We recently bought a trailer tent used it is a jamet.
We went away at the weekend and it rained which resulted in the rain getting in on the canvas and also on both mattresses we have gone back to where we bought it and they are looking in to it.
I just wanted to know why it happened and did we do something wrong.
Did the rain come straight through the canvas or seep in from where something (like a mattress) was pushed agains the side?
If the first, it could be that if it hadn`t been used for a few years it needed reweathering. Cotton canvas fibres swell up when wetted and that`s what provides the waterproofing. if a canvas tent is brand new or has sat for several years unused, it needs to be pitched, soaked with a hose or well rained on then allowed to dry. after that it will be waterproof.
If the second...ell, all canvas tents leak if you touch the canvas or the wind pushed the outer canvas onto a piece of furniture or a bedboard or similar. If yoy have guylines set at waist height round the cabim use them...they`re for pulling the outer well clear of the inner parts. And you need to make sure you pull the base of the cabin canvas well out also.
As for reproofing...well there`s only two instances where you really need to reproof. First is when your previously unproofed canvas starts wearing a bit thin, which in the case of good quality canvas means about 15-20 years old. Second is when it`s already been reproofed...this is a modern fashion, usually unnecessary IMHO but folk just love to do it. Once you`ve proofed a tent once it interferes with the natural swelling abilities of the cotton canvas fibres, so you have to keep proofing it, usually every three to five years.
buy some FABSIL spray it on with a Bottle Spray(like you do to garden pests, the sort you prime with air pressure) and spray the roof well and the sides too. I did this to a 20+yr old Raclet Capri and after 8 hrs it had dried, and when I sprayed water on the TT it was magic, just like the proverbial ducks back go on you know you want to!!!
but i am uneasy about it as our weekend was ruined so i am a bit worried about taking it out again.
Now I don`t mean to be insulting, honestly, but are you 100% sure you put it up properly? Even I (ancient veteran of 11 years of TTing) have had occasional leaking canvas and in one case a veritable flood, but it`s always been traced back to something daft one or the other of us did while pegging out. And my 18 year old TT has never been proofed.
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Topic: advice please trailer tent
