Privacy Curtain Fix or How I Learned to Relax and Love Glue Guns

[Stripe]

So, today I am going to show you all how I tackled a problem that has been irritating me since I bought the 'Goose'.

Like a lot of us, I am sure, when we first got our classic (read Classy) RV's, we noticed that the front privacy (If the RV is a rockin' don't bother knockin') curtains were not completely hung due to either the PO's lack of knowledge or because the parts attaching the curtains to their respective rails had failed in one fashion or another.

This fix is for the latter.

On my RV the curtains have snap grommets that snap into a plastic part that then slides along the curtain rail.  A lot of these had, over time, stressed the fabric and the sun took its toll on the fabric as well, weakening the threads the snap grommets had been attached to. Eventually the grommet would rip out.

Looking over the job at hand a few days ago, I finally came upon a solution. Looking at the parts, I thought, "glue gun".  I would take the snap grommets from the plastic parts and trim the threads from them.
Then when I had all of them tidied up I took the curtains themselves and one by one I would put a liberal bead of glue on the spots where the snaps had torn out and press each grommet in place, being sure to allow some of the glue to push through the center hole for added grip, kind of like a snap, within a snap..

I did a little stress test on a part of the curtain to see how well the "fix" would hold up and I am glad to say, it held fast pretty darn well.
Now, while this may not be a permanent fix, it will certainly hold up for a good long time. Providing my Husky mix Blake doesn't manage to pull the curtains down when trying to get up on the dashboard of the RV.

It is his favorite resting spot in the whole RV after all..

An example of one of several spots needing repair.


The grommet glued in place with the glue pressed into center for added strength


The Finished job.  The plastic rail adapters still swivel.


Blake enjoying his favorite rest spot while his bigger older "sister" Sophie keeps watch from the drivers seat.


I hope this helps!

Fredric

[Oz]

Is the first pic an eyesight test?  I totally failed...

 

[M & J]

And the last pic. Are those your creepy glowing eyes on the right?

[Stripe]

LOL! :)rotflmao   

My apologies on the first pic.  If you click on it, it will enlarge, hopefully allowing anyone to be able to read it..
As to the last pic, NO, not mine, those are the creepy glowing eyes of Sophie the sweetheart..  She's also the roughest, toughest RV alarm I could find.

[M & J]

VERY Halloween-ish.

[Stripe]

I know, right?!

[ClydesdaleKevin]

If the glue repair doesn't hold, they still sell the cloth tape with the grommets already attached.  Remove the old tape by cutting the threads and sew on the new tape...a lot easier if you have a sewing machine by the way, although it can be sewn by hand.

Kev

[Stripe]

Sweet.  I do in fact own a sewing machine.. (I do all my own sewing for costumes and such) And I know how to sew by hand.  Lol..

Where does one find the cloth tape?

[Espiritus]

My PO had destroyed the curtains, but I found a bag under the sink full of the grommets and plastic connectors. I took those and bought two black out curtains from Wally, cut small slits in the curtains on the long side (they were 84" long x 48 wide) and attached the grommets at measured intervals. Ended up with a curtain that was  178" wide by 48" long that runs beautifully on the plastic guide rail. $16. . .

[Stripe]

Groovy.  I think I payed US$4.99 for the Glue Gun that came with the sticks as well..    Gotta love Harbor Freight...

[ClydesdaleKevin]

A good RV parts supplier should carry the curtain tape with the grommets.

Kev