Hi everyone went to a tent show and decided on the outwell minnesota 4 they didn't have it!! so bought from a local store however it rained and rained and rained when we put it up it was a good test but we found it leaked a bit over the bedroom didn't actually wet us but water seemed to be seeping a little through the fabric not the seam causing droplets which hung above the bedroom area and occasionally dripped onto the bedroom top. today we bought a waterproof spray for it but do we spray the inside or the outside which is the right way to do it? also had to put it away damp will this hurt for a day or two, hoping to reuse it saturday but sounds like it's going to be another wet weekend! one other problem is the tight fitting over the porch the zip is really under pressure any suggestions as we're worried it'll eventually damage the zip or material.loving the standing room in this tent home from home :0)
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Hi Daxica,spray the fabric outside when its dry with Fabsil (or similar).If the seams want sealing do this from the inside.Can't help about the zip,but there does seem to be a problem with the side porch on the Minnesota and the Montana( from what people have already posted on here).You are within your rights to take it back and ask for a replacement.
Sue.
------------- Sue & Phil
--------------------- I Love My AeroBed
If it seems to be coming throught the fabric are you sure it wasnt condensation forming on the iside of the tent ?
If a tent leaks ,its usually the seems tbh !
If it was raining heavily the outside of the tent temp would have dropped and you being inside would have warmer ,this could have been made a lot worse if there was any wet clothing in the tent or if you boil a keettle or cook in there ?
Do not put it away damp ,even if you have no room to dry ,lay it in your front room and just keep turning it until dry .It can go mouldy in 24hrs
If you are possitive its leaking and not condensation ( which it sounds like ) trust me we have had puddles in some tents just through condensation ,usualy if we have wet clothes or something wet in the tent, then you need to take it back not faff around resealing it which is pretty useless on nyon tents anyway tbh
Hi thanks everyone for your help I'll try sealing the tent but now you have me wondering if it possibly was condensation as we had to have the doors closed due to the rain and I suppose it could have concentrated itself over the bedroom area hmm still will spray it next time we go just in case thanks for advice on that.will try the ties too on the porch piece.haven't managed to dry it out just so stuck for space here it'd fill our little place so praying it'll be ok till Saturday please don't go mouldy tent.cheers everyone
Hi, I had the exact same problem. Just got back today. Last Wednesday it had been raining non-stop for 24 hrs and blowing a gale and our Minnesota 4 started leaking through the actual fabric. I'm pretty sure its not condensation as it was just over the bedroom area. As it was so windy everytime it got really blowy we were showered in drips. Luckily it stopped raining before it got really bad!
Hi Lou Hmm after reading your report I think it probably was leaking through the fabric, bought the spray and would you believe forgot to take it with us.duhhh , it did rain a little this time but there was no water inside this time still I'll spray the tent when we go again. love the room in the Minny it's great.went camping at west end farm near mablethorpe fantastic site lots of room and a real country away from it all feeling. when we were putting the tent away though I noticed some small rips in the weather flap skirting at the front of the tent, I don't remember seeing those before any idea what could have caused them. They look like someone has poked a sharp object through slashes but only tiny, could it have been some sort of creature? what do you think.as we were putting the tent away then and didn't have much time spare we didn't have chance to check around the rest of the tent for similar damage wondering what to do do I stitch it or is there a glue or something I could seal it with anyone know please. thanks Denise
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Quote: Originally posted by daxica on 16/7/2008
Hi Lou Hmm after reading your report I think it probably was leaking through the fabric, bought the spray and would you believe forgot to take it with us.duhhh , it did rain a little this time but there was no water inside this time still I'll spray the tent when we go again. love the room in the Minny it's great.went camping at west end farm near mablethorpe fantastic site lots of room and a real country away from it all feeling. when we were putting the tent away though I noticed some small rips in the weather flap skirting at the front of the tent, I don't remember seeing those before any idea what could have caused them. They look like someone has poked a sharp object through slashes but only tiny, could it have been some sort of creature? what do you think.as we were putting the tent away then and didn't have much time spare we didn't have chance to check around the rest of the tent for similar damage wondering what to do do I stitch it or is there a glue or something I could seal it with anyone know please. thanks Denise
On another thread, this website was recommended for advice on repairs, etc.
Quote: Originally posted by TallBigMe on 16/7/2008
I spy with my little eye outwell seem to leak or have a leak problem?
Well, to be fair, Outwell sell a lot of tents. The issue is what proportion of those that are sold have a leakage problem? I don't know the answer to that but I do know that a) You are more likely to hear from those who have had a problem than those who have not; b) We camped is a lot of rain in May (standing water around the tent for a few hours) and had no water ingress what-so-ever.
Sounds like condensation to me too....it would be very unusual to get a leak through the fabric of an Outwell, their main problem over the last couple of years was leaky seams rather than faulty fabric.
You'd be amazed how much condensation you can get with a couple of adults in a tent if it's colder outside than in.
------------- Piglet
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Well, it had been raining non-stop for 24 hours- according to the BBC weather we'd had the whole of the months rain in the 24 hours, so I wouldn't be suprised if the tent was leaking! No matter how good the tent is- that is a lot of water to cope with. Which is why I don't really see myself asking for a replacement.
The reason I didn't think it was condensation was because we were away for 10 days and it was the only time it happened. We barely had any condensation even on the clear nights when we woke up cold! However, I'm not so sure now. We did have the doors closed and made ourselves a cuppa, but why would condensation only have affected the back of the tent though, over the sleeping area? Thanks
Lou that is exactly the same place that we had the problem over the sleeping area we could see the water dripping gently onto the bedroom inner,however only a fraction of that actually dripped onto the floor, yes I do think the fabric was leaking as we've used it since with hardly any condensation at all but I think in our case it was heavy rain all day and to be fair I think perhaps most tents might have leaked a little in those conditions.our problem was on the bedroom left hand side also this was the first time we'd erected the tent it could be that we didn't have it up with the roof taut enough.One thing though make certain it's dry before you put it away I know I was warned but left it and after only a few days mould had begun on the window areas luckily we got it just in time but next time I will dry it properly even if it takes over our little house.:0) Just love our home from home. Former scout thanks for advice on the splits I'll get that tape right away cheers. Denise