MySwag.org The Off-road Camper Trailer Forum
General => General Discussion => Topic started by: herbs on December 27, 2012, 08:56:40 PM
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hi all,
Last trip up to Wallaroo Caravan Park i managed to put a large tear in my jayco flamingo. It sits on the right hand side of the door and is probably about 250mm long. As you can imagine i was not impressed when i did it; i wasnt paying attention when i was winding it up and it got caught on the bed channeling. My question is has anyone had any success in get something similar repaired? I was thinking of getting a patch glued on but i am bit apprehensive to use adhesive. I rang a caravan place and they said they may have to take the whole canvas off to get repaired? I am not too keen on that either as i am concerned it may introduce more problems, water leaks, correct fitment etc. Has any body got any other thoughts? i have not been to a canvas repairer yet as they all closed for the christmas break. My insurance company has said it will cover the repair as it falls under "accident damage" which is good news i geuss.
thanks for your thoughts
Herbs
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Aha, you've answered a puzzle with my 3rd hand Dove whereby the last owner bought it but didn't notice excatly the same L shaped tear in the inside door vinyl just like yours. That's because it was covered by the curtains when he inspected it and didn't notice the tear until sometime later. My mate did when inspecting it for me with an interstate purchase but it was the only glitch in a good deal and being the inside flap by the door (presumably like yours pictured) I wasn't too fussed.
I had assumed perhaps the original owners might have locked themselves out and perhaps cut it trying to unlatch the door from the inside but now you mention it, they probably snagged it on the bed runner exactly like you did. In that respect it would most likely be the furthest inside door flap from the offending bed runner and normally it wouldn't be vulnerable if you only push the bed in with the canvas fully up. Lower it a bit beforehand and naturally the flap will sag inwards and be vulnerable. Elementary dear Watson after the event :'(
Fixed mine very nicely using clear Tear Aid for VINYL (Part B) as the fabric is vinyl coated.
http://www.tear-aid.com/ (http://www.tear-aid.com/)
Just a tip here. You only get one crack at rolling it on and you don't want air bubbles so get someone to hold a flat solid object from behind (ie the cloth side) while you apply it as per instructions to the glossy side and you'll have a bubble free barely noticeable repair.
The only other way is to have the whole canvas professionally removed and a new vinyl flap sewn in and I agree you're right to be nervous about that although you're insured but there will be an excess and is it worth it? How would you feel if you went the whole hog and did it again? Perhaps explain to the Insur Co you'll let the claim go at this stage with a patch (keep a photo of the tear) and there's always the possibility of claiming in the event you really do need to remove the whole canvas for some other more serious damage. As I said the curtain hides it and it will be strong and waterproof anyway not that it needs to be with the outside flap anyway.
PS- Another reason why we all need to be very circumspect about lending out our campers to novices and why we experienced owners would never want to borrow someone elses-
http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=18558.0 (http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=18558.0)
Too many things to go wrong with the simplest oversight or forgetting a strict routine for a moment.
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A common accident.....
these guys do awesome work http://www.uticolor.com.au/ (http://www.uticolor.com.au/)
Plastic welding, repairs, recolouring and resurfacing
Vinyl welding, re-colouring and conditioning
Leather repair and re-finishing
Automotive carpet and cloth colour rejuvenation and repairs
Odour elimination treatments
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I understand its a few years on....but I have just found myself in the exact same situation as yourself last week. Would you mind telling me what you ended up doing to repair the damage or if you have any recommendations?
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Hi and welcome might pay to get a swatch of the same material from an inconspicous place or a clear adheasive patch and sew it on with one of these jobbies and have a go over a few beers http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/The-Speedy-Stitch-/222119450682?hash=item33b759d83a:g:5JQAAOSwrklVEFW~ (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/The-Speedy-Stitch-/222119450682?hash=item33b759d83a:g:5JQAAOSwrklVEFW~) and the vid https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k40kKKCGyac (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k40kKKCGyac)
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you might give tear aid a go
they have a large patch kit that might cover it
https://www.tear-aid.com/ (https://www.tear-aid.com/)
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Yes definitely use the Tear-Aid Type B as Jaycos use vinyl and it's been a successful repair on mine in that spot for a few years now when I discovered a similar tear there after I had purchased mine interstate. It was hidden behind the curtain and my mate missed it with his inspection for me but no big drama. Easily torn like that should you push the bed in with the roof part way down and the tent lying loose so be aware of it.
By the way if you're thinking of removing the tent and sewing in a replacement I had the opportunity with mine when I removed it last year to replace the flyscreens for $800 but the extra work wasn't worth it, particularly as they couldn't match the Jayco's vinyl anyway so Tear-Aid it remained ;)
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By the way I quickly realized it's a 2 person job to get a neat repair so get here missus with the kitchen chopping board and with the roof up you hold it against the shiny vinyl side while I carefully gaffer tape the reverse fabric side together, then we swap and you hold the board on the taped side while I apply the Tear-Aid patch (I've cut to suit and rounded the corners naturally) to the pre-cleaned shiny vinyl side and once that's done, off with the gaffer tape and warm the patch with mum's hair dryer like they say and all sweet :)
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Thanks everyone......Certainly is great to be able to learn of other experiences. Tear -Aid sounds like the go, I did manage to get some vinyl from spotlight which is pretty much identical in colour, but not thickness. The damage happens too easily on a hot day...they really need HD canvas in this area of the walls. Just like you said. I did the damage when I didn't have the roof completely wound up.
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I did exactly the same on my new hawk , didn't even get it out of the driveway. >:( , thankfully prestige jayco had a guy come in when I was getting the first service done, $90 later it was vinyl welded. On inspection it takes a bit to notice it even happened. :D a mistake I hopefully won't make again.
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Thanks Jimmy. Which jayco was it where the repair was done?. I would like to call them to find out who can do the welding. I asked prestige....they passed on some canvas repairers details in bendigo.
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Uticolour fixed mine. I detailed before and after photos in the following post:
http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=31458.0;nowap (http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=31458.0;nowap)
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Prestige Geelong , hopefully they will be able to give you a contact number. Good luck
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Thanks Jimmy and jasman. Much appreciated