Canvas mods

[austinado16]

Since we're fresh from a trip, I decided to leave the camper opened up and finally take on the project of having canvas rain flaps made for the telescoping roof poles.

The pre-mid 80's Starcrafts all seem to have this feature, and somewhere around the '85+ year model change, the flaps appear to have been discontinued.  Instead, there's a "U" shaped rubber gasket at the base of the telescoping roof pole(s), held down by a matching metal plate.  I've never understood how that, or having the poles exposed would keep rain from getting down into the corners of the camper and rotting out the walls and floor.......something that's already happened (and I've repaired) to my right front corner.

Using canvas from the '82 Coachman that I'm parting out, I've made a pattern and the left side canvas is over at the automotive upholstery shop right now.  He's also repairing a section where the plastic window has torn out of the stitching.  Once that side is done, I'll bring it home and install it, then mark where his velcro will meet the bunk end sides.  Then take the bunk ends back to have velcro sewn on.  And then do the right side flaps the same way.

Been wanting to do this mod for over a year and I'm looking forward to the end result.  Kind of funny to see the camper with canvas removed.

[mrsoreo57]

Hey Mister....you have a big ol hole in you're popup....

[austinado16]

It's a hotdog stand. Move along kid.

[treephiz]

Is that the new invisible canvas I've heard about?  Made by king's clothier or something?

[austinado16]

No hotdog for you....one month.

Next!

[Hoagie]

Looks like ventilation is no longer a problem.

[austinado16]

Here's the first side finished.  Once the other side is finished I'll mark the bunk canvas for where the velcro needs to be sewn.  Then I'll take the bunk canvas off, and down to the upholstry shop for the final work.

The other good thing about this little mod is that it's giving me a chance to get a zipper re-stitched, a plastic window that tore out from the stitching on it's zipper repaired and I've got a couple other little areas I'd like to "address."

[brainpause]

Good idea. The '84 Starcraft I rebuilt also had the whole floor rotted out because of this design.

In addition, I think the sealed floor caused water to stay in there, instead of allowing it to dry. Bet yours was the same. Top to bottom, my flooring was vinyl/linoleum, plywood, styrofoam, sheet metal. The sheet metal and styrofoam kept any water in there. It was obvious that the corners were where it had all started.

Larry

[austinado16]

I've drilled through my floor to pass the gas line and wires during the furnace installation, and it was just linoleum, plywood and aluminum.  But yeah, the right front corning had pulled away from the rest of the body about 1/2" at the top, the corner 2x2 was completely swiss cheese from dry rot and floor for about 2" inward from the lift pole was/is soft.  

I repaired the structure of the corner, but left the floor alone because it's a small area hidden inside the cabinet.  So far so good.

But ever since repairing all the water damage this camper had, the thought of getting caught in the rain and watching water run in around the lift poles has weighed heavy.  It wasn't until I dragged home that rotted out '83 Starcraft Starflyer 19, and saw it had canvas covers for the lift poles, that I saw the light.

[austinado16]

All done and I'm pretty happy with the results.  Also had the guy fix some areas on both bunk ends that could have become problems later on, and sew on a couple of new "T" shaped curtain hangers to fix the rear bunk curtain.

He charged me $75 and I gave him $100 because I appreciated the work and how fast he cranked it all out.

When I put it all back together I took some time to re-align the canvas and it seems like the zippers are a lot happier.  Then I measure the roof height at all 4 corners and found it was pretty out of wack.....over an inch of difference.  

Took some time, but got all the corners the same height, so that should help how the canvas fits and zips too.

Along with the new tires and wheel bearing repack of last week, I think we're pretty dialed in.

Next project is to replace the brake assemblies.  The previous owner gutted them.