Help

[Lori]

We just got a pop up for FREE.  We are very excited but needless to say it needs work.  We have already ordered a new canvas for it as the old one was shot.   Luckily it appears to have no water damage.

My question is this....the camper was in a field where a goat used it for butting practice.  It has a few holes in the side that need repairs--about the size of a baseball.   Does anyone have any ideas of how to do this w/o spending too much money.

Also, it appears that something made a nest inside one of the holes - possibly a mouse.  Any ideas on how to keep mice out of the campers during the off season?

[Shawsee]

The only way I know of to keep rodents out of a pup is to make sure you look everywhere for any openings. Then fill the holes with silicon caulking around and in the opening. Mice can fit in holes or cracks the size of a dime and even smaller. If there is an opening they will find it so make sure you even look under the camper.

As for billy goat's target areas, you could use some thin aluminum sheeting and then pop rivet them inplace. Make sure before you rivet the aluminum that you apply silicon caulk around the edge to make a weather tight seal.

Word of caution, make sure you do not use any other material (ie) galvanized sheet metal, regular sheet metal, other then just aluminum sheet metal. Some different metals when put together causes a reaction where the aluminum will literally turn to powder. I am no metalurgist but I have read where some people have problems when they used two different materials and the aluminum was disintergrating into a white powder.

Good luck

[SteffinMI]

Lori,
  Good luck with this one. What I would do is take it to your local trustworthy body shop. A friend of mine had similar problems with a car and he took it the body shop and they explained step by step on how to fix it.
Steff

[ptbrauch]

You could also use FRP paneling (available from Home Depot or Lowe's or just about any hardware store).  Its basically plastic paneling and is often used in restaurant kitchens.  Its probably cheaper than aluminum and I'm sure its easier to work with.  A box cutter will cut it and silicone caulk will hold it in place.  It can also be pop riveted.