My New Pop Up: Replace or Repair Canvas?

[Allagash]

I purchased a 1993 Starcraft 1224 yesterday from a woman for $500. Overall, it's in pretty good condition. It's got heat, fridge, potty / shower combo, hot water tank, awning, screen room. Obviously, for the price, it needs work. It needs a really good cleaning. The tank for the hot water heater is busted as the previous owner didn't drain it during the winter. The flush for the toilet keeps blowing a fuse but I was told by the previous owner that they manually flushed it. They said that the heat and fridge work great. I checked the fridge by plugging it in and it works nice. The storage cabinet to the right of the fridge (missing from pictures) was in rough shape so I had my father (he's a finish carpenter) come by today and pick them up so that he can build an identical one.

The canvas is in rough shape as it is starting to tear at the seam of the windows in a few places. The center portions on both sides are fine. It's the two ends that have the tears.

Here is a link to pictures of my new trailer:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7136780@N02/sets/72157601935682885/

Based on the photos of the tears, do you guys (and gals) think I should replace the whole canvas or would a skilled canvas repair person be able to fix it? I've got a 2 and 3 year old who will be camping with me and I really don't want anyone getting wet. I can afford a new canvas so the price is not the issue. I know nothing about these trailers so that's why I'm asking. If the answer is to go with a new canvas, who would you recommend and how much do you think it will cost?

What do you guys think of the price I paid? Too high, good deal, or about what it's worth considering the issues with it.

[dkutz]

I would think you go t a good deal.  ALthough I am not sure what a canvas and the other repairs will run you.  We have a 94 starcraft that we just got this year, we paid $2000 for it but it doesn't have heat air toilet fridge nor is it as big.  Ours was in good shape, but for $500 I think you did pretty well, if you don't mind doing the work on it.

I am sure people on this board will help you out.  The canvas looks like it already had someone try to fix it, with that much damage, I would just replace the canvas, I believe there is a company that everyone recommends on here.  Do a search for canvas replacement, I am sure you will find it.  I don't think they are THAT expensive, and I believe if you are handy you can do it yourself, but I am not sure.

Good luck and good find.  Happy camping

where are you located?

[wavery]

I purchased a 1993 Starcraft 1224 yesterday from a woman for $500. Overall, it's in pretty good condition. It's got heat, fridge, potty / shower combo, hot water tank, awning, screen room. Obviously, for the price, it needs work. It needs a really good cleaning. The tank for the hot water heater is busted as the previous owner didn't drain it during the winter. The flush for the toilet keeps blowing a fuse but I was told by the previous owner that they manually flushed it. They said that the heat and fridge work great. I checked the fridge by plugging it in and it works nice. The storage cabinet to the right of the fridge (missing from pictures) was in rough shape so I had my father (he's a finish carpenter) come by today and pick them up so that he can build an identical one.

The canvas is in rough shape as it is starting to tear at the seam of the windows in a few places. The center portions on both sides are fine. It's the two ends that have the tears.

Here is a link to pictures of my new trailer:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7136780@N02/sets/72157601935682885/

Based on the photos of the tears, do you guys (and gals) think I should replace the whole canvas or would a skilled canvas repair person be able to fix it? I've got a 2 and 3 year old who will be camping with me and I really don't want anyone getting wet. I can afford a new canvas so the price is not the issue. I know nothing about these trailers so that's why I'm asking. If the answer is to go with a new canvas, who would you recommend and how much do you think it will cost?

What do you guys think of the price I paid? Too high, good deal, or about what it's worth considering the issues with it.

I wouldn't bother trying to sew that canvas. It looks like it may be Sun rotted. If it is, anywhere that you sew,will just tear out.

Here's a couple of places that sell canvas. It's probably cheaper to replace than repair.
http://www.bearcreekcanvas.com/
http://www.canvasreplacements.com/
http://www.telusplanet.net/public/wks/

If you are happy with the price....it's a good deal.

Looks like you will be putting a good deal of $ into this trailer so the $500 that you paid really isn't relevant. It will be interesting to see what it ends up costing to get it all put together.

