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can anyone tell me if there is a particular sort of spray that is best?

i had a few problems with leaking throught the tent fabric and think i'd better treat it before the next trip. wasn't too bad just some dripping in heavy rain. no sign of any holes, not even pin sized.

i'm not sure if it could have been caused by the fact i put the tent up in the pouring rain and it got some muddy water on the inside of the roof whilst pitching last sunday.

when you say it was leaking where abouts did it leak and was is a great deal, because these things are often mistaken as the tent leaks when it is actually consensation on the roof, or that the seams havent been sealed properly

because you put the tent up in the rain i would say it was more likely to be condensation 

i'm pretty sure it wasn't condensation as it was mainly happening when it was raining.

it was a second hand tent and everything seems to be in great condition, no rips or damage but it was a bit dirty on the roof fabric. then i put it up in the rain and got water on the inside and outside - don't know if this was to blame.

ther were also a few drips through where the curtain ties were and the tent tidy attached - i'm guessing this is seam leak.

as i said the drips weren't tooo bad but there were definately leaks.

If it's leaking at the seams then you can try Seam Sealant which normally comes in a tube not a spray.

If you can pitch it in the garden then apply the seam sealant, let it dry and then try showering the tent with a hosepipe (don't apply high pressure) and check for leaks.

perhaps i need both?!!

i had done the hose test when i practised pitching it - maybe that wasn't quite as much water as when your tent sits in a downpour all afternoon and night like the frist day of my hols!!

Possibly, but Outwell are renowned for the waterproofness (is there such a word?) of their tents.

I'd try the seam sealant first (and it's usually the cheapest option) and see how you go.

Pete.

I've had my outwell montana for three weeks now. No leaks / no water proof treatment. I have been told by a friend that I should treat my tent with some kind of water proof spray as extra precaution, but this seems pointless if it doesn't leak. Tent came with seam sealent, but again not had to use yet.

Steve

Quote: Originally posted by madmum on 08/08/2005

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i had a few problems with leaking throught the tent fabric and think i'd better treat it before the next trip. wasn't too bad just some dripping in heavy rain. no sign of any holes, not even pin sized.

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If the tent in PU nylon and its leaking its normally either the seams (use seam sealant to fix this) or condensation (not much you can do about this).

If the fabric is PU Nylon and the fabric itself is leaking, bin the tent, its beyond recovery.  

Fabsil, did the job for us with our old awning, which we think was made when there was only gas light! It was a great old Telt Larsen one that we inherited with our first secondhand van and it was already donkey's years old then.

When it first started to leak, and boy did it pour in, we treated it with Fabsil all over when it was bone dry and never had anymore problems with it. Hubby did used to re-proof it every couple of years just to be on the safe side though and it was absolutely fine until we changed it for a lighterweight modern Dorema.

Should think that it should be fine for your tent too but there must be a Fabsil website somewhere that you could find out?

now you've got me worried srnet- it was definately coming through the fabric itself at the highest point where there was a little water collecting on it during the rain. i really am not keen to bin the tent as apart from this it is in perfect condition.

i am not one to throw things away!!

i guess as the leak isn't that bad i can cope with it and try not to go away when heavy rain is forecast. i only intend to use it for  4-5 days at a time.

and i've cleaned off all the mud now that had found it's way onto the top?!

Quote: Originally posted by madmum on 08/08/2005

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now you've got me worried srnet- it was definately coming through the fabric itself at the highest point where there was a little water collecting on it during the rain. i really am not keen to bin the tent as apart from this it is in perfect condition.

Well if its Nylon I would say its at the end of its useful life.

I am not one to throw things away!!

Me neither, but the two first principals to happy camping are being warm and being dry. If the tent fabric has started leaking in one place, the rest of it will pobably follow fairly soon afterwards.  

Incidently you could always strap a tarp, the sort that has eylets in it, over the part that leaks, if it rains a lot that is.