Author: Connie Ulman
Owning a pop-up camper is a rewarding experience. I have owned two pop-ups in my life time. The maintenance of a pop-up is extremely important. If not cared for properly things can go down hill quickly. However, if properly maintained it can last you a life time of camping. In this article we will look at maintaining and extending the life of your camper (RV).
Canvas
One of the most important things to remember is never put your camper away wet. If you fold down your camper when it is still wet, you will invite mildew to attack your canvas. Mold and mildew are not your friend. If you do experience mold and mildew, there are things you can do to clean it. Since there are different types of canvases be sure to know what yours is made of and use the product made for your camper. I am including a link to the Pop-Up Princess because she gives some great tips too. I use a product called Awesome that can be purchased at Dollar Tree and works like its name says. It is odorless and does not contain bleach; bleach can harm your canvas. To clean your RV, take a soft brush and scrub the affected areas but do this gently because scrubbing the area too hard will rip it. If you do discover or cause a rip in your canvas, repair it immediately. I have used Flex Seal clear water proofing tape which can be bought at most hardware stores. Simply place a strip on the inside and outside to seal the tear.
Related Read: 4 Best Pop-Up Campers & Why You Should Buy Them
Hard Sides
Keeping your hard sides clean is also important. To do this use a mild soap like Dawn dish soap, a sponge and water. You can use the Dawn dish soap on your canvas and hard top parts of your pop-up trailer.
Once you’ve cleaned the canvas and hard top you will need to let it dry in the sun. Once it is dry you need to water proof it. I used a generic version of Camp Dry and it took an entire can, but one treatment did the job; I recommend keeping an extra can on hand. Unlike some products Camp Dry is safe to use on the vinyl.
Awning
An area that needs attention and is sometimes over looked is the awning. Never put your awning up in high winds or storms because you take the chance of it being ripped off. Clean and treat your awning in the same manner as your canvas and hard top areas and never put it away wet. The awning is a small but extremely beneficial part of having a pop-up camper. Therefore, keeping it clean, dry and not allowing it to be baked by the sun will extend its life. Replacing the awning can be pricey and many times the bag itself becomes damaged. If your bag needs replaced or repaired, it can be expensive. Occasionally you can find a replacement on Amazon. Other places to find new awnings are www.rvpartscountry.com, www.dyers.com, and www.rvawningsmart.com.
Related Read: An Easy (and Imperative) Guide to Daily RV Maintenance and Inspection
Tires and Wheels
Tire and wheel maintenance are at the top of the list in my book. It doesn’t matter what type of RV you own safety is the number one priority when it comes to being a responsible camper owner. There is nothing worse than having to do tire and wheel maintenance, on the side of the road, in the middle of a travel day. Before I get in-depth on this subject let me tell you about an experience I had going through downtown Atlanta, Georgia. We had a bent axle but in order to replace it we had to get to the next camping destination. We had to go through downtown Atlanta, in the middle of the hottest part of the day, stop and go traffic the whole way. We stopped and bought a tire (this was not a pop up but a thirty-foot travel trailer) at Walmart. Again, the type of RV doesn’t matter tire maintenance is a matter of great importance on any camper. By the time we reached the other side of downtown the tire was in bad shape and had to be replaced again. My point is buying the proper wheels and tires is crucial but being aware of your surroundings and potential hazards is just as imperative. It will save you time and money and possibly save your life. Be sure to purchase the correct tire size for the weight of your pop-up, check the tire pressure often, and make sure your lug nuts are tight. The last thing you want is for your tire to fly off going down the highway. Once a year you should grease the wheel bearings; this can be done in different ways depending on your type of camper. One method can be seen in this video. Here is a link to a video on how to pack/grease trailer wheel bearings.
Roof Lift System
For your RV to remain functional it is important to keep this area clean and free of debris. To do this you’ll need to crawl up under your camper and visually inspect the crank, the cable and the cable spool. On a side note please do not misspace your crank handle because this part is made specifically for your camper and replacing it can be difficult. If your pop-up has fittings be sure to grease them. I own a 1998 StarCraft and to keep this area functional we spray it with WD40.
Battery
Battery maintenance is probably the easiest part of maintaining your camper. You will want to check the water level pre camping season. If you travel full-time you will want to check it every month or two and always use distilled water.
As I mentioned in the beginning if you properly care for your pop-up camper, do routine maintenance and never put it away wet your RV will last you a life time of camping.
Author Bio: Connie Ulman is a freelance writer/photographer specializing in the outdoors. She travels full-time across the U.S. Connie is the author of "One Child's Struggle with Cancer: A Mother's Pathway to God." Wife to Wild Woody, mother of a Marine and friend to all, Connie loves to write about family, pets and life on the road.
Related Tags
Cleaning, Exterior, RV Repairs / Maintenance / Upgrades, RV Tips, Tires
May 22, 2019 | 02:08 AM
Thanks for sharing this but I don't own any pop-up camper but as any other equipment it need to be maintain.