Tent repair.

[Grebo]

One of you guys does tents don't you ?

I have a  L shaped rip in a brand new canvas (tencate) panel the L is 4" x 4". I have managed to get the identical material from the manufacturer & have antiwick thread in a pretty good match.
Now I am trying to decide the best way to patch this to be waterproof & look as 'unpatched'  as possible.
I don't particularly want to replace the whole panel.

Rip is in the grey panel this side a few inches from the bottom left hand corner about midway.(in the grey).
Thinking whether to sandwich the damage between to new bits or sew it on one side & cut out the other. May be a diagonal piece to match the grey strip on the right ? ( the other way around).
Ideas ?

Suzi

[scottymc]

Can't see the rip in that photo, for something that small just put a square patch on it , you wont notice it especially as it ages. If it was any bigger(the tear) and it was my camper I would replace the panel.

Scott

[kodydog]

I agree with Scotty. Just replace the whole panel.  It doesn't look that hard, or am I missing something.

[Grebo]

Can't see the rip in that photo, for something that small just put a square patch on it , you wont notice it especially as it ages. If it was any bigger(the tear) and it was my camper I would replace the panel.

Scott

Thats because it's not there, photo is pre rip.  :P   
Rip is 4" x 4".

[Jim101]

You could try HH-66 glue to glue a patch on.

Jim

[DBR1957]

This stuff works great.

http://www.tear-aid.com/

I've contacted them before about making it double-sided. That way you could
make a matching patch and stick it on. They didn't seem to be interested though.
It does work as advertised and I reccommend it to customers who come in with
a tiny hole. Less obvious than a sewn on patch.

If you're going to sew a patch on I would suggest a round patch. Rectangular
patches can actually cause a rip at the corners of the patch.

[scottymc]

The biggest job is to take the tent off the trailer, so you may as well do the job properly and replace the panel. Think of the resale value, glue patches are for people who can't sew or old tents that are not worth the trouble. If you are going to sew a patch square is fine with new canvas, the ripping of the corners on a square patch is usually because you are sewing new canvas on to old and the old being the weaker of the 2 rips. I am very weary about even replacing panels in old campers as with any tension it will tear along the new stitching, if you have to worry about putting a round patch on because of this then it is not really worth the trouble to be taking it off the frame, that is when one of those tear aid patches would work, but I reckon it would look crappy after a few years, having said that I will be getting a couple for on the road repairs for my own van.

  I have done a lot of these over the years they are very popular over here especially the off-road ones, we had one up until a few years ago.This is the onehttp://www.heaslipcampers.com.au/page.asp?parentid=3&parent2id=12 Had a ball in it could go anywhere, These things are only just getting popular in the States aren't they, they are a great way to go with the rising cost of fuel. 

[Hell Bat]

Ok,this could be a good ;D or bad :o Idea,but could you turn the rip, with a little extra work into a small flap/valcro shutter for a extenioncord inlet,you know make something usible out of it,call it a cool extra thing for camping. ;D

[boiseeMeelicy]

Yup, sho do. Only 15 a head to stay at Casa de Fuller  I guess when i said a tent connecting 2 busses i was actually thinking of an EZ-up connection, it works out really kewl. Plus if needed you could throw up a tent under it at night and leave it open and welcoming during the day. So many possibilities with bus camping

[Grebo]

Ok,this could be a good ;D or bad :o Idea,but could you turn the rip, with a little extra work into a small flap/valcro shutter for a extenioncord inlet,you know make something usible out of it,call it a cool extra thing for camping. ;D

Hey like the way your thinking there, dog flap may be  ;D

No I think scotty is right I need to bite the bullet & replace the panel.
Thanks I already know about taking the thing off the trailer   ???  Took the original off to repair & back on for last years use, took it off again to replace with the new one. So one more time 'I hope that's all'

Cheers gang  :-*  going to attack it this weekend.

Suzi

[kodydog]

 http://www.heaslipcampers.com.au/page.asp?parentid=3&parent2id=12

I absolutely love that roll out kitchen. In my pop-up camper I usually set up an outdoor kitchen, away from the camper, that usually takes about a half hour with dining fly and all.

[byhammerandhand]

This is the onehttp://www.heaslipcampers.com.au/page.asp?parentid=3&parent2id=12

That's pretty neat.  We did a lot of camping in the 1970s in a tent then graduated to a couple of "tent-camper" AKA "pop-ups" in the '80s and '90s.    At that time there was a tent fold out on a small trailer made by a company called Nimrod.   Whenever we saw them at a campground, there was always a plastic tarp over the top, so I assumed they leaked like crazy.


Here's another site on similar topics, including building teardrops and valdos:

http://www.mikenchell.com/forums/

[scottymc]

That's a cool site Kieth,I just did a pop up top for a young guy in town, I should have taken some pic's , I'll be passing that site on to him as it is only at the frame stage.
The great thing about that Heaslip camper is it's simplicity and bullet proof construction, some of the you beaut one cost 50 grand and if something brakes you have to wait for a spet part to be shipped to you.