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Coleman Inflatable Air Mattress Patch Instructions

Coleman Inflatable Air Mattress Patch Instructions
Coleman has a large product line of comfy, convenient air mattresses that spare campers the need to sleep on the hard ground. Yet as an inflated air mattress is essentially a big, tough balloon and all camping gear absorbs a considerable amount of wear and tear, it is inevitable that even a Coleman air mattress will spring a leak or become torn or punctured. When this happens, you have no choice but to locate the source of the leak and patch it up.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:
  • Coleman Quick Pump
  • Dish washing detergent
  • Bowl
  • Small paint brush
  • Coleman Seam Sealer and Outdoor Repair Kit
  • Tape measure
  • Scissors
  • Patches
  • Epoxy adhesive
Step 1
Inflate the mattress by hooking up the inflation nozzle of the Quick Pump that came with your Coleman air mattress to the air mattress's inflation valve and switching the pump on.
Step 2
Locate the source of the leak in your air mattress, assuming it is not obvious to the unaided eye. Mix a bowl of soapy water using two tbsp. of dish washing detergent per quart of water while it is inflating. Apply the soapy water to the seams of the mattress with a small paint brush and look out for escaping air that blows bubbles in the soapy water. Keep applying soapy water until you find the leak(s).
Step 3
Wipe away the soapy water on your Coleman air mattress with dry rags.
Step 4
Deflate the mattress with the Coleman Quick Pump by attaching the deflation nozzle to the air mattress's inflation valve and turning the pump on. This will greatly speed the deflation time, and is easier on your already-damaged mattress than pushing the air out by hand. Remove the Quick Pump and set it aside.
Step 5
Patch up ruptured seams in the air mattress using a Coleman Seam Sealer and Outdoor Repair Kit or something similar. Apply a bead of sealant from the tube seam sealer to the seam, brush it into and around the seam with the brush applicator, and then push the seam together. If you are in a hurry, apply some cure accelerator to the sealant and wait at least three to four hours before trying to inflate the mattress. Without the cure accelerator, wait six to eight hours.
Step 6
Measure any tears or punctures with a tape measure and trim your mattress patch with scissors so it extends between one and two inches in all directions around the damaged area.
Step 7
Smooth out the fabric of the Coleman air mattress in the area to be patched. There must be no wrinkles in the area you will lay the patch over.
Step 8
Apply a coat of epoxy adhesive to the bottom of the patch, lay it onto the damaged area of the air mattress and press it firmly into place. Take your time and make sure no wrinkles form on either the mattress or the patch.
Step 9
Wait six to eight hours, then check your patching work by inflating the Coleman mattress with the Quick Pump. If it retains the air, then your patch has worked.

Tips & Warnings

 
Some Coleman air mattress kits come with repair kits that include patches and adhesives, as do almost all generic air mattress patch kits. If you have the adhesive, but not the patches, you can easily make your own patches by cutting them from an old shower curtain, an inflatable float or something else that is plastic and watertight.
 
Do not try to locate leaks by pushing your air mattress underwater. It is not a flotation and Coleman specifically advises against treating it like one.

Article Written By Edwin Thomas

Edwin Thomas has been writing since 1997. His work has appeared in various online publications, including The Black Table, Proboxing-Fans and others. A travel blogger, editor and writer, Thomas has traveled from Argentina to Vietnam in pursuit of stories. He holds a Master of Arts in international affairs from American University.

Write for Trails.com

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