Help wanted: How do I fix this?
Okay. I'm a klutz. I was trying to shut the front curtains on the Roadtrek eTrek the other night and pulled them too hard across the little channel that they slide on.
Three of the little clip/slider things ripped off the back of the curtain hem and, well, the result is I have a noticeable gap when I pull the driver's side curtain across. I can get by till I fix this by pulling down the sun visor to block out the gap but I do indeed need to fix them.
I read Roger and Lynn's post on curtain repair from a few weeks back.
Since we do not have a sewing machine and neither Jennifer nor I are very handy with such things, I'm wondering if there is an easier way or, better yet, someone or someplace where we can have this done for us short of an RV dealer service center.
This is my penance for being so bullish when I pulled the curtain. I told Jennifer I'd fess up.
But I also told her I bet there is someone on the blog that can help me fix it.
I am new to the Roadtrek life, just got a 1994 190P this summer. Also noticed the curtain issue mentioned in this article. Before I had found the Roadtrekking web page here I had found the cloth tape for repairs with a simple online search. Quite a simple repair. If you are in the Albuquerque area and would like guidance, assistance, or the job done right feel free to contact me. NO glues, No tapes, NO rivets, NO staples and No eyelets.
Bought a 1997 19 Popular last fall and it had several of the problem curtain / sliders that were separated . Prior repairs were no good ., looked like hot glue and some kind of tape . I first tried some special contact tape i had , didn’t work . I went to hardware store and bought shallow rivets and noticed some odd little copper hollow snap rivets and bought both . After drilling out the bad contact points I realized the pop rivets would not work well . I tried the short copper snap rivets and they worked perfect . I have not used them to many times yet , but so far they are holding up well .
Good Grief!!! It’s not hard! Most everybody knows somebody who sews…. or ask at the drycleaners… or a bridal shop … or where they sell sewing machines. If you were coming to Central PA, I’d fix them for you! (hint: You need to use the zipper foot on your machine!) The tape that you sew on, that has the snaps in it, is not expensive. It does come in plastic, or a cloth backing. so, one pack… and you replace the section. in the meantime, staple the snaps on, and don’t pull hard! Or, do as you have been doing, and use the visors. We did put up a curtain behind the front seats, it’s great for those one night events! The curtains around the window are great, but they are not pleasant to open and close. If I was designing them, I’d position the track a bit differently, and use a different style of snap hangers on the curtain.
I bought a 6ft. strip of the tape, removed the torn tape with a seam ripper and sewed the new stuff to the drape using a zipper foot on the sewing machine. Good as new for about $6.
We bought Glide Tape from our local RV store for $7. Because I don’t have a sewing machine I took the curtain to our dry cleaning store after being told by the shoe repair shop and an alteration shop that it couldn’t be done. I told the person at the drying cleaners I was going to buy a sewing machine if they couldn’t sew the new tape on. For $8 they fixed it, but Mike has it in his head I need a sewing machine. I used to make many of our daughters clothes until she reached the teen years when after she picked out the pattern and the material and then didn’t like the outfit.
Oh! A couple of things: I am, of course, speaking of Pop Rivets and sometimes there needs to be a small amount of filing done on the trackside of the slide to clear the screws that attach the track to the wall.
I am another of those born without sewing skills. Besides, every single curtain in our 2008 210V has had the slide on the business end break free and simply figure that this is a design flaw not worthy of perpetuating. My solution was to simply take a 1/8″ drill and drill out the rivet that attached the slide to the tape and replace it with a new rivet the goes through the curtain. This, of course, leaves a (very) small rivet head on the visible side of the curtain but that is easy to ignore. I might point out that drilling out the old rivet takes some patience — the slide is plastic and the drill will have a tendency to spin the rivet melting the slide. Anyway, I have not had a curtain slide problem for over three years now since “converting” to this much better design.
We removed our curtains completely and instead tucked a sunshade against the windshield and under the visors. On the driver and passenger window we hang funky towels 🙂
Wow so much anger over a torn curtain.! Must be winter blues.
Betcha Roadtrek has the answer.
These snaps can b pressed into the curtain itself. Not just through plastic back side. Or replace with new snaps at hobby store. Why would anyone tape or glue these to fix.? Really?
They are not snaps, there crimped pieces that will need to be replaced. You can re-fasten threw the curtain itself as long as you dont mind seeing the ring. ………and shut up with the glue talk Do it right or dont do it at all.
Household “Goop” glue.
what i would do is remove the snaps den sew them on the curtain.
Mike, since my Roadtrek is older I already have the same problem with a couple of my curtains. I’m lucky to have a good friend who is a whiz with any kind of sewing (her profession). Her comment was it would be a “piece of cake” to fix. All I have to so is find a source for the tape (the part sewn on the material). Most RV stores should have it or can get it, remove the curtain and she will sew it for me. Ask around at your local cleaners, they usually have someone on staff to do repairs and alterations. (She’s going to make all new curtains for me since I don’t really like what’s there now!) Good luck!
Sharon, that’s good to know. I have wondered about this. Thanks for sharing!
Every comment I read was wrong…….instead of plastic as you know isnt going to last use a new strip of fabric. You will need to make new flat piece of matel or plastic that fits within the track. You will need to cut or drill holes in them to allow the new crimped eyelet piece to fit then you will need to crimp or fasten those flat pieces to the strip of fabric then sow to back of curtain. The eyelets are for tarps you can buy at home depot, they will come with a crimping tool and you will need a hammer. I really hate when people do a half ways job that doesnt last. Then to your frustration you decide to have it done the right way by a professional and you only made it that much harder for him by the half way job you did.
You are funny Greg. Every comment you read was wrong. and then I read your comment and pretty much thought the same thing of your comment. Over thinking the situation Greg. Rogers article, mentioned in the above article, specifically mentions http://www.curtain-tracks.com as a source for tape cloth tape style replacement part. Very simple and easy.
Hot glue
There is nothing worse then someone who think they know what their talking about who does a half way job to ware it does work or last. Then to your frustration you finalley descide to have it done the right way by a professional but you have made it that much harder for him by the hack job you attempted!
Gee Mike, it isn’t hard to find someone with a sewing machine to to this right. And if you are headed down I-75 through Ohio anytime soon, stop by and we will do it for you. We have an adequate supply of both plastic and cloth glide tape on hand for such a little repair.
Duckt tape
I got so sick and tired of dealing with problems from the front curtain that I had it fixed and no longer use it. I have a rod and curtain panel that I use, so I can get up and go to the bathroom, etc. without being observed.
Short term fix… Velcro buttons… Long term… Replace!
Perhaps some industrial strength double-sided tape?
Just get a gorilla!!
Jokes…
Gorilla glue and tape are great… I have also had success with that iron in fabric strip… It’ll adhere to both the curtain fabric and the PVC still on the buttons…
I would think a good cloth glue from hobby lobby or a Michaels would fix it..
I have RV techs in my life…Not worried!
Gorilla glue
Gorilla TAPE!