As has been said, they don't. Good quality cotton canvas only needs done if it's been damaged in some way or it's getting extremely old and thin. Untreated cotton canvas is naturally water resistant, by putting on a layer of proofer you destroy this natural ability and replace it with an artificial barrier that you need to renew regularly. It's tedious and time consuming process to proof something the size of a TT, not to mention the cost of the proofer. My old Conway was built in 1989 using CGI canvas (Cabanon) so it's now 24 years old. Never been a drop of proofer near it and it doesn't leak.
If you're still unsure btw the best idea is to buy a decentish second hand one, there are usually a few around at this time of year for a really good price as folk just don't want to store them over the winter. Look for Cabanon, Conway, Raclet, Trigano, Jamet, Sunncamp as brands, roughly in that order. You should be able to get a good one for £600-£800-ish pounds, complete and in good condition. Give it a trial run for a few trips, if you like it you can think of buying bigger and/or better ...or not, as the case may be, you'd have to spend a few thousand to beat a good second hand Cabanon! Or if you change your mind about liking TT's you can sell it on with no loss, usually.
Crikey, that's a lot of TT for £600 given that it's got a top rack and front box too. And a very nice sun canopy. OP, do you live close by any chance? You could spend a lot of time looking for a better deal than that.
All makes are OK, but the basic gen is as follows:
Sunncamp: Designed in the 1970s and never updated. Thin poles, MDF beds and chinese canvas. Fine if you are on a budget, but not at all resilient if they have been mistreated.
Cabanon, Conway: Better made Sunncamps. Still lots of naff formica and MDF, but some people like them. Cabanons hideously overpriced for what they are new.
Raclet, Trigano, Jamet: French "Ford Mondeo" tents. Well made, a range of designs from quirky to absoutely boggo. Easier and faster to erect then Sunncamps, Cabanons and Conways.
Camp-Let, Combi-Camp: Well made, tend to be hard-floored or "pram hood" type tents. If you are not grabbed by this erection method, you are better off going for a normal boring one with, you know, space and stuff. If you want to have one of these, nothing else will do.
HoltKamper: Only if you have £15000 and a burning desire to buy a TT for about twice what it is worth
Dandy: Lots going for these; they are dry, never break and can be put down wet. On the minus side, they smell like a pair of rubber knickers, look like a semi-collapsed washing line and are made of PVC not proper canvas, so are basically a type of crap folding caravan, not a proper TT at all.
I bought a 2006 Cabonon Atlantis in May this year. We have previously used Vango tents for our 5 week holidays in France for the past 10 years. The TT was in excellent condition, had never been reproofed and came it lots of extras or £590. Having used it in France for 5 weeks this year, I would highly recommend both TTs in general and the Cabanon brand. The canvas is excellent, the kitchen unit really useful and the beds superb compared to conventional camping.
There are bargains you be had, just need to be careful.
Quote: Originally posted by racletcharlie on 27/10/2013All makes are OK, but the basic gen is as follows:
Sunncamp: Designed in the 1970s and never updated. Thin poles, MDF beds and chinese canvas. Fine if you are on a budget, but not at all resilient if they have been mistreated.
Cabanon, Conway: Better made Sunncamps. Still lots of naff formica and MDF, but some people like them. Cabanons hideously overpriced for what they are new.
Raclet, Trigano, Jamet: French "Ford Mondeo" tents. Well made, a range of designs from quirky to absoutely boggo. Easier and faster to erect then Sunncamps, Cabanons and Conways.
Camp-Let, Combi-Camp: Well made, tend to be hard-floored or "pram hood" type tents. If you are not grabbed by this erection method, you are better off going for a normal boring one with, you know, space and stuff. If you want to have one of these, nothing else will do.
HoltKamper: Only if you have £15000 and a burning desire to buy a TT for about twice what it is worth
Dandy: Lots going for these; they are dry, never break and can be put down wet. On the minus side, they smell like a pair of rubber knickers, look like a semi-collapsed washing line and are made of PVC not proper canvas, so are basically a type of crap folding caravan, not a proper TT at all.
Nothing controversial in that precis, I'm sure.
Charlie
Charlie we have missed you, where have you been?
The site was the poorer for not having your myopic views on trailer tents
Thanks for the fantastic advice..great to know I should stay clear of re-proofed ones, and £600 looks great for that TT...May we'll be contacting you :-)
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Topic: Looking to buy a trailer tent-advice!
