collapse

Advertisement


Author Topic: Tent waterproofing help  (Read 4609 times)

Offline WaltAlpine

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+3)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Aug 2012
  • Posts: 583
  • Location: Sedro Woolley
  • Westside address - Eastside Heart
Tent waterproofing help
« on: August 23, 2016, 08:12:40 PM »
So here's the tent that I've had for a long time. The one on the right, not the canvas one.
I last used it in 2012 when it rained so hard that all my stuff got wet.
QUESTION
Is there anyway to make it waterproof again? It seemed to be leaking everywhere, not just the seams.
I bought it 22 years ago and it performed nearly flawlessly before that week.
It's an REI 10x12

Offline JimmyHoffa

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+2)
  • Explorer
  • ******
  • Join Date: Sep 2010
  • Posts: 14545
  • Location: 150 Years Too Late
Re: Tent waterproofing help
« Reply #1 on: August 23, 2016, 08:26:22 PM »
might email REI.
If it were me, I'd probably use seam seal on the seams and then spray everything with camp-dry.  There are two types of camp-dry--one is for breathable fabrics and the other is just silicone spray.

Offline Fl0und3rz

  • Forum Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (+7)
  • Legend
  • *****
  • Join Date: Oct 2010
  • Posts: 51553
  • Location: E. WA
Re: Tent waterproofing help
« Reply #2 on: August 23, 2016, 08:28:10 PM »
Check out youtube for making your own silnylon.  Look for something like GE clear silicone caulk and odorless mineral spirits.

Offline Happy Gilmore

  • Business Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Old Salt
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jul 2008
  • Posts: 5131
  • Location: Ronan, MT
Re: Tent waterproofing help
« Reply #3 on: August 23, 2016, 10:49:20 PM »
A giant $50 tarp you can put on the ground and wrap all the way up back over the top.
"Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checked by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the grey twilight that knows not victory nor defeat."
Theodore Roosevelt 1899

Offline pianoman9701

  • Mushroom Man
  • Business Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (+5)
  • Legend
  • *****
  • Join Date: Mar 2011
  • Posts: 44737
  • Location: Vancouver USA
  • WWC, NRA Life, WFW, NAGR, RMEF, WSB, NMLS #2014743
    • www.facebook.com/johnwallacemortgage
    • John Wallace Mortgage
Re: Tent waterproofing help
« Reply #4 on: August 24, 2016, 07:14:38 AM »
A giant $50 tarp you can put on the ground and wrap all the way up back over the top.
:yeah: I did tent camps for years. Tarps above everything is the key to a dry and comfortable camp.
"Restricting the rights of law-abiding citizens based on the actions of criminals and madmen will have no positive effect on the future acts of criminals and madmen. It will only serve to reduce individual rights and the very security of our republic." - Pianoman https://linktr.ee/johnlwallace https://valoaneducator.tv/johnwallace-2014743

Offline Jonathan_S

  • Trade Count: (+6)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Oct 2012
  • Posts: 8994
  • Location: Medical Lake
  • Volleyfire Brigade, Cryder apologist
Re: Tent waterproofing help
« Reply #5 on: August 24, 2016, 07:18:52 AM »
A giant $50 tarp you can put on the ground and wrap all the way up back over the top.

I would probably just go this route.

However, there are lots of ways to seam seal with homemade silicone based mixes. There are also lots of commercially available products that spray or brush on but most that I can think of would cost a fortune.

Tarp is what I'd do
Kindly do not attempt to cloud the issue with too many facts.

Offline ghosthunter

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+21)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Apr 2011
  • Posts: 7591
  • Location: Mount Vernon WA
Re: Tent waterproofing help
« Reply #6 on: August 24, 2016, 11:56:35 AM »
I have been tent camping over 30 years. All but the last two in a tent like yours. I own two tents of that design and a white canvas wall tent.
One of my old tents like yours is over 30 years old. Non of them where what I would call water proof. The problem is with the external frame design.

The frame going through the loops on the eaves creates a pocket which catches rain. and will hold enough water to break a pole. The water will sit there and soak through..

If you want to keep using this tent you need a rain fly. As other have said.

Set the tent up ,measure from ridge to eave and add 2 ft. than double that measurement.
Next measure front to back and add 7 ft.
Find a poly tarp close to that size. I suspect you will be some where around 12 x20.  I buy a white tarp for all my flys and only use them for that purpose.

Once you get your tarp lay it over the set up tent.
Position it two feet from eve each side and 1ft extra in back.
The other 6 ft is at the door and creates a porch like area.

Next take a  marker and mark all four corners where they touch the frame.

Write front and back on the edges. This makes it easy to throw the fly over the tent , just match the marks and you know its in the right spot .

Now I like to set my tent up with a tree front and back aligned with center. Than I run a ridge line over the tent, throw the fly over that and tag out the edges all the way around.  If no trees, throw six mental fence posts in your truck.

The water dripping two feet way from the walls is key.

I may let the fly touch the ridge but nothing else. I like a air pocket between tent and fly. This allows tent to dry after a storm if it clears up.

Also if the fly is not tied to the tent. If it is raining when you break camp you have a nice cover to work under while you take your tent down. :tup:

In all the years in the heavy down pours or wind storms I have never got wet.

