Home Log in or Register

Message Forums

Welcome Guest

Reception - All Forums

Camping under canvas - Tent talk. Advice, info and recommendations

Topic: Vango Force Ten Mk 3

MrsAlfie

via mobile 18/8/2021 at 8:45am
Location:
Outfit: None Entered

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 18/8/2021

Standard Member

Forum Posts: 3

Site Reviews Total:	0

Site Reviews 2024:	0
Site Reviews 2023:	0
Site Reviews 2022:	0
Site Reviews 2021:	0
Site Reviews 2020:	0
Site Reviews 2019:	0
Site Reviews 2018:	0

Site Nights 2024:	0
Site Nights 2023:	0
Site Nights 2022:	0
Site Nights 2021:	0
Site Nights 2020:	0
Site Nights 2019:	0
Site Nights 2018:	0

Hi, I am new here and new to my lovely old tent. It has been stored in a garage for 20 years! It has an orange canvas inner and a green nylon type outer. I put it up yesterday to test it, it rained overnight and when I checked it this morning, I saw the orange inner had a large wet bit on one side (about 1/4 of the side of the tent) and a bit along the bottom. Please can someone advise me, which one is called the fly sheet/ fly tent (the orange inner or the green outer?)? Which bit should be waterproof and how do I go about re- waterproofing it? I shall try to add a couple of pics. Only just got this tent and I love it! I'm really grateful for any advice and help! Thank you very much all you tent folks 🌻😊

Don't forget to leave a review of all tents you've used, for a chance to win fantastic prizes

New! Please upload a photo of your tent to the Tent Showcase!

MrsAlfie

via mobile 18/8/2021 at 8:46am
Location:
Outfit: None Entered

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 18/8/2021

Standard Member

Forum Posts: 3

Site Reviews Total:	0

Site Reviews 2024:	0
Site Reviews 2023:	0
Site Reviews 2022:	0
Site Reviews 2021:	0
Site Reviews 2020:	0
Site Reviews 2019:	0
Site Reviews 2018:	0

Site Nights 2024:	0
Site Nights 2023:	0
Site Nights 2022:	0
Site Nights 2021:	0
Site Nights 2020:	0
Site Nights 2019:	0
Site Nights 2018:	0

I think these are two pics - I hope

MrsAlfie

via mobile 18/8/2021 at 8:47am
Location:
Outfit: None Entered

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 18/8/2021

Standard Member

Forum Posts: 3

Site Reviews Total:	0

Site Reviews 2024:	0
Site Reviews 2023:	0
Site Reviews 2022:	0
Site Reviews 2021:	0
Site Reviews 2020:	0
Site Reviews 2019:	0
Site Reviews 2018:	0

Site Nights 2024:	0
Site Nights 2023:	0
Site Nights 2022:	0
Site Nights 2021:	0
Site Nights 2020:	0
Site Nights 2019:	0
Site Nights 2018:	0

Bernie47

18/8/2021 at 11:50am
Location:
Outfit:

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 05/7/2006

Diamond Member

Forum Posts: 5533
Tent Reviews: 1

Site Reviews Total:	13

Site Reviews 2024:	0
Site Reviews 2023:	0
Site Reviews 2022:	0
Site Reviews 2021:	0
Site Reviews 2020:	0
Site Reviews 2019:	0
Site Reviews 2018:	0

Site Nights 2024:	0
Site Nights 2023:	0
Site Nights 2022:	0
Site Nights 2021:	0
Site Nights 2020:	0
Site Nights 2019:	0
Site Nights 2018:	0

It is the green polyester flysheet that needs to be waterproof, but if the internal polyurethane coating has deteriorated you may have trouble reproofing it.
The inner tent is lightweight cotton, not canvas. Canvas is a thick heavy grade of cotton used for large frame tents etc.

I still have my original Force Ten Mark 4 from the days when the flysheet was also orange cotton.

