Avoiding roof runoff streaks

[jclark]

One of the few design flaws I've found with my pu is that when it rains and the roof is dirty with leaves, sap, etc. the runoff from the roof runs down the canvas on the sides of the beds and leaves dirty streaks which I frequently have to clean.

I can't be the only one with this problem so I was wondering if you can buy a rain gutter-like accessory to divert the runoff away from the canvas?  If not, are they any reasonably simple DIYS solutions?

Thanks!

[tlhdoc]

Keeping the PU clean really cuts down on how much crud gets on the tenting.  Sometimes I cover the PU with a big 20  X 30 tarp.  Keeps the rain off and no dirty streaks.  You could cover the bunkends with a smaller tarp.  Attach it under the edge of the roof at one end and have it hang over the ends of the bunkend so that the rain doesn't run down the sides of the PU.  You could also put poles to hold the end of the tarps.

[beacher]

Keeping the PU clean really cuts down on how much crud gets on the tenting. ....

I don't regularly cover my PU but I do wash it, or at the very least, rinse it down with water before I go on a trip.  That reduces any dirty rain or condensation runoff.

[Recumbentman]

Same here!!! I always wash down the closed up PUP before any trip to get the roof clean. Then when back home I open her up. clean out the inside, and wash down the bunkends if dirty and let dry. close her up and ready to start over on the next trip.

[kampingkoge]

I'm a bit of a neat freek myself with the toys.  Question I have is should you limit the amount of washing you do on the tent fabric.  I tend to wash my PUP closed up to get the top clean, then I open it up and wash the tent material ... let dry for a couple days then close it back up until the next trip.  same process after each use, is this too much washing?

[tlhdoc]

I'm a bit of a neat freek myself with the toys. Question I have is should you limit the amount of washing you do on the tent fabric. I tend to wash my PUP closed up to get the top clean, then I open it up and wash the tent material ... let dry for a couple days then close it back up until the next trip. same process after each use, is this too much washing?

What tenting does your PU have and when you say you wash it, what do you do?

[tackhammer]

I bought some acrilic material and made covers for my bunk ends. used snaps under the end top lips, then tent poles at end of bunks.  We have found that the air conditioner runoff dosen't run down bunk ends, they stay cooler because of the air gap betwwen the two, and the end dont get dirty.

[kampingkoge]

What tenting does your PU have and when you say you wash it, what do you do?

It's a vinyl tenting and I wash it with the same soft (really soft) bristle brush and the RV concentrated wash/wax solution I use for the camper.

[ScoobyDoo]

I use a 6-8in long peice of 2in PCV pipe. Cut  1/4 of it off, stick it under the corner of the roof, on top the tent. I don't worry about rain runnig down canvass but this keeps the AC from wetting it down.

[tlhdoc]

It's a vinyl tenting and I wash it with the same soft (really soft) bristle brush and the RV concentrated wash/wax solution I use for the camper.

Do you treat the vinyl with anything after you wash it?  Washing it should be ok, but you might want to treat it with a vinyl conditioner when it dries.  I use either "Protect All" or 303's vinyl protector.  I can't think of the name right now.  I also use 303's Convertible Top cleaner if I have really bad spots on the vinyl bunkend roof.  The conditioners keep the top "slick" so that stuff doesn't stick to it as much.

[kampingkoge]

Do you treat the vinyl with anything after you wash it?  Washing it should be ok, but you might want to treat it with a vinyl conditioner when it dries.  I use either "Protect All" or 303's vinyl protector.  I can't think of the name right now.  I also use 303's Convertible Top cleaner if I have really bad spots on the vinyl bunkend roof.  The conditioners keep the top "slick" so that stuff doesn't stick to it as much.

Currently I don't but I will start with the very next washing .... thanks for the suggestion.