A few pointers....before you start putting $ into it, you may want to be sure that the floor has no "Soft spots" in it and there are NO water stains in the ceiling.

Remember, the most important things to do, to get it ready to tow is to have the wheel bearings packed, brakes and tires checked. The aesthetics of the PU are one thing. Being able to safely tow it is paramount.


BTW..........WELCOME TO PUT

[austinado16]

I think you scored big time!  If that were a couple years older, it would be like mine......A starcraft "Nova", but with the "Constellation's" shower/potty set up.  Really a nice layout with the dinette off to the side so you don't have to climb over it, or it-as-a-bed in the morning or at night.

I would have bought that in heartbeat......the box is very nice inside and out, the colors are super nice too.  The roof looks straight and perfect, plus it has all the nice features.  

Good for you!

If money isn't an issue, throw new canvas at it.  It'll take maybe 30min to take the old canvas out, and maybe an hour to install the new.

The nice thing about spending up on the new, is that you'll have a water tight camper for another dozen or more years.  All it takes is a little water to get in and destroy a lot of camper.  There's a ton of particle board in them...floor, cabinets, countertops, walls, etc.  Get water into that stuff and it puffs up, destroys itself and ruins your camper.

Enjoy!!

[ScouterMom]

I agree with Todd - that is a SWEET camper, and you got a deal.

It does look as if the previous owners didn't take  good care of it - esp the canvas - and if they broke the water heater by freezing it like that (blew a hole in the side?) they probably neglected other things as well - So I would also take Wavery's advice - I bet they NEVER looked at the bearings, maintained the lift system, or checked any of the mechanics of the trailer's appliances. DO check the floor really well anywhere near the water heater, or any other water sources. They probably didn't know it blew until it thawed and they opened the camper - and there were probably other things they 'forgot' to winterize, too!  Rotted wood is a pain to deal with - but better to deal with it now while you have to take out the heater and that cabinet anyway.  If you don't, it will spread and you'll have a worse mess.

PUP's don't take tons of care, but they do take some basic common sense - and a little preventive maintenance can make one last for decades! when you add potties and showers and water appliances, you MUST winterize them, or you are asking for trouble.

STarcraft is a really great company - give them a call about the toilet flush, and I bet they can help you figure out how to fix it.  They really know the meaning of 'customer service' - they've helped many of us with our vintage starcrafts.

I would order the new canvas  - that's got too many rips to fix, and the way it's ripped suggests something wrong with the canvas or someone yanking HARD on all the zippers (looks like alot of the seams tore right thru the canvas where the zippers were sewn in ) does the canvas seem weak? or fragile?  or does it look more like the thread disintegrated or came apart?  If the thread itself came apart, a canvas shop can sew it up fairly easily and cheaply.  But many of those tears aren't seams where two pieces of canvas are sewn together - they are places where the thread pulled THROUGH the canvas and tore it - that can only be patched.  If you have too many patches and can afford it, get the new canvas.  I've seen folks get quotes for new canvas on a PUP that size, with no slide-out , at between $800 and $1000,  and you have so many nice amenities in that camper, too - so for $1500 you got what appears to be an almost new camper

You can patch it up temporarily yourself (actually, Iron on patches work great for repairs on areas that don't take direct stress - like bunk corners. and they are waterproof because of the glue) and throw a tarp over it and get some camping in yet this year - but go ahead an order the new canvas before the spring rush - so you'll be all set for next year!

( and if you decide it's too much to do - give me a call - I'd  be happy to take that baby off your hands!     )

See you 'round the campfire!

Laura

[Allagash]

where are you located?

I'm in Rhode Island and all of my camping will be in northern New England.

[M Baxter]

Scouter Mom, How do you maintain the lift system? We have a 97 Palamino. I was wondering if there was anything I should do to the lift mechanism. We ve popped it up a dozen times or more with no problems. Im just curious about what should be done and how often. Thanks MB

[ScouterMom]

lift systems can vary with manufacturers - but they all basically involve telescoping poles (or folding ones) and some system of cables and pulleys or chains.  Mostly they need to be kept moving smoothly.  so simply keep them clean and lubricated.