-------------
Bernie

Don't forget to leave a review of all tents you've used, for a chance to win fantastic prizes

New! Please upload a photo of your tent to the Tent Showcase!

Ewen c

via mobile 18/8/2021 at 12:22pm
Location: County Kildare Ireland EU.
Outfit: Tents

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 22/8/2013

Diamond Member

Forum Posts: 3012
Tent Reviews: 12

Site Reviews Total:	21

Site Reviews 2024:	0
Site Reviews 2023:	1
Site Reviews 2022:	1
Site Reviews 2021:	5
Site Reviews 2020:	0
Site Reviews 2019:	1
Site Reviews 2018:	6

Site Nights 2024:	0
Site Nights 2023:	1
Site Nights 2022:	1
Site Nights 2021:	7
Site Nights 2020:	0
Site Nights 2019:	3
Site Nights 2018:	9

I don't really post here much but as an owner of the same tent as you, I thought it may need a bit of input.

It is a MK3 cn. You can get replacement flysheets in either the orange canvas or the green nylon from Black's of Greenock and some other places. Either will fit.
If you want to reproof it, it is as Bernie advises.It also depends where it is leaking from. It could be from a seam. If so, it only needs seam seal. The inner may have been touching the fly as well. Best bit is to pitch the flysheet only and put a hose over it and observe where the water is coming through.

The MK3 cotton flysheet is 130 pounds... It is worth getting though. They don't seem to have any nylon ones in stock.

-------------
Hypercamp Alaska
Vango Force 10 mk3
Vango F10 Helium 1
Coleman Cobra Pro 3
Coleman Cobra 2
Naturehike Star River 2
Eureka! Solitaire
Dutch army goretex bivvy bag

Caligula

19/8/2021 at 5:45pm
Location: Suffolk
Outfit: Very variable

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 11/6/2016

Platinum Member

Forum Posts: 1272
Tent Reviews: 41

Site Reviews Total:	4

Site Reviews 2024:	0
Site Reviews 2023:	0
Site Reviews 2022:	0
Site Reviews 2021:	0
Site Reviews 2020:	0
Site Reviews 2019:	2
Site Reviews 2018:	1

Site Nights 2024:	0
Site Nights 2023:	0
Site Nights 2022:	0
Site Nights 2021:	0
Site Nights 2020:	0
Site Nights 2019:	8
Site Nights 2018:	5

....what Ewen says!! Superb tents...........

spiritburner

19/8/2021 at 7:59pm
Location: NE England
Outfit: Citroen Dispatch Campervan plus tents

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 02/8/2004

Diamond Member

Forum Posts: 1625

Site Reviews Total:	21

Site Reviews 2024:	0
Site Reviews 2023:	0
Site Reviews 2022:	1
Site Reviews 2021:	0
Site Reviews 2020:	2
Site Reviews 2019:	1
Site Reviews 2018:	0

Site Nights 2024:	0
Site Nights 2023:	0
Site Nights 2022:	2
Site Nights 2021:	0
Site Nights 2020:	2
Site Nights 2019:	6
Site Nights 2018:	0

Quote: Originally posted by Ewen c on 18/8/2021
I don't really post here much but as an owner of the same tent as you, I thought it may need a bit of input.

Good to see you though Ewen.

Don't forget to leave a review of all tents you've used, for a chance to win fantastic prizes

New! Please upload a photo of your tent to the Tent Showcase!

smalltent

01/9/2021 at 12:02am
Location: Lancashire
Outfit: French army F1 canvas tent

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 18/11/2016

Standard Member

Forum Posts: 2

Site Reviews Total:	0

Site Reviews 2024:	0
Site Reviews 2023:	0
Site Reviews 2022:	0
Site Reviews 2021:	0
Site Reviews 2020:	0
Site Reviews 2019:	0
Site Reviews 2018:	0

Site Nights 2024:	0
Site Nights 2023:	0
Site Nights 2022:	0
Site Nights 2021:	0
Site Nights 2020:	0
Site Nights 2019:	0
Site Nights 2018:	0

I recently bought a quite old Vango Force Ten MK4 "canvas" tent, which is actually just a cotton material but a lot nicer than nylon. It even came with the rare, discontinued extension and all the poles etc. You won't see any of them around any more! It was a bit grubby and needed a couple of light repairs but in the end it came up pretty nice.

