How to Fix a Pop-Up Camper

Pop-up campers are small, aerodynamic campers. They change from low-profile to full-size campers by a system of cables and pulleys. The top of the pop-up camper is most often made of fiberglass, and the sides and beds are made of canvas or rubber-coated canvas. Older pop-up campers use a crank and pulley system mounted on the front or tongue of the trailer. In newer pop-ups, the crank and pulley system is the same, but the crank is in the front or rear body of the pop-up. If your camper breaks, fixing it may be easy, depending on the type of repair needed.

Things You'll Need

• Lubricant
• Needle
• Thick thread
• Thimble
• Nail polish
• Clear packing tape
• Replacement cable

Instructions

1. Lubricate the crank and pulleys with a heavy grease, preferably a white spray-on lubricant. Each corner of the trailer has a pulley underneath. These pulleys control the cables that raise the top of the pop-up. Spray the lubricant on cables as well.

2. Check the cables to see if they've broken or slipped off track. A broken cable should be replaced with a cable of the same diameter, not patched.

3. Check the canvas top for rips and tears. Repair ripped canvas with a needle and thread. The canvas on pop-ups is usually sewn with a double stitch on a commercial sewing machine. The threads can break in high-use or pressure areas, causing the canvas to separate. Thread the needle through the existing sewing holes in the canvas, and repair the canvas at the break. Use a thimble to push the needle through the canvas.

4. Check that the canvas roof is attached on all sides and corners. Canvas can separate from the body or roof of the pop-up. The canvas is simply tucked into a bracket built into the top and sides. It's secured with a bracket or screw. You can make repairs by replacing the brackets or screws or by simply tightening the tuck.

5. Check the screen for rips and tears. Repair small tears in screens with nail polish. Larger repairs can be temporarily repaired with clear packing tape, or you may opt to repair them with a needle and thread. You can purchase screening at a hardware store.

6. Replace tires on older pop-ups before taking a long trip. Most pop-ups use small 12- or 13-inch tires. Lubricate the wheel bearings using a heavy grease designed for wheel bearings. If you aren't familiar with this process, ask the tire shop to lube the wheel bearing when you buy new tires. Don't forget to check the spare.

Tips & Warnings

• The aluminum top can be special ordered through a metal fabricator or someone who manufactures air conditioner parts if not available through the RV maker.

• Small cracks in the roof are all right, since the metal shell underneath will prevent leaks.

• Take along a repair kit containing all the items you'll need to make fixes to your pop-up camper.

• Don't use heavy wood or metal to replace the aluminum top; it will stress the lift system.

• Don't use a spray solvent on the cranks or pulleys. Solvents such as WD-40 cause lubricants to release from the object.

Resources

• Pop-Up Camper Advice