Message Forums

HI Folks,

We have jsut returned from 5 days in not so sunny North Devon. we are semi - virgin campers and could do with some advice please~? The very first camping trip was abandoned after one night as out tent "leaked" or so we thought. We were advised by others that we hadn't pitched it properly, so took extra care this time. We have a Gelert Lakesbury 5 man, which is a couple of years old but as I say has only been used once before (in a v big storm!!). The problem we had is that the weather was vary changable, and it rained alot. The tent seemed to stand up to the wind, but the rain was just seeping through. Not on the seams, but through the membrane itself. We had been told to be careful that nothing touched the tent as this would let the rain in so were really careful, but the rain just oozed through. Something like a J cloth, like it had reached capacity. Did we do something wrong? Can it be fixed or should we just buy a better tent? Any advice would be good as we really did enjoy camping, but I was shocked when we packed up this morning, moved the bedroom compartment and there was a huge amount of water just sloshing about!!!!!

Are you sure it wasn't condensation? If it's cold outside compared to inside, you will get condensation on the inside of your tent, usually starting with the roof, then moving down the sides. Even with all of the vents open on our Icarus, it is not unusual to wake up to a soggy roof inside, which usually dries within a couple of hours of the sun coming up. Using a microfibre towel to partially dry this can be really helpful.

We too have experiences a small amount of water under our bedroom pod - condensation again from the heat of our bodies on the airbed (although not enough to 'slosh' as you describe it). Can you see any holes in the groundsheet where the water could have come through?? If rainwater gathered underneath and you have even a small pin hole the water could come up through it.

It would be very unusual for your tent to absorb water the way you seem to describe, unless of course it is faulty. Perhaps contact the manufacturer to see if there were any batches made from faulty material, it does happen occasonally.

Quote: Originally posted by twiggy100 on 04/8/2012

---

We had been told to be careful that nothing touched the tent as this would let the rain in

---

It is possible that the wind was driving the rain into the fabric of your tent at a pressure that would push moisture through the membrane but as has already been said, the first thing to discount is condensation, especially with the warm storms we've been getting.

To alleviate condensation;

Open all vents to the max.

Leave wet items outside or in the car - as they dry, the moisture is only headed for one place - the fabric of your tent.

Reduce breathing to a bare minimum ;)

Reproof your tent with Fabsil/similar. If rainwater isn't 'beading and rolling off' your tent, then it forms a cold nonbreathable condensation layer on the outside which massively increases the condensation on the inside.

Pray for sunshine!

Quote: Originally posted by twiggy100 on 05/8/2012

---

I compared our tent to the outwell next door. Theres was bone dry on the outside, wheras ours was still covered in rain!!!!

---

This is a definite sign that your tent needs reproofing. (reproofing is a bit of a misnomer - it is actually a water repellent treatment that makes your tent shed the rain - like the Outwell you saw).

 There is a chance that reproofing will not solve your problems - but (especially as you already have some Fabsil) it is the cheapest option available to you at this point.

It could be condensation, but it also not unknown for a tent flysheet (or a panel of it) to escape proper proofing in the factory. Could you pitch the tent in the garden (or borrow a garden) and see whether rain or water from a hosepipe penetrates the flysheet? If its not lived in and there is no moisture in the tent to start with, this should reveal whether the tent fabric is leaking or it is condensation. 3000HH should stand up to very heavy weather, as 1000-1500HH is regarded as "waterproof" for the UK.

You do get quite a volume of water from condensation, which will gather and drip from any low points and similarly gather in dips in the groundsheet. Damp warm breath, wet clothes and heaters all add up to quite a lot of moisture...

My very old Campus Borneo 4 is 2000 HH and has NEVER let any rain through, and I've had it out in all weathers from March to October.  More than that, it has never been the slightest bit damp inside.  I think they just don't make tents like they used to.  I've never had to air my bedding, and I very often have gas heater and stove in the tent.  

I do like ventilation though and I never spend time in the tent without opening the front door (I keep the mesh door closed against insects).  Even at night I leave the top part of the door open, more because I like to go to sleep looking at the stars.

My tent is about 15 years old and I've Fabsilled it 3 times in that time.

You seem to be doing all the right things, try Fabsilling it;  that should work.