Have just erected our e-bay bargain, Raclet Hilton canvas frame tent in the back garden and I have to say, I am already totally in love with it... it's absolutely mahoosive. We had to erect it around the garden furniture as the garden is only small, and we could fit at least 4 dining tables in the living area!!!
I really wanted to hose it down and test it's waterproofness, but our garden is all paved, so we can't peg it out and I'm worried it will shrink, what do you experienced canvas campers think?
Is there anything else we need to be aware of, any top tips any of you have?
Thanks
Claire
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I don't see why it would shrink. When I bring my Guadeloupe home dripping wet it gets hung up in the garage for a few days to dry out. It's not pegged out or anything and it's never shrunk. I think you'll be ok but others may know better.
It won't shrink, it will have been rained on plenty of times. It would be better if you could leave it up until you get some prolonged rain which will be better than just hosing it down.
Generally,the canvas wont shrink ( i have heard complaints from Vango owners regarding this problem tho !It is better (as said above) to let it get rained on rather than hosing it down. BTW,i would highly recommend colour coding your poles (with different colour electrical tape) it will make the whole job of erecting it much easier !! You wont regret the switch to canvas though !!
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Hi everyone and many thanks for the advice. Well I left the tent in the garden for 8 days (been away from home) and amazingly, not one drop of rain! Typical!!!
Anyway, have just taken it down and washed all of the curtains, the bedroom pelmet and the bags. Also found some of the original Raclet instructions in a little pocket in the bag... it doesn't say which model it is, but I'm pretty sure it's a Hilton, looking at the pictures online, although it's brown and orange - I will try to get some pics up soon.
There were a few guy lines missing, so I got some new brown paracord and guy runners and have replaced both the missing and old guys.
So now, after some TLC, I'm just putting it all away ready for our first outing, which will probably be next year now as I don't think I can convince my OH to camp at the end of October.
get EHU, fan heater and electric blanket and October camping is great, just the worry of drying out when you return home but sound like you have a garden just about big enough for that Just remember don't touch wet canvas as it makes it leak!
Quote: Originally posted by Tynxuk on 09/9/2012
get EHU, fan heater and electric blanket and October camping is great, just the worry of drying out when you return home but sound like you have a garden just about big enough for that  Just remember don't touch wet canvas as it makes it leak!
Oh, believe me, I have tried that one! I think once we have taken the Raclet out next year and he realises just how wonderful it is, he'll be more easily persuaded
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oh my, what a lovely lovely tent! i LUV it! a continental french canvas tent - pure luxury and so nice to know that theres unlikely to be another one like it on your uk campsite ( maybe not the case on french campsites though hehe ). makes a lovely change from all the blue Hi-gears and green/dust coloured outwells on most uk campsites!
so spacious and the lovely earthy colours!.
i saw a beautiful Cabanon go for 80.00 just recently and i was sooooo tempted - but iv got enough tents alread!
is it because the majority of uk campers prefer the high street uk brands that you dont see so many continental tents on sites these days ( apart from continental visitors )?.
thanks for posting the lovely pics and i bet you cant wait to go on a trip with it!
congrats on a lovely tent and hope you have many wonderful holidays with it.
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Thanks Hankakampa - I do love it and you're right, can't wait to get away in it... Have had absolutely no joy in persuading the other half that if we got EHU, camping in October half term wouldn't be too cold, so it looks like it will be next year now
i just bought a little marechel chalet 3 (1970s) for 20 pounds...just me and a 7 year old and its a 4, took 10 mind to put up, hosed down..not a drop inside, love it....and i have 3 outwells!! looking forward to my retro camping!!!
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Wow, that is lovely, and as you say, rather mahooosive!! Loving the retro colours and the matching brown ground sheet is an added bonus! I like the bay fronted effect at the front. You'll love going to canvas, I've got rid of all my big polyester tents now and have 2 canvas ones. Only the little overnighter/motorbike camping tent is polyester now.
Just a quick note that you may or may not be aware off if you're used to polyester, when its raining, don't let anything touch the walls of the tent or water may 'leech' through. Not a problem if it does, just run your finger down to the bottom and place a towel/bowl there to catch it.
It looks cosy and I would definitely recommend to try camping in the colder months at least once.
Just need some gear adjustment and one can camp all year round, what's not to like?
Enjoy your new tent.
DK
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Topic: Canvas virgin - top tips?
Just remember don't touch wet canvas as it makes it leak!
