Canvas Repair Suggestions

AlexWinstanley

AlexWinstanley

Member
Gutted to find a full tear through our pop top canvas after only using it a handful of times.

I can only assume the internal straps weren’t pulled tight enough to pull the canvas in on itself and it’s got caught on the mechanism?

Does anyone have any longer-term repair suggestions that doesn’t involved a full new canvas please?

Thanks a lot

IMG_5467.webp
 
Have a chat with a sailmaker, not many near Wigan but it might be worth a journey after showing them some photos.
 
A common problem with they type if scissor pack...

Very common with the van max / HCC sport roof .. (what we have)

You have to 150% check that the canvas is pulled in, close the roof slowly with the slider full open... To stop the canvas puffing out.

I'd use tent repair tape, 50% past the damage, and on both sides.

I've got some really good stuff that I've used on the gazebos, I'll get a link.

What roof is it?
 
Same thing happened to us early days. Now it's always a 2 person job lowering the roof, slowly in stages, with one of us constantly checking around the outside and tucking in any bits that might be billowing out.

We used a piece of fabric as close to the same colour as we could find, Gorilla contact adhesive plus self adhesive transparent patches on both sides.

1000002218.webp

The repair is still good after a couple of years, and whilst clearly visible, not too obvious unless you're looking for it!

1000002219.webp

1000002220.webp
 
Reimo roofs have a very simple plastic spring incorporated into the canvas, this folds the canvas automatically next to the hinge, no issues. Could be copied and retrofitted.
 
Couple of things
Does your roof have a bungee cord that goes right the way around the canvas?
This helps prevent the canvas being caught in the hinges.
I’ve noticed not all pop tops have them.
And always make sure a door is open when lowering the roof. This stops the puffing out of the canvas when lowering the roof.
 
DXX said:
OK, check the plastic strips aren’t damaged, they pull out of the sleeves.
Click to expand...

My Reimo roof is at least 3 years old, so maybe different from the latest models. It has a sewn in elastic strip across the rear end and around the sides, presumably intended to help pull the canvas in when lowering the roof. We always have the slider fully open when raising or lowering the roof, but in windy conditions the canvas can still puff out on one side or the other when lowering.
I don't have any plastic strips or sleeves. I'd like to see pictures of this arrangement.
I bought a bungee strap (California Club I think), but I found no matter how tight I have it, as I lower the roof and the canvas starts to fold, it basically becomes fairly loose and doesn't really do much to prevent the canvas catching on the hinges.
 
GUMY said:
Same thing happened to us early days. Now it's always a 2 person job lowering the roof, slowly in stages, with one of us constantly checking around the outside and tucking in any bits that might be billowing out.

We used a piece of fabric as close to the same colour as we could find, Gorilla contact adhesive plus self adhesive transparent patches on both sides.

View attachment 329945

The repair is still good after a couple of years, and whilst clearly visible, not too obvious unless you're looking for it!

View attachment 329946

View attachment 329948
Click to expand...
We now have a Rob-Stick.

A 8 inch length of wooden broom handle, that's used to prop the roof up for the final check.... So bed board down, place the stick on the bed board and lower the roof onto it.

Then you are free to get out the van, walk around and ensure the canvas is fully in.... Before removing the Rob-Stick and allowing the roof to full close.

Works very well, we copied the idea off Rob aka @Jollyvan hense the name.

At first I tried a can of coke...but it was just too short.... .





.
 
Have a look at my post No. 8 here (and the same patch is still going strong!):
Ayjay

Post in thread 'Pop Top repair ideas'

Depending on the size of the hole, Tear Aid would be my go to - I repaired a tear in my pop top canvas 4 years ago with it and it’s still spot on. Use a patch on either side and wipe each side down with isopropyl alcohol before sticking them on.
  • Like
 
PS. Also, lose the current internal straps and buy a pop top bungee.
 
GUMY said:
My Reimo roof is at least 3 years old, so maybe different from the latest models. It has a sewn in elastic strip across the rear end and around the sides, presumably intended to help pull the canvas in when lowering the roof. We always have the slider fully open when raising or lowering the roof, but in windy conditions the canvas can still puff out on one side or the other when lowering.
I don't have any plastic strips or sleeves. I'd like to see pictures of this arrangement.
I bought a bungee strap (California Club I think), but I found no matter how tight I have it, as I lower the roof and the canvas starts to fold, it basically becomes fairly loose and doesn't really do much to prevent the canvas catching on the hinges.
Click to expand...
Is it an Easi-fit roof, ie a bit of a bathtub not what some refer to a a ‘stealth’ roof? If there’s elastic it will need renewing, generic ebay stuff, it doesn’t last very long before the elasticity is lost.
 
GUMY said:
I prefer Munchkin, but she does have 1/8th Irish blood....
Either way, I'm confident that she satsfies the two-use camping rule (and some!) :p
Click to expand...
You appear to be relying on your missus NEVER reading what you post on here! A risky strategy, but at 8" tall, perhaps not too risky. :)
 
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