Stuck zippers.

[ol__grouch]

No, I'm not talking about my pants. I just bought a decent older pop up that actually has good canvas. most of the cheaper ones I looked at were pretty bad. I don't mind doing some work as I can make it my own and do some things that work better such as some latches like we use at work to hold the top down.

My first challenge is to get the zippers on the canvas working better. I'm going to try and find some paraffin wax to rub on the zippers. I learned this trick back in the 60's with an early style camper that had canvas. If I can't find any (I haven't seen it in years but I haven't been looking.) what is a good ersatz replacement? I may only use this camper a few times per year but at $1000 and in decent shape, I couldn't pass it up.

[ol__grouch]

bondebond wrote:
Bleach will indeed hasten the deterioration of the material. People hand-washing and rinsing the insides of a PUP cannot remove all of the bleach and therein lies the problem.

I have had good luck with Iosso Mold and Mildew Stain Remover. It is designed for woven materials (primarily sails for sailboats) and is non-toxic, doesn't smell (important when you are inside a PUP) and is biodegradable. I googled a supplier and have been quite pleased with it.

The RV dealer has some dedicated cleaner to remove mildew stains. What little I got to use worked pretty good. Unfortunately, I just spent two weeks in the cardiac unit and may need to sell the trailer and some other toys to pay my part of huge medical bill. The trailer, at least one, possibly two of my vehicles and possibly my motorcycle will need to go to make my portion of the bill.

[4runnerguy]

We've tried the wax thing with OK results. Recently I tried using a wax-based bike chain lube like White Lightning. Goes all the way in between the teeth rather than just on the outer surface. Downside might be it soaks a little into the zipper material. It goes on as a liquid but dries to a wax sheen that covers all the surfaces of the teeth of the zipper. A much smoother operation than just using a paraffin wax. There aren't enough o's in smooooooth to describe how the zips work now.

As far as tires and blowouts, we never tow over 65 mph. Even in Utah where the interstate speed is now 80. Yeah, we're slower than many, but we stay in the right lane.

[fmattox73]

I've always found that the same item hat you use to make sewn seams water resistant ( A Wax Candle ) also can be used for smoothing a zippers operation.

[bondebond]

Bleach will indeed hasten the deterioration of the material. People hand-washing and rinsing the insides of a PUP cannot remove all of the bleach and therein lies the problem.

I have had good luck with Iosso Mold and Mildew Stain Remover. It is designed for woven materials (primarily sails for sailboats) and is non-toxic, doesn't smell (important when you are inside a PUP) and is biodegradable. I googled a supplier and have been quite pleased with it.

[Downwindtracke1]

Good thinking on both the tires and bleach. We've had two flats on one trip using the tires that came with our older trailer. After that, I carried two spares. A "Yankee" sewing awl and a piece of canvas came with our old Bonair, and I used it to patch.

[ol__grouch]

I've got most of the zippers moving smoothly. That one stuck one is still stuck though. Now I'm cleaning this puppy. What's something good to remove mildew stains on the inside of the canvas? I'm worried that bleach water may cause deterioration on the canvas. Except for a few sewn spots, it's in pretty good shape.

[ol__grouch]

I've started cleaning this puppy and I suspect it's a good 5 pounds lighter after washing the greenish dirt off it.

I got some new tires for it on wheels just to make sure and these are about 3 inches taller next to the old ones. The new ones say "high speed" so the larger diameter may make blow outs a little less likely. I would have thought that tires marked "5.30X12" would all be the same size. I've never been comfortable with small tires on the interstate highways.

[wecamp04]

Old toothbrush works good to clean with before lube.

[Bmach]

A kids crayon works also.

[bcbouy]

wd 40 now has a dry graphite type lube.

[gbopp]

Jeep Soft Top Zipper Lube/Cleaner

It's designed for outdoor use. There are several types of lubes available. Yes, it costs a little more than a bar of soap or piece of wax.

[3boxerss]

alot of stores still have the paraffin wax . Its usually with the canning supplies or on top shelf above the jello yea thats a weird place i know..

[toedtoes]

You can also try windex. It works well for a lot of things and doesn't contain oils, etc., that can harm the canvas.

[hotjag1]

I sprayed WD40 on a tent trailer zipper that I used to have and it made them work very smoothly.