These tents are fairly expensive new but they do come up in "knackered by boy scouts" condition, but you can still get all the poles and connector bits for them which is great. They are vintage tent goodness.

I proofed the outer cloth flysheet of mine with "Wood Silk" spray-on furniture polish. Yes really. I've done that in the past with other canvas/cotton materials because whatever that stuff is made out of it doesn't rot vintage fabric.

It took five or six cans to do my Force Ten flysheet and Wood Silk is often on sale for like £1.40 a can so it's not that expensive to do, and it helps preserve the old canvas material.

What I do is book a couple of days or so at a camp grounds when I know it's going to be sunny and then put the tent up and lightly spray the outside of the flysheet with just a light general misting of Wood Silk. Be careful because if you use too much it will be yucky and take AGES to dry. But if you just lightly spray the flysheet and let it stand for a couple of days in the sun it will soak in and spread and really helps the flysheet.

It does dry out eventually so it doesn't feel waxy to the touch but it does need to stand out for at least a couple of days to dry properly, but since it doesn't stink of chemicals it's no bother to sleep in while you're camping. Once it's dry it doesn't smell like anything other than tent.

Since it's not silicone based it doesn't clog the natural weave of the canvas so the fabric can still breathe.

Of course people tell me "That will never work!" for a number of reasons but none of them have ever done it and I've been doing it for decades so I ignore them.

However, don't use Wood Silk on anything modern and nylon because it can't soak into the fibers and you'll just end up with a horrible mess. It only works on natural fabrics like vintage canvas/cotton tent material.

The only problem I have with this nice old Vango tent is the orange colour. On bright days it can be a bit much on the eyes when you're inside. For that reason alone I'll probably sell it when I can find a similar quality tent of a more eye-friendly hue.

Caligula

03/9/2021 at 4:39pm
Location: Suffolk
Outfit: Very variable

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 11/6/2016

Platinum Member

Forum Posts: 1272
Tent Reviews: 41

Site Reviews Total:	4

Site Reviews 2024:	0
Site Reviews 2023:	0
Site Reviews 2022:	0
Site Reviews 2021:	0
Site Reviews 2020:	0
Site Reviews 2019:	2
Site Reviews 2018:	1

Site Nights 2024:	0
Site Nights 2023:	0
Site Nights 2022:	0
Site Nights 2021:	0
Site Nights 2020:	0
Site Nights 2019:	8
Site Nights 2018:	5

Robens Fairbanks? A BCT in cotton, not their "all season" polyester?

In order to post a reply you will need to register, or if already registered please log in here

Prev Next
Quick Links - All Forums - Tent talk. Advice, info and recommendations - Top of Page

Printable version

Latest News, Discounts and Competitions see all...

7249 Visitors online !

Free UKCampsite.co.uk Window Sticker - Recommend to Friend - Add a Missing Campsite

[Message Forums] [Caravan Sites & Camping] [Company Listings] [Features / Advice] [Virtual Brochure] [Shop!]
[Reception] [Competitions] [Caravans & Motorhomes For Sale] [Event Diary] [Contact Us] [Tent Reviews]

Please note we are not responsible for the content of external sites & any reviews represent the author's personal view only. Please report any error here. You may view our privacy and cookie policy and terms and conditions here. All copyrights & other intellectual property rights in the design and content of this web site are reserved to the UKCampsite.co.uk © 1999 - 2024

UKCampsite.co.uk
2024 Advent Calendar

24 Daily Prizes PLUS a Christmas Day Star Prize worth £999

Request a Reminder