Trailer tents are a great addition to use for any camping trip. With the ease and adventure of pitching and staying in a tent combined with the luxury of built-in beds, ample storage, plumbing, and hot water, trailer tents are a hugely popular choice for families, couples, and solo campers alike. However, making sure that your trailer tent remains in top condition for years to come requires maintenance.
Can you waterproof an old tent trailer? Yes. Prevention is always better than finding a cure. Ensuring that the canvas is always clean, waterproof, and free of rust, rot, and mold is vital for the longevity of your trailer tent.
If leaks and damage occur and let water into your trailer, huge amounts of damage can be done to your wooden floor and fixtures, warping floorboards and cupboard doors and corroding metal fittings. By keeping the fabric waterproof and seeing to the inevitable wear and tear it will suffer, you can enjoy your trailer tent whatever the weather, with no fear of leaks, sun damage, or mildew.
Keep Your Canvas Clean
Another important step to take towards keeping your trailer tent dry and waterproof is to keep your vents clear of dirt and debris. Ensuring your trailer is sufficiently ventilated means that airflow remains high and humidity and moisture from rain, warm weather, cooking, and showers remain low. Any corrosion or rotting materials in the framework of your trailer can make it unfit to live in, and any sign of mold or rust should be treated straight away.
Keeping your trailer tent clean should be a pretty simple process, and checking that it’s kept as clean as possible during use and cleaned well straight after each use will make maintenance easy and relatively hassle-free.
The products you use to clean your trailer tent do depend on what material it’s made from, but many campers recommend Woolite as a gentle but effective detergent for their canvas. Be sure to do a spot test in a small area before using any products to make sure there are no adverse effects on the material. Some detergents are too strong for use on cotton or canvas and can do more damage than good.
To use Woolite on your canvas simply follow these steps:
- Set up your tent in an outdoor space with plenty of room to maneuver around it.
- Fill a 2 or 3-gallon bucket with water.
- Pour 1 cap full of Woolite into the water and mix together well.
- Brush off any dust and dirt before using a sponge with the Woolite to clean inside and outside the tent.
- Rinse the detergent off the inside with a clean, wet sponge.
- Use a garden hose to wash off any leftover detergent on the outside.
- Allow the canvas to dry out completely before packing it away.
Waterproof Your Canvas
While the canvas is still dripping wet, you have the perfect opportunity to check for leaks. Look carefully for holes or tears in the material, as well as weaknesses in the seams and zippers. If the water is forming beads on the surface of the canvas, then it’s properly waterproofed and you don’t need to do any treatments. However, if water soaks into the material or you notice drips coming through to the inside of the tent, now is the time to get to work.
If a seam is broken, simply clean the area with an alcohol-based cleaner and apply a seam sealer. If you find a broken zipper, try running the zip up and down the teeth a few times to pull them back into alignment. If that doesn’t work and the zip slider is jammed, WD40 or a similar lubricant should help. If the damage is more severe, you may need to get the whole zipper replaced. This is something that should be done professionally and not attempted by you unless you’re very handy with a sewing machine.
Remember, most modern tents and tent trailers come with a waterproof coating, which can be damaged by strong detergents. Be careful if you are washing clothes near the canvas, and make sure not to get any strong soap on the tent, as this may degrade the waterproofing.
It’s also important to remember that canvas waterproofing should only be done if leaks are profuse and cannot be fixed with other methods. Over-waterproofing the cotton with products can cause the fibers to stiffen and lose their integrity, making them stiff and preventing their natural expansion.
Before you begin considering the use of waterproofing products, it’s worth trying to waterproof canvas in a much simpler and more natural way – by lightly spraying it with a hose. When the canvas is reasonably wet, allow it to dry a little bit (not too much) and repeat.
Use a little more water each time you repeat this process. This allows the fabric to expand in the way it’s intended to, plugging any holes and repairing itself. Usually, this is enough to waterproof your tent, and you should only need to apply products on rare occasions. But if it doesn’t work, you may consider other methods.
What Products Should You Use?
There is a huge range of waterproofing products on the market – from wax to waterproofing spray – and dozens of tried and tested techniques to use. The key is to check what your tent is made of and establish that you’re using products and techniques that are suitable for its needs. If in doubt, ask at the store you purchased your trailer tent from or search the manufacturer’s website for more details.
How often you waterproof your tent depends on how often you use it. The more it’s washed and exposed to the elements, the more likely the waterproof layer is to wear away. It’s recommended that you check the integrity of your canvas every time you take it out on a trip.
Before waterproofing, check that the canvas or cotton is completely clean and free of soap or mildew and that you seal all seams and fix any holes with repair patches. Any damp patches may also hinder the waterproofing process.
It’s also worth mentioning that polycotton (a mix of cotton and polyester) and canvas work differently from regular polyester or nylon tