1979 Coleman Valley Forge fixer upper

Just got a 79 Coleman Valley Forge a few weeks ago and it needs a little work done in order for it to avoid the scrap yard and to last us years of camping.
This is my first camper and am looking forward to customizing it to our liking. I have read a lot of amazingly helpful tips on this forum and I wouldn’t be able to do this without the previous posts regarding older pop ups, thank you!
I want to document my build as others have done before me in hopes that others can find the photos and feedback to be of use i. The future.

 

I would looove to get a new canvas as the current seems to be original-ish (real canvas) and is coming apart at the seams. This will have to wait until we can afford it. Until then I just picked up a Speedy Stitcher and some Bish’s Tear mender to repair the current canvas.

 

Thanks! I have family in Shropshire and in Brosley!

 

Glad to report that the canvas is coming off the pup without issues! I was worried about it being rotted at the canvas in some areas but now am convinced it was just the stitching that has dissolved over the years.
I went to my local HW store and picked up a few bottles of 303 all purpose cleaner and in a 40 gal bin diluted one bottle with about 15 gal of warm water. (I probably could have used both bottles but at $18ea. Ouch!)
After soaking for a few hours with hand agitation here and there the canvas cleaned up a lot! The vinyl, not so much. So I took a magic eraser to the vinyl and it worked VERYwell! Will repeat with the remaining canvas.

 

The Speedy Stitcher works miracles and is easy to use! Seems like a must have tool for pop up owners.

 

I got it on amazon for $15. Worth every penny! I would also pick up some extra thread. Another really cool item that has helped is Bish’s Tear Mender fabric adhesive. Super easy to use and sticks almost instantly to canvas. Great for patches and worked great to help hold seams together as I sewed with the Speedy Stitcher.

These two items will find a place in my pup and go with us wherever we go.

 

Dang rain has me chomping at the bit to get back on the pup project! In the mean time, I found some nice replacement mattresses and some direct to metal paint for the interior.

I try to buy local as much as possible but I saved over half of what I was quoted at a local foam MANUFACTURER! Dang Amazon! Ha!

Gonna source out some counter top material today and hopefully get back on the canvas soon.

 

Soo. Finally got some time and a break in the weather to get some more stitching done and broke the damn needle in my Speedy Stitcher! Waiting for amazon to deliver a few more as I feel this wont be the only one I break. Hmm.

 

If your rip is at a seam then yes. If it is in the middle, Bish’s tear mender (also at amazon) and a patch will fix that easy peezy.

 

Aaannd, here we go down a rabbit hole. So I found out that the water pump is no good and to top it off, it wasn’t even connected to 12v power. What good is that?!
I checked the Interstate deep cycle battery that the p.o.s owner said was good (along with the pump) and just like the pump, it too is worthless. On the bright side, I get to bring this 1979 pup to the 21st century. The down side is that it is not something that I am prepared for financially.
I have done tons of research and know exactly how to proceed. I am just waiting on the money tree to grow. In the meantime, more cleaning, sewing and replacing old hoses for the sink.
Anyone else upgrade their electrical?