Dope - tore my canvas

[Morin]

Man I could just punch myself....

I was popping up the "new used" camper for the first time and I put a small one inch tear (vertical) in my canvas on the bunk end corner.  DOH!

Prior to putting my bunk end cross bar up I pulled my canvas around the corners of my benk end (like you should)  when I when to put the cross bar support up (from inside) I heard a tearing sound.  I looked in the corner and my canvas had torn.

I guess I didn't have the canvas on the re-inforced corner (about 1/2 inch over too far) and the tension and rubbing against that corner caused it to tear.  I went up to the fabric store and got a patch and ironed it on.  Luckily they had an exact match for my canvas color.

Man I could not believe it.  The patch looks good but I am worried about the tear because it is in a realy vulnerable spot where a lot of pulling will happen.  I will most likely reinforce from the INSIDE as well with a strip of good old duct tape so it will not pull as much on the material.

[wavery]

Man I could just punch myself....

I was popping up the "new used" camper for the first time and I put a small one inch tear (vertical) in my canvas on the bunk end corner.  DOH!

Prior to putting my bunk end cross bar up I pulled my canvas around the corners of my benk end (like you should)  when I when to put the cross bar support up (from inside) I heard a tearing sound.  I looked in the corner and my canvas had torn.

I guess I didn't have the canvas on the re-inforced corner (about 1/2 inch over too far) and the tension and rubbing against that corner caused it to tear.  I went up to the fabric store and got a patch and ironed it on.  Luckily they had an exact match for my canvas color.

Man I could not believe it.  The patch looks good but I am worried about the tear because it is in a realy vulnerable spot where a lot of pulling will happen.  I will most likely reinforce from the INSIDE as well with a strip of good old duct tape so it will not pull as much on the material.

Thanks for bringing this subject up. It really isn't discussed that much and really should be on a regular basis. I think this is a common mistake that a LOT of new PU owners make.

When you pop-up, make sure that you level and stabilize the camper before pulling out the bunk ends. Pull out the bunks and put the support rods down. When you pull the canvas over the corners just place them  loosely on the corners and don't pull them under. Go inside and put your tent supports in place, then come back out and secure the corners and and fasten any bungees or Velcro fasteners. This will keep you from putting undo stress on the canvas when you push out your bunk end arch support.

I think that what you did is quite common. I think that most of us have made that same mistake while we were learning.

BTW.....you are not a "Dope". Sharing this experience with others shows that you are a concerned person.

[Morin]

Derscribed exactly..  had I done that I would not have torn that canvas.  It is an 89 and looks to be original canvas so it has seen its years.  Anyone new, please learn this lesson..  a $2.00 mistake but could have been worse had I kept going.

Thanks Wavery, I appreciate the support.