Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Have any of you guys tried to cover your trailer with vinyl or naugahyde? I used aluminum on my Benroy, but it was expensive, and a pain to work with. Covering with vinyl or naugahyde would be similar to the old vinyl tops on cars and should be easy to do. Should be lighter too.
If you've done it, what did you use, and how do you like it?
What do you think?
Thanks.
Airmad

Many have used vinyl on their roofs. Creamcracker for one...Link

I used marine grade vinyl on my roof and have had good luck so far. I went with padded vinyl and you can't even hear the rain drops.

Thanks for getting back to me so soon. I'll call the local boat guys tomorrow and see what they have. I like the wooden strip down the centre. great way to cover the seam, and nice design feature.
Airmad.

Yepper...got my marine vinyl at Joann Fabrics...Philip

I went to a local upholstery shop and they ordered me enough material to cover mine. It is a vinyl top material. I needed 5 ft. wide and seemed to be hard to find in the material I was lookng for. I glued and stapled down a 3/8 foam directly to the CPES top. Then worked my way around the edges, pulling slightly and stapling down the material, no glue under vinyl, them trimmed it out with alluminum. No problem at 70 mph across Nevada, and Utah. Last week.
Hit the link below you can see part of the top.

Dave

I know of one. It is a good material, but just make sure you really glue it down well, or as you go down the highway, it will lift and make a big bubble.

I'm sure you have seen it on an old car with a vinyl top, and one of our forum members has experienced it.

Put your vinyl down with contact cement, by the book. No shortcuts. Do it right,a nd you have a great top that is durable, and helps kill the sound of rain when you sleep on a rainstorm.

CD

caseydog wrote:I know of one. It is a good material, but just make sure you really glue it down well, or as you go down the highway, it will lift and make a big bubble.

I'm sure you have seen it on an old car with a vinyl top, and one of our forum members has experienced it.

Put your vinyl down with contact cement, by the book. No shortcuts. Do it right,a nd you have a great top that is durable, and helps kill the sound of rain when you sleep on a rainstorm.

CD

Like a previous poster I did not glue mine down....and I have had no problems. Philip

Joyce Porter on here was at Crawford campout last year (look in the northcentral threads from last october) and has a "convertible"
top made by an Amish buggy maker, using the materal and snaps down the edge... she had him do the snaps too. Sharp!

julie

I just couldn't bear having to kill all of the naugas just to make a vain roof



Just use Corinthian leather instead!

Check out the Brun-Tuff vinyl on www.yourautotrim.com I have it on the top of my trailer and it has been no problem for two tears now.

Jerome

Yep, mine is the "Brun-tuff" vinyl that Jerome mentioned. Yes it's glued down and has 1/8" foam under it.


Bubbles a little when its 110 degrees and in the sun (they go away when it cools off), but no bubbling going down the highway!

David

DBizer wrote:Yep, mine is the "Brun-tuff" vinyl that Jerome mentioned. Yes it's glued down and has 1/8" foam under it.

Bubbles a little when its 110 degrees and in the sun (they go away when it cools off), but no bubbling going down the highway!

David

That was why, after much research, and having worked with vinyl before, I decided not to glue mine down ( does have a foam layer beneath which is glued down)....it does not bubble whatsoever even in the hottest of days with the sun beating directly down on it. It also doesn't lift from the roof when I'm going down the road...I have heard that happens with some teardrops....maybe it's just to do with the particular curve of the teardrop roof or just how far up the leading edge of the hatch comes...I don't know but it doesn't.
Philip

Creamcracker wrote:

DBizer wrote:Yep, mine is the "Brun-tuff" vinyl that Jerome mentioned. Yes it's glued down and has 1/8" foam under it.

Bubbles a little when its 110 degrees and in the sun (they go away when it cools off), but no bubbling going down the highway!

David

That was why, after much research, and having worked with vinyl before, I decided not to glue mine down ( does have a foam layer beneath which is glued down)....it does not bubble whatsoever even in the hottest of days with the sun beating directly down on it. It also doesn't lift from the roof when I'm going down the road...I have heard that happens with some teardrops....maybe it's just to do with the particular curve of the teardrop roof or just how far up the leading edge of the hatch comes...I don't know but it doesn't.
Philip

Which is exactly why I did not glue down the vinyl material, a recomendation from the supplier, he said in high heat, if glued you will see bubbles, only attach around the edges so the material can move as in needs to. Worked for me.

Dave

caseydog wrote:...and helps kill the sound of rain when you sleep on a rainstorm.

CD

exactly why I'll never put vinyl on the roof...I can stay at home if I don't want to hear the rain!