Reconfigure Trailswest Pop-up

[teri85]

Okay, some advice or ideas, or you're nuts to try that.

I have to take the plywood off the pop top of my trailer as there is a leak and it is coming through. I think I am going to find some dry rot. The roof is really heavy after a rain. Since I need to take the top off I have been considering making it so the sides of the top are semi-rigid. By that I mean that the ends would be 1/2 in plywood that would fold down and secure (not sure how yet). This would be to stabilize the top, which tilts to the side even when level. I am also thinking about doing the same on the sides.

So, I am looking for advice and what kind of problems I need to consider.

Thanks for all your thoughts and ideas.

Teri

[Bobbie Mayer]

There are some plans around for homemade popup trailers- basically a trailer bed with plywood walls you set up. Something like that might give you a good idea how to do it on the poptop. Interesting idea. I don't think you'd want 1/2 inch plywood; 3/8 would probably be enough.

[David B.]

If trying to keep the pop-up straight & sturdy, you could just try using small diameter stainless cable crisscrossed on one or two sides. Small turnbuckles will allow for small incremental adjustments. These could also be hidden inside a sewn in channel in the fabric. This set-up would also save some weight.

[D White]

It is probably leaking through the bolts on the top...I would remove the plywood and replace with lighter paneling, seal the bolts (the only factory holes in the top fiberglass) and replace the springs...then it will work very nice......Dave

[Bobbie Mayer]

Originally Posted by David B.

If trying to keep the pop-up straight & sturdy, you could just try using small diameter stainless cable crisscrossed on one or two sides. Small turnbuckles will allow for small incremental adjustments. These could also be hidden inside a sewn in channel in the fabric. This set-up would also save some weight.

I did that with webbing, but I like the cable idea. Mine will stay up level with just the webbing, no fabric.

I wonder if you could use those things that hold camper shell doors up? (Can't remember what they are called.) But you'd still have to cross-stabilize.

[teri85]

Thanks for the idea David. I hadn't thought of the cable idea. I had thought about the webbing that Bobbie has used to stabilize the top.

One of my concerns with the top is last weekend (March 28-30) in Yosemite we awoke to several inches of snow on the ground. I had lowered the top as it was raining when we went to bed. When I went to raise the top it was too heavy to comfortable push up and have it stay. Not that I plan to camp in the snow but one of my favorite places is the Sierra and Yosemite in the spring and snow is a possibility.

Dave, I think part of the leak is some PO had used silicon around some of the bolts so I will have a mess to clean up when I take it off.