Once you get the system you will be happy.
GHOST CAMP "We Came To Hunt"
Proud Parent of A United States Marine

We are all traveling from Birth to the Packing House. ( Broken Trail)

“I f he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” ― Theodore Roosevelt

Don’t Curse the Darkness.

Offline Davis4507

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Pilgrim
  • *
  • Join Date: Oct 2012
  • Posts: 21
  • Location: DES moines
Re: Tent waterproofing help
« Reply #7 on: August 24, 2016, 12:14:22 PM »
Before you do anything i would contact REI. They are pretty good at standing behind their products. Its worth a shot!

Offline ghosthunter

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+21)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Apr 2011
  • Posts: 7591
  • Location: Mount Vernon WA
Re: Tent waterproofing help
« Reply #8 on: August 24, 2016, 09:18:47 PM »
Here my old tent, same frame as yours. Rain fly is not tagged out all the way in photo. we were still setting up.
GHOST CAMP "We Came To Hunt"
Proud Parent of A United States Marine

We are all traveling from Birth to the Packing House. ( Broken Trail)

“I f he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” ― Theodore Roosevelt

Don’t Curse the Darkness.

Offline ghosthunter

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+21)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Apr 2011
  • Posts: 7591
  • Location: Mount Vernon WA
Re: Tent waterproofing help
« Reply #9 on: August 24, 2016, 09:20:14 PM »
Same tent on left and my buddies tent.
GHOST CAMP "We Came To Hunt"
Proud Parent of A United States Marine

We are all traveling from Birth to the Packing House. ( Broken Trail)

“I f he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” ― Theodore Roosevelt

Don’t Curse the Darkness.

Offline pianoman9701

  • Mushroom Man
  • Business Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (+5)
  • Legend
  • *****
  • Join Date: Mar 2011
  • Posts: 44737
  • Location: Vancouver USA
  • WWC, NRA Life, WFW, NAGR, RMEF, WSB, NMLS #2014743
    • www.facebook.com/johnwallacemortgage
    • John Wallace Mortgage
Re: Tent waterproofing help
« Reply #10 on: August 25, 2016, 07:04:53 AM »
This only shows half the camp. A 20x30 tarp covered two tents and the common area. Another smaller one for the other tent (not pictured). 10 days out and always dry with a place to dry out clothing and boots.
"Restricting the rights of law-abiding citizens based on the actions of criminals and madmen will have no positive effect on the future acts of criminals and madmen. It will only serve to reduce individual rights and the very security of our republic." - Pianoman https://linktr.ee/johnlwallace https://valoaneducator.tv/johnwallace-2014743

Online wadu1

  • Grumpy
  • Global Moderator
  • Trade Count: (+30)
  • Old Salt
  • *****
  • Join Date: Sep 2008
  • Posts: 7251
  • Location: Tacoma
  • RMEF, DU, NRA, PFE, NWTF
Re: Tent waterproofing help
« Reply #11 on: August 25, 2016, 08:54:01 AM »
I used a big Army Tent for years, I only used CANVAK to treat my tent. It worked great and lasted for years even the pin holes stopped leaking. All you need is a cheap garden sprayer to apply CANVAK. Back then I got it from a Tacoma Tent maker but now Cabela's has it for $30 something a gallon. 

 

"a fronte praecipitium a tergo lupi"

 


* Advertisement

* Recent Topics

2025-2026 Regs by duckmen1
[Today at 08:45:06 AM]


KODIAK06 2025 trail cam and personal pics thread by hunter399
[Today at 08:22:05 AM]


Wyoming Antelope Unit 80 by tntklundt
[Today at 07:51:23 AM]


Stillaguamish 448 QD rifle tag by Turner89
[Today at 07:32:13 AM]


Tooth age on Quinault bull by Caseknife
[Today at 06:57:11 AM]


HUNTNNW 2025 trail cam thread and photos by teanawayslayer
[Today at 04:24:41 AM]


My Brothers First Blacktail by TitusFord
[Yesterday at 09:08:28 PM]


Pack mules/llamas by Shooter4
[Yesterday at 07:59:16 PM]


Kinda fun LH rimfire rifle project by JDHasty
[Yesterday at 07:01:44 PM]


Non-Shoulder mount elk ideas by Pete112288
[Yesterday at 06:45:10 PM]


SE raffle tags holder by redi
[Yesterday at 06:09:09 PM]


Dang bears... by Lumpy Taters
[Yesterday at 05:16:31 PM]


May/June Trail Cam: Roosevelt Bull Elk & Blacktail Bucks with Promising Growth by Lumpy Taters
[Yesterday at 05:13:15 PM]


Little Natchez cow elk by royalbull
[Yesterday at 03:39:11 PM]


Early Huckleberry Bull Moose tag drawn! by HillHound
[Yesterday at 02:14:44 PM]


Mason County Youth Buck Nov 1-16 by ASHQUACK
[Yesterday at 12:02:20 PM]


Selkirk bull moose. by 92xj
[Yesterday at 10:55:13 AM]


Turkey hunt with Hunting for vets. by rosscrazyelk
[Yesterday at 09:43:15 AM]


gmu 636 elk hunt by eastfork
[Yesterday at 09:38:34 AM]


Public Land Sale Senate Budget Reconciliation by Sunbkpk
[Yesterday at 09:35:56 AM]

SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2025, SimplePortal