Hi,My lad has melted the ground sheet in our leaky but much loved Tigris 600xl. The hole is about 6"x2".I have been looking at Gorilla glue and I have a shed load of ground sheet.I only want to have to do this repair once so any advice hear would be greatly appreciated.Thanks in advance and thanks for all other advice I have had, I've learnt a heck of a lot from this site.
------------- If ever I give YOU advice, Ask yourself,What does he know anyway?
You may find Gorilla Glue wont stick to the PE groundsheet so I would test a small area first. Glues normally dry but then you are either able to just peel them off or they crack and let go when the sheet is folded. Gorilla Tape will however will stick like **** to groundsheets and tarps If patching use both sides for a waterproof seal
------------- Experience enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.
Everything has been said before, but since nobody ever listens we have to keep going back and saying it all over again and again and again
I would tape the patch or glue and tape it. I would normally recommend cutting a patch to size and rounding off the corners to prevent peeling then stick down the edges with Tenacious Tape, which is clear, on both sides. This gives an almost invisible repair.
However, as a result of advice on these boards it seems that Gorilla Tape is much better for groundsheets and is pretty much the same colour as a groundsheet by what I can see from pictures. It may not be an invisible mend but it may be much stronger.
Thanks Arsenaldes and Bob61.Both sides without a doubt and cut a round patch makes sense to me.Is gorilla tape just the same as what I cal gaffa or others cal duckt tape?
------------- If ever I give YOU advice, Ask yourself,What does he know anyway?
Make sure the area is clean, no grease, and dry. Tape one side, overlapping the strips generously (we use the grey duct tape), then tape the other side in the same way. Any areas of tape that are exposed / sticky on the first side where the hole is will be covered by the tape on the other side (so do all this on a clean surface to avoid picking up fluff). Duct tape won't last forever, but it's cheap & easy to replace when it eventually peels off.
Quote: Originally posted by tenterman on 11/8/2014Thanks Arsenaldes and Bob61.Both sides without a doubt and cut a round patch makes sense to me.Is gorilla tape just the same as what I cal gaffa or others cal duckt tape?
It looks much the same to me but I am given to understand it sticks stronger than ordinary duct tape.
Krazykamper was telling me about Tear Aid when I saw her recently. She has used it to repair her tent and highly recommends it. Pricey but very strong apparently.
Thanks,A/C can you tell me if K/K used Type A or Type B Tear aid.I have some double sided sticky tape that you iron over its the industrial version of wander web it works great with tent fabric but getting something to stick to ground sheet is hit and miss.or damn near impossible luckily I have a shed load of it to practice with. I also have a mile of seam tape,I'll be trying that when the kids are out of my way.I'm just hoping to get as many ideas as I can from people who have done a good repair job,Thanks so far and hope you don't mind me calling you A/c and your friend K/K.
------------- If ever I give YOU advice, Ask yourself,What does he know anyway?
Gorilla tape has much thicker glue so is better able to adhere to uneven surfaces like groundsheets. I had a seam split 2 years ago 1.5 metres long on my SIG tried Tenacious tape and it wouldnt grip properly, tried Duct/Duct tape same thing didnt stick properly was recommended "Gorilla Tape" by "ArsenalDes" and its still stuck 2 years later and has never let any water in
Thanks Kampawendy.The only issue I have with Gaffa is it does come away after time and leaves a nasty residue behind
and sticks to everything. If the gorilla tape lasts as long as 2 years then that may be the option.
------------- If ever I give YOU advice, Ask yourself,What does he know anyway?
Story 1:
My Footprint was too big, but I didn't want to lose the eyes around the edge, for the pegs. I double-folded it, to shorten the outside width, and taped the fold with Gorilla tape. So a run of tape both top side, and underside.
Wet, dry. Fold, roll and bag up...
Wet, dry. Fold, roll and bag up...
Wet, dry. Fold, roll and bag up...
Wet, dry. Fold, roll and bag up...
Well, you get the picture!
From looking back through my pics, I think that was 29 camping nights ago, over 18 months, all four season's... Oh, and the Gorilla tape hasn't budged!
Story 2:
Slashed my SIG. Neat, sharp, and about 4" long. (Stupidity, not temper!!) :-)
Taped the underside with Gorilla tape, and the top side with Tenacious tape. (Rounded edges on both patches of tape!)
Only used it for one 2 nighter after that, before giving the tent away to a family member, who has continued to use it over the ensuing 18 months... probably a dozen or so nights, at guess... Oh, and neither the Gorilla tape nor the tenacious tape have budged... and certainly no water ingress!
Quote: Originally posted by tenterman on 12/8/2014
Thanks,A/C can you tell me if K/K used Type A or Type B Tear aid.I have some double sided sticky tape that you iron over its the industrial version of wander web it works great with tent fabric but getting something to stick to ground sheet is hit and miss.or damn near impossible luckily I have a shed load of it to practice with. I also have a mile of seam tape,I'll be trying that when the kids are out of my way.I'm just hoping to get as many ideas as I can from people who have done a good repair job,Thanks so far and hope you don't mind me calling you A/c and your friend K/K.
Hi T/M. She used type A but it was on a large tear in the polyester flysheet, not the groundsheet.
Their chart lists the type you need for different materials. A quick search suggests that your groundsheet is polyethylene, so you would need Type A.
I can't speak from personal experience - just passing on info I've heard - but it sounds good to me and I was thinking of getting some. Hope that helps.
Thanks A/C and everyone else for your advise and ideas I did the top as I mentioned and went round it with TT. I just wanted to avoid Gaffa,gorilla,Quack Quack tape.I will do underside also when I've finished of this tube of seam seal and take her down.Hopefully I will get a couple seasons without having to do it again.and none of that sticky stuf sticking to the carpet. Cheers all.
------------- If ever I give YOU advice, Ask yourself,What does he know anyway?
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Hole in ground sheet
She used type A but it was on a large tear in the polyester flysheet, not the groundsheet. 
