Floor repair suggestions....long hole ripped

[Bailey'sMom]

Hi all
I just opened up my camper today a week after I close it down due to a storm coming . I did close it down pretty quickly but did my normal procedures . So today when I opened the camper up I see a great big gouge in the vinyl flooring in the kitchen area between the refrigerator cabinet and the dinette . See attached picture .

It appears that the latching bolt on the dinette must have fallen down through the hole after it was moved back against the refrigerator cabinet . So I'm guessing this big tear happened this morning as I was trying to slide the dinette out .

So I'm wondering do I just take out that section of vinyl flooring and try and lay a replacement piece in its place? I will have to try and find something that is a close match.

any suggestion is welcome. I have to get this done in the next two days.

[Bailey'sMom]

Another picture

[Bailey'sMom]

The more I think about it and look at it, I think the pin dropped after traveling three feet and then it dropped and started gouging the floor. So it probably did happen as I was closing up the camper.

I am thinking maybe I should cut out the section of vinyl and replace with a new piece. However my sister thinks I should try to glue down the existing piece first, because I can always cut it out later. Not sure what kind of glue I would use. Will start calling around.

[Bailey'sMom]

Just got off the phone with the dealer and they said to use gorilla glue, stretch the vinyl back in place and then put heavy object on top to hold in place til it securely dries. So that is what I will try. Will let you know how it works.

[Padgett]

I have heard that use of a heat gun to put the torn piece back in place may be needed. I'd ask a "paintless dent repair" guy.

[nwhouston]

Sara, I would try the repair first. You cannot make it worse, it will probably work out well, and who looks in that particular corner when the trailer is up and living? I also agree that a little heat will likely help get you a smooth finish. Not sure you have to go with gorilla glue - probably a pressure sensitive contact glue used with vinyl floors would work. Go over the area with a rolling pin to get good even adhesion.

We took those latches out when we bought our trailer at The Car Show for this very reason - Kate shared the possibility with us. Hope you get a clean looking repair.

[nwhouston]

I suggested pressure sensitive adhesive in my reply above as it is recommended for the vinyl tile repairs that I am facing in our house. One option that is less money is a spray adhesive like 3M's 80. Sold in our area at Home Depot. Hope they can get you a contact (pressure) sensitive adhesive that is not too much money. I dropped $40 for a gallon tub, but I have many tiles to set.

[tentcamper]

Try to repair the rip by gluing it back. I don't think you will find flooring that completely matches. If it still looks bad, see if there is a flooring in any of storage compartments that you could use and then put the best match you can find in the storage compartment.

[scrubjaysnest]

Had one like that in a new mobile home, they repaired it with hot glue.

[Sterman]

For a quick fix, cover it with 2" clear packing tape until you can get around to one of the more permanent fixes suggested on this thread.