We have pitched our brand new ultimate classic for the first time this weekend. No problems with pitching but have left the tent up in the garden and in the heavy rain we have had today has shown that tent is dripping inside from the hanging loops where the bedrooms attach.
Not sure what to do about this.
Is this a common problem. Any help or suggestions gratefully receivied!!!!
Thanks.
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we have recently purchased a khyam excelsior and in the instructions it says that you have to put sealant on untaped seams before using the tent. Not sure if that area is an untaped seam as we haven't pitched ours yet but we will be sealing as soon as we do.
(please check Khyam instructions re sealing before first use)
khyam are very helpful so it is worth sending them an email.
I avoided using the sealant because we haven't got room to put the tent up at home and i didn't want to risk damaging my new tent... but as staffylas said, khyam do recommend it. However the loops are under taped seams.. i think.
I am sure it was a case of the seams becoming so sodden, with the volume of rain that came down at once, that caused the wicking effect.
Luckily for us it was during the day and i was able to undo the inner and push it away from the drip. (i think there are *pictures of this on my homepage). When it rained during the night, consistently but not so heavily, it was fine.
I am sure when more experienced khyam owners get back from this very wet bank holiday they will offer sound advice.
Quote: Originally posted by whiskydry on 28/5/2007Hope you don't mind, I looked at some of your pics, and I loved the ones of the horses with the rainbow!
I also loved that you stood taking photos while a horse ate your tent
it wasn't my tent!
i feel very guilty about it.. although in my defense the horses aren't easily shooed away. However when the owner came out of the tent she let my finish taking my picture.. just as the tent came away in the horse's mouth I didn't think it was actually going to eat the tent. She was very nice about it and i did send her the pictures.
My husband took the rainbow ones.
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Our new Khyam motordome leaked in similar places...it had rained all night, but not that hard. Haven't seen a tent leak like that since I was a nipper and we had an old old army shelter that we used as a mess tent!
Camperlands said they get about 3% of all tents that leak & will replace it.
We have never had any problems before with any other of our tents, both canvas and synthetic have always been fine. I was really disappointed as apart from this' tent was fab, quick to pitch and really stable in the very windy conditions of the last few days.
Also all the hanging points which are dripping are under taped seams so am not sure where to apply sealant!
Quote: Originally posted by Tobys mum on 29/5/2007
Also all the hanging points which are dripping are under taped seams so am not sure where to apply sealant!
ditto!
i love my khyam. As you say easy up and lovely layout. I am not a natural camper and it makes it all very pleasant.... until the drips start!
I wonder if some enterprising person would set up a ready sealed khyam tent outlet!
i would rather pay to have it done than faff about myself.
I remember when you could get your car filled with petrol and the oil and water checked by a nice young lad. But i was young and good looking myself then
seriously.. it is like buying an outfit that you have to alter. If i wanted to get the sewing machine out i would have made it myself!
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going to pitch my tent for the first time on Thursday, weather forecast not looking too good so therefore will have the chance to check if it leaks. I will keep you posted. I too feel that we should not have to seal a brand new tent and was shocked when i read the instructions. Anyway 'Tobys mum' i hope you get it sorted and the Khyam sort your problem out.
Proofing the 'inner tent hanging points' is just a matter of 'drawing a line' around the join (between the webbing strap and the tent material) with the tube of proofing solution. Leave the proofing to dry for at least a day, before packing the tent away. I did mine when I first pitched the tent. It only takes about five minutes to do all the hanging points (I think they used to recommend doing it, in the 'Ridgidome' instruction book)...
Our khyam has developed a little leak around the one window seam it only happens when the rain is very heavy and is being dricven in on that side of the tent as it was this weekend. Sealed it this weekend whilst away which seemed to help a little and then we stuck some duct tape over it - not pretty but effective - no more leaks!!
you did tell me last year to use a dab of seam sealant next time... but i haven't had the tent up since.
i would have put it on the outside .. but i understand it goes on the inside! is that right ?
i would still rather not have to...
Hi, Sonja...
I did the inside of the 'hanging points' simply because I'm a lazy bugger!... It's easier to 'dribble' the seam sealant around the inside join, than it is to try and clamber around outside your tent, reaching and stretching (I'm a little shortar*e you see). It works just the same (no wicking) so why make things difficult!...
I know what you're saying about 'sorting out these little problems' in the factory. But, can you imagine the extra time and money it would take to pitch and check each tent individually, to sort out all these little things. The thing is, we all want perfection, but don't want to pay for it. So, at the price we pay, we have to do these 'silly little things' for ourselves... Andy...