Waterproofing
Submitted: Monday, May 12, 2025 at 08:25
ThreadID: 150380
Views:979
Replies:6
FollowUps:20
qldcamper
G'day again folks.
Well tried a small shake down trip with our soft floor camper which hasn't had any use for a couple of years and has been stored outside under 3 layers of silver tarps. Have owned the tent since new and used it many times without a problem.
Well it was a very wet weekend up here and the dome shade tent leaked like a sieve but more importantly the tent had small puddles on the ground side which it has never done before.
Have found that the entire roof gets damp internally about the same as it does when the 2 of us sleep in it on a cold night and the seams let a little through. The inner roof should not have condensation on it to that degree because for 48 hours it has been set up at
home with a dehumidifier running in it to ensure the bedding is properly dry unless it's moisture ingress from the seams condensing in there once the dehumidifier was turned off over night so I could have a good look.
What I want to do is re waterproof the roof and all of the seams and looking for some of your experiences with different products. I'm a bit concerned about using unknown products on an onframe tent fearing it might stick the canvas to the frame and not allow it to roll.
Also the dome tent is a parachute material and has been a great asset over the years so not sure if it is worth trying to save or just write it off and
fork out the $300 for a new one.
Appriciate any suggestions.
Reply By: Member - silkwood - Monday, May 12, 2025 at 12:49
Monday, May 12, 2025 at 12:49
When working at Paddy Pallin (admittedly, many years ago) we used Nikwax products. They were excellent and long lasting. You can get Nikwax waterproofing for canvas and/or poly/nylon. They will stay flexible but will not hinder rolling up (or out) your canvas. Problem is, they are not cheap and to do larger units like your camper might be cost prohibitive. I have heard Dynaproof given a very good rap from the boating community. Maybe look into that, or similar. Don't forget to try and establish whether your unit is cotton or poly-cotton. Might make a difference to the product you choose.
As for the dome tent, again, Nikwax can provide a great sealer, preferably in combination with a decent seam sealer (Nikwax, SeamGrip, etc.), but if your floor is giving out as
well, probably time to replace...
Edit: sorry, not clear if only the dome part is leaking. Information still the same.
Cheers, Mark
AnswerID:
647899
Follow Up By: qldcamper - Monday, May 12, 2025 at 14:14
Monday, May 12, 2025 at 14:14
Thanks for that, will look into them.
The dome is just a shade so no floor, a 3.5 it 3.5 tarp does that
well. It's always been waterproof so a huge benefit in light rain and kept the dew off, but no longer.
FollowupID:
928980