Been trying to find the answer to this online with no success! we have a second hand Trigano trailer tent- we reproofed the cabin part last year as it was leaking when it rained heavily. Due to a combination of bad weather/lack of time did not do the awning. When we were away we had a few leaks through awning when it rained heavily, but cabin was fine.We were planning to do awning before going away this year but after reading some threads on tent fires not so sure. We used Fabsil and were planning t do so again- but this is flammable when applying- does the application of this make tent more flammable? ( I am already planning improvements to our fire safety!)
What about the Nickwax stuff? (Nickwax cotton proof), I have used this on an old frame tent to very good effect. It's another water based one that I would imagine is non flammable.
The guy we bought from claimed to have reproofed our FC prior to selling. seems crazy since its a 2005. I've read on here once you start doing so you need to keep repeating it but no idea how often and how you would know it needs it. Does it start to leak? Is there a way of telling if it has been done?
When I picked my brand new Camplet up from Camperlands I was advised to re-proof with a coat of Fabsil in a garden sprayer every 5 years. So the man you got yours from could have been told the same when he got it.
I might be just lucky but my 1999 Quickstop has never been reproofed. I can remember on the first couple of outings i did get a small drip here and there but since then nothing. Now i have mentioned it i bet it leaks like hell next week.
Quote: Originally posted by kate w on 05/6/2011When I picked my brand new Camplet up from Camperlands I was advised to re-proof with a coat of Fabsil in a garden sprayer every 5 years. So the man you got yours from could have been told the same when he got it.
On an earlier thread, the man from Camperlands didn't know that if you reproof canvas you remove its natural waterproofing ability. Once you start using Fabsil, you will have to keep using Fabsil, as the canvas threads can no longer tighten together when wet.
Quote: Originally posted by arcadia on 05/6/2011
The guy we bought from claimed to have reproofed our FC prior to selling. seems crazy since its a 2005. I've read on here once you start doing so you need to keep repeating it but no idea how often and how you would know it needs it. Does it start to leak? Is there a way of telling if it has been done?
you can tell if it has been fabsiled by the way the rain beads on top of the canvas and does not soak in.as to how often this will depend on usage,as the more time out in the sun the quicker the fabsil breaks down.if it was me i would redo the fc itself at the begining of the season,but the awning every couple of years.
the good thig about fabsil is it does give uv protection to the canvas so your unit should hold it's coulor better.
the big downside is it stops the canvas from breathing.
Quote: Originally posted by kate w on 05/6/2011When I picked my brand new Camplet up from Camperlands I was advised to re-proof with a coat of Fabsil in a garden sprayer every 5 years. So the man you got yours from could have been told the same when he got it.
On an earlier thread, the man from Camperlands didn't know that if you reproof canvas you remove its natural waterproofing ability. Once you start using Fabsil, you will have to keep using Fabsil, as the canvas threads can no longer tighten together when wet.
I do think that they are already waterproofed with something though. Water on my new Camplet beads and rolls off really well unlike old frame tents i've had. It doesn't drip in either like they used to do when i was a kid and got nagged at for touching the inside.
the big downside is it stops the canvas from breathing.
I was surprised to see the above comment because we had to apply 5 coats of Fabsil to our Pathfinder 3 years ago but have never experienced this problem. There's never any condensation at night even when we've had a gang of 9 people in it.
very glad to hear that but if a waterproof coating is applied then it will stop the fabric from breathing,this is not to say you will get condensation as good ventilation is far more important.
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Topic: Waterproofing with fabsil