It's probably not as much an issue on the newer systems, and I've only had personal experience with older starcrafts - but what I have seen on my old units and others like them is that the pulley wheels can bind up with road dust, or the older ones are plastic wheels that can wear, causing the cable to jump the track of the pulley wheel, and then either it breaks the pulley or shreads the cable, while putting extra stress on the other cables in the system.

 What I've seen happen is that one corner will sag a bit, or bind up, make noise or not close properly, and rather than look for the cause, people tend to either push it up or down a bit by hand, (forcing the system) and it gets worse from there.  I'm not sure how tightly built the newer PUP's are - but the two 70's ones I've had  have many places for dust, bugs, etc to enter and settle.  I also had water run down inside the telescoping poles of my unit - causing the floor to rot out under the posts, and the posts to then fall thru the floor to rest on the pulley that was welded to the corner of the trailer frame. The post edge literally CUT thru the cable.  Now, wouldn't you think that it had to have some noticable problems before it got to that point?  

So like anything else, if you just pay attention and take care of the little things as they come up, you don't really have to do much else.

laura

[Allagash]

Thanks for all the fantastic replies.  I'm amazed at the time you all took to answer with such detailed answers to my questions after posting only once. It seems as though you've got a great community here and I'll be hanging around much more often to bug you all with more of my camper issues.  I now realize that replacing the top is the only way to go.  I dropped it off at my friends detail shop tonight and he's going to make the inside shine and clean all the upholstery.  The guy in the next bay over is a mechanic and he's going to inspect and repack or replace the wheel bearings.

I'll probably use Gorilla Tape (same company as Gorilla Glue) to patch up the tears and holes and try to get out once or twice this month. That will keep the bugs out.  If I pick nights where there is zero chance of rain, I should be all set.

Also, I found out that the camper is a 1994, not a 1993 and the model is a Starmaster.

Thanks again everyone.

[Allagash]

Here's a couple of places that sell canvas. It's probably cheaper to replace than repair.
http://www.bearcreekcanvas.com/
http://www.canvasreplacements.com/
http://www.telusplanet.net/public/wks/

Who of the three would you all recommend as being the best?  I'm not looking for the cheapest but the best quality top.

[Morin]

Lots of folks use bear creek...

[wavery]

Who of the three would you all recommend as being the best?  I'm not looking for the cheapest but the best quality top.

I have heard nothing but positive comments on Bear Creek and Canvas Replacements. I've not heard about the other one.

Most replacements are made of the same material (Sunbrella and vinyl). You might want to call each of them and ask them what weight isinglass that they use. Thicker is better.

[Hargus]

Hello,
       I'll agree with the others that you got a good deal. Your camper is very similar to mine. I also have a Starmaster a couple of years older. We had similar tears in our pu when we purchased it. What we did was only replace the canvas were it was needed. You can purchase sections of canvas In our case it was the queen end bunk and the roadside big window. Those are the biggest and most exspensive sections. In my opinion if you don't need them hold off. I did business with Canvas Replacements and was very happy with them and their assistance they offered me. They also sometimes have a special over the winter you can get $$ off if your order is over a certain amount. Good luck.

[cb]

We had the people at Canvas Replacements put in new "windows" for us and do some alterations to make the canvas fit better.  We are very happy with their work and their price.  The most memorable part is that since it turned out to be most convenient for us to pick up the repaired trailer on the 4th of July that year, the owner met us there in the morning, went over the repairs, and accepted our out-of-state check.  How many places do you get customer service like that?  We recommend them highly.

[sewserious]

I have heard nothing but positive comments on Bear Creek and Canvas Replacements. I've not heard about the other one.

Most replacements are made of the same material (Sunbrella and vinyl). You might want to call each of them and ask them what weight isinglass that they use. Thicker is better.

I have yet to find any canvas replacement company that uses anything but COTTON CANVAS and vinyl.  If you know of one that uses Sunbrella for a fact, please tell me.  I don't want to replace my Evolution 3 fabric and vinyl with canvas.  I would prefer Sunbrella.