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Quote: Originally posted by Fat_al on 28/6/2011

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thanks for all your replies, i dont really know if it needs waterproofing.I have just bought this TT and the canvas is faded so didnt want to risk camping without doing so.Didnt realise how much fabsil i would need so is there any cheaper alternative i could use.Thanks Al

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Could you ask the previous owner if it's been reproofed and if so, when? Good quality cotton canvas (and Conway canvas was some of the best) doesn't actually need reproofed you see till it gets old and starts to go thin and leak. But once you start doing it then you need to renew the proofing every five years. My old Conway Camargue is 21 years old, sunfaded, never been proofed and is still dry as a bone even in really heavy rain.

To find out if you need to reproof it, erect it fully and hose it down really well. it may leak if the canvas has been in storage for a while and is really dry. Do not fret about this. Allow the canvas to dry out fully. Then hose down again. Hopefully this time it will not leak and this means it does not need reproofing. If it does leak on the second hosing though sorry, time for the Fabsil.

Use thompsons brick seal.  Its the same stuff but cheap.  look on the tin - its for Canvas :)

I've done 3 folding campers over last 5 years and all have been 100%.

Definitely test it first as Val suggests. Our camper is 1999 and seems completely waterproof still (as first two trips out have tested!) even though faded in places.

Once you start waterproofing you have to keep doing it forever and canvas is naturally waterproof due to way the fibres react when it gets wet, unless damaged of course

Quote: Originally posted by bonerp on 28/6/2011

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Use thompsons brick seal.  Its the same stuff but cheap.  look on the tin - its for Canvas :)

 

I've done 3 folding campers over last 5 years and all have been 100%.

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Quote: Originally posted by bonerp on 28/6/2011

Use thompsons brick seal.  Its the same stuff but cheap.  look on the tin - its for Canvas :)

 

I've done 3 folding campers over last 5 years and all have been 100%.

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