HELP!!!!
- 8 year old outwell vermont
- tent was resealed with fabsil before last summer and all good
- tent got damp over winter
- lots of mildew, especially inner tent
- we're in a field for a fortnight's holiday as we speak
- rain has set in and big drips coming through EVERYWHERE....
Questions....
- should we have reproofed again this year?
- would reproofing solve it despite mildew?
- is the ANY WAY of reproofing in the rain?!
- any other HELPFUL(!) suggestions please?
Rain is forecast for all week. Hubby is looking for the nearest tent shop to buy a new tent which we can't afford.
😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
A very grizzly Doris.....
------------- Very green at camping but full of enthusiasm!!!! :OP
Oh no, I've no idea on reproofing when wet, but can you get a tarp to put over it maybe, cheaper than a new tent, or scan ebay, gumtree and preloved in your area.
That's absolutely awful for you, hope you get sorted, where exactly are you, might help if a member nearby could help you
My first thoughts notwithstanding (I daren't print them!), the above suggestion is an excellent one.
Alternatively, maybe contact a local EBay (or similar) used tent seller, to "pay and collect" now... yes Now!... and do a straight swap on site, before binning yours?
I wish you lots of luck, but if I'm to be brutally honest, not so much sympathy! What on earth were you thinking, firstly allowing the tent to get so damp and mouldy, and secondly for doing absolutely nothing about it (or not even checking it!) before your holiday!
Sorry, too honest for my own good sometimes... seriously... good luck!
------------- 2024: 38 nights thus far...
2023: 47 nights
2022: 40 nights
2021: 30 nights
2020: Just 24 nights
2019: A personal best 50 nights
2018: Just the 30 nights
2017: 34 nights
2016: 32 nights
2015: 38 nights
2014: 34 nights
2013: 36 nights
From July 2012: 23 nights
or you could get a big sheet of decorators plastic and put it over the tent, which would shelter the worst of the rain from it and bide you a bit more time, we have done this in the past and put it over the bedroom compartments on the inside so we could sleep in dry bedding!
May be worth scrubbing off as much mildew as possible before applying. Depending on size, the inner could possibly be washed in a washing machine when you get home.
Nikwax isn't cheap though and a tarpaulin stretched over the top may be the cheapest short term option.
The same old question though...is it actually leaking or is it condensation? In this sort of warm wet weather condensation can form on the roof and drip off like a shower. Keep all the vents open despite the weather and if possible keep the door open for awhile to get the most ventilation.
If the mildew is that extensive then the fabric is damaged and re-proofing will not be sufficient to solve that. As others have suggested, a cheap tarp over the tent will give you some immediate shelter whilst you either get another tent, or (sadly) have to cut the holiday short.
Mildew is the enemy of tents and of happy camping, so learning how to prevent it, remembering to check the tent etc before a holiday, are all good habits to get into.
I do so hope that you manage to salvage your holiday.
Thank you so much everyone. Lesson well and truly learnt!
We decided waterproofing was pointless and, as expected, the tent fabric took AGES to dry out and the rain only stopped for a couple of hours. We've bought a new tent (Kalahari 8 + porch) that we're happy with but it's not an Outwell. ☹ Going to take the Vermont home and see what we can save.
Thanks again everyone. 😍
------------- Very green at camping but full of enthusiasm!!!! :OP
We've got a kalahari 8 have had it four or fibe years and only just fabsil'd it ( even then not needed I think ) only thing that failed is this year thevtwo pegging tapes went on the porch ...easily fixed . Considering it spends quite a lot of time up in garden as well as on holiday that's great performance for the cost. Love it
I'd put the kalahari up against a lot of the outwell tents - it is a really nice tent and hard to fault for the price. It's a great size, well ventilated, has mesh on both doors, the bedrooms are decent.
Mine is 4 years old, I have 2 porches for it, 2 carpets so that I can take one of the bedrooms out and have extra room. I dont use it so often now as for solo camping it's just a little big but it is a great tent and a decent design.
Quote: Originally posted by Mitchamitri on 16/8/2018
We've got a kalahari 8 have had it four or fibe years and only just fabsil'd it ( even then not needed I think ) only thing that failed is this year thevtwo pegging tapes went on the porch ...easily fixed . Considering it spends quite a lot of time up in garden as well as on holiday that's great performance for the cost. Love it
Post last edited on 16/08/2018 19:16:08
Why have you put fabsil on a serviceable tent? It’s the worst thing to do to a tent.