How to Fix a Rotting Roof on a Pop-Up Camper

Pop-up, or tent trailer, campers feature a collapsible canvas roof, making it easier to move and store the unit. Once you’re ready to camp, the roof is raised through a system of pulleys and cranks. Improper storage and care of the pop-up camper, including keeping it exposed to the elements, causes the vinyl roof to rot in places. If the damaged sections aren’t compromising the integrity of the camper, it’s possible to restore the canvas roof instead of replacing it.

Things You'll Need

1 tablespoon dish soap
4 cups warm water
Soft cloth

Permanent marker
Sharp scissors
Vinyl repair kit

Instructions

- 1
  Clean the rotted area on the inside and outside of the roof with a mixture of one tablespoon dish soap and 4 cups warm water. Blot at the cleaned area with a soft cloth to remove the excess moisture without causing further damage.
- 2
  Draw a square around the rotted area with a permanent marker. Cut the canvas along these lines with a sharp pair of scissors to remove the damaged area, creating a repairable hole.
- 3
  Cut two pieces of canvas, which is provided in the vinyl repair kit, slightly larger than the hole prepared in Step 2. Locate a vinyl repair kit from a local home improvement or camping supply store that matches your pop-up camper roof's color.
- 4
  Apply a thin layer of the kit’s vinyl adhesive around the hole on the inside of the camper’s roof. Center the patch over the hole, and hold it in place for 30 seconds. Allow the adhesive to dry for one to two hours.
- 5
  Apply a thin layer of the kit’s vinyl adhesive around the hole on the outside of the camper’s roof. Center the patch over the hole, and hold it in place for at least 30 seconds to allow the glue to set.
- 6
  Allow the glue to set for an additional 24 hours before lowering the roof or using the unit.

How to Dig a Pit for a Sewage Ejector Pump

How to Install a Horizontal Plumbing Stack Vent

Home Maintenance