DH didn't remove the slide out bar.

[Alabama Potter]

Hello all! First time posting but I've been reading your posts for about 6 months. This is a great forum and I appreciate everything you've offered to other owners.

We have a 25 foot Flagstaff Microlite TT and we love it. Been camping in it 3 whole times when my husband neglected to remove the slide out bar when he put out the slide out after bringing it home, and punched a hole in the vinyl panel ceiling. What's the best way to fix it? It's not too bad, about 1 inch in diameter but really ugly. Being the OCD person I am I'll obsess about it until it's fixed. All recommendations welcomed. Thanks!

[bikendan]

Pics always help.

[JayArras]

Not sure what you mean by "slide out bar". I don't have anything like that on mine.

[aceinspp]

Originally Posted by Alabama Potter

Hello all! First time posting but I've been reading your posts for about 6 months. This is a great forum and I appreciate everything you've offered to other owners.

We have a 25 foot Flagstaff Microlite TT and we love it. Been camping in it 3 whole times when my husband neglected to remove the slide out bar when he put out the slide out after bringing it home, and punched a hole in the vinyl panel ceiling. What's the best way to fix it? It's not too bad, about 1 inch in diameter but really ugly. Being the OCD person I am I'll obsess about it until it's fixed. All recommendations welcomed. Thanks!

Slide out bars are really not needed on newer campers with slides. I would for go using in the furture. Sorry to hear of you problem. Later RJD

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by JayArras

Not sure what you mean by "slide out bar". I don't have anything like that on mine.

They're also called slideout locks.
They are usually an expanding bar with pads on each end, that go in between the slide and the interior wall to keep the slideout from rolling out while traveling, if something fails.

I only used ours when traveling on curvy roads.

[JLeising]

I would get some white vinyl tape (assuming the vinyl panel is white) from our local hardware store, cut a nice square piece, patch the hole, and let it be.

[aceinspp]

Might also try flex a seal tape as it comes in white. Later RJD

[True North]

Perhaps mount a smoke detector over the hole?

[Alabama Potter]

Thanks for all the responses. I'll try to upload a picture. Due to its location anything other than flat tape will block the slide out as it comes back in so tape may be what we have to do.

s

[5picker]

I would buy a 'blank' electrical cover and simply screw (with short screws) or glue it to the ceiling. Many units have them for the addition of future accessories.

Short of replacing the entire ceiling panel, you will never 'patch' it to look like there wasn't something there to begin with so I'd cover it.

[5picker]

Originally Posted by Alabama Potter

Thanks for all the responses. I'll try to upload a picture. Due to its location anything other than flat tape will block the slide out as it comes back in so tape may be what we have to do.

Attachment 176823s

Wow... I've never seen a slide come that close the ceiling during movement.
If it is that close, how did you even get the bar in there?

[Bama Rambler]

I think I'd tear a small piece of the covering out and take it to a paint store and buy the smallest can of matched paint that they sell and then fill the hole with wood putty and try to match the pattern as best you can and paint it with the matched paint. That'll probably be less noticeable than anything else you can do.

[Alabama Potter]

Thanks for the idea. Might work. 5picker also recommended putting a blank electrical cover over it. Will try that first but always like to have a plan B. Thanks!

[Alabama Potter]

Brilliant idea! Thanks.

[oldsmasma]

Anyone old enough to remember the flower power stickers? I had lots of them on my VW's back in the day. I'd go that route and reminisce.

[The Newsoms]

It looks like you might just be able to ease the material back down, maybe put a little caulking to cover the cracks.

[Larry-NC]

Originally Posted by Alabama Potter

Thanks for all the responses. I'll try to upload a picture. Due to its location anything other than flat tape will block the slide out as it comes back in so tape may be what we have to do.

Attachment 176823s

Okay, here's what I would do. You may not want to go to this much effort, but if you are OCD as stated (like me), here's the plan:

As I see it, there's a vinyl patterned coating over luan (3/16 3-ply plywood). It appears that the vinyl has separated from the plywood and a rectangular hole has been broken through the plywood. The following assumes you can peel the vinyl coating from the plywood.

What I would do is

• Peel the vinyl carefully from the broken plywood without tearing it loose
• Remove the broken plywood
• Cement a piece of plywood to the back of the plywood ceiling.
• Cut another piece of plywood that just fits in the hole and cement it to the first, bringing it up to flush (level) with the rest of the ceiling
• Cement the hanging vinyl to the repair

Some details on these steps:
If you can't separate the vinyl from the plywood, don't use this method.

Once you have the broken plywood removed, cut a piece of plywood about 2" wider than the hole and just a bit shorter than the hole. Put a screw-in cup hook in the center so you have a temporary handle. Reach into the hole around the border and make sure the surface (above the ceiling) is flat. Remove any splinters, etc.

Test fit and make sure you can insert the plywood and pull it down flat against the back side of the ceiling by holding the cup hook. If you can, remove it and then put a strip of construction adhesive (e.g., Liquid Nails) on the surface with the cup hook. You want the adhesive to hold the patch in place but no adhesive showing in the hole. Re-insert the patch in the hole and pull on the cup hook to compress the adhesive. Maybe hang a bucket with a pint or two of water in it as weight on the cup hook overnight.

Now you have a base. Unscrew the cup hook. Take another piece of plywood and cut it to be a good fit in the hole. While fitting, you may find it easier to clean up the edges of the hole with a utility knife. Once you have a good fit, use construction adhesive to cement this piece of plywood to the other piece, making a smooth surface, flush with the rest of the ceiling. Wait overnight.

You may have small gaps around the edges of the patch. Fill them with caulk or drywall mud or construction adhesive or whatever else is handy. Wait overnight, or at least a few hours.

Use a household adhesive or very thin layer of construction adhesive to cement the vinyl in place. Stand back and admire your work.

Larry

[Brewster McFrisk]

Originally Posted by 5picker

I would buy a 'blank' electrical cover and simply screw (with short screws) or glue it to the ceiling. Many units have them for the addition of future accessories.

Short of replacing the entire ceiling panel, you will never 'patch' it to look like there wasn't something there to begin with so I'd cover it.

Using
the above method only go into you closet or overhead cabinet, cut out a square of the vinyl you wouldn't see and glue in place like you patch wall paper or flooring.

[bareftn]

I always use mine and so I don't forget to take them out I have a long string and a large bright orange tad saying remove locks before moving slide and a tag on a hook over slide out switch saying the same

[hdmtnrider]

If you contact FR you may be able to get the same material in a repair tape that is on the ceiling or wall. I had a folding table come lose during travel and put a hole in my bathroom wall. I repaired hole in wall and then put the tape over it. Good luck with your repair.