair when you do not fix them on time.
The larger ones need the replacement of a complete canvas, which is costly.
Related Articles:
