s**ttest night sleep ever, our son was grumbling at 3am, managed to get back off to sleep and I could hear a few drips in the tent lounge area...figured it was condensation. Well 5am we've just had a downpour of rain and the tent is indeed leaking - even the bedroom section right above my head 🙈 I've moved and put the washing up bowl there to catch drips and thankfully the rain has stopped for now. But why is this happening?? Is it something we haven't done, are we meant to have treated the tent somehow?
It's a few years old now, a Vango Arlo 5 man (I think it's Arlo, or something very similar) I think the HH is 3000-4000 so not bad???
Could be one of two things, in theory. If the stitching line is leaking, then seam sealer is the answer. That seems to be a quick, easy, and inexpensive process. You could be all sorted this morning, if you have a camping shop nearby.
If it's soaking into, and ultimately through, the actual flysheet, then it either needs re-proofing, or binning!
Regardless of age in years, a tent's life is governed by the number of weeks pitched x the total amount of rain on it's surface x (the sun's UV ray strength + the humidity inside the bag when packed)... all divided by 3! Something like that, anyway!
I've no experience of re-proofing a tent, so can't help on that score, but I wish you well, if that's the route you have to go down.
Oh... and you ain't a proper camper until you've had at least one "5hi**y nights sleep"... so congratulations on your promotion!
PS:
Your profile suggests it is the Vango Arlay 500... not that it matters.
A fan heater won't stop a tent leaking. In fact it could be highly dangerous in a tent dripping with water. However, it will help prevent condensation if that is the problem, aided by good ventilation if all the vents are set wide open as they should be.
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Topic: HELP! 5am and it`s raining INSIDE tent!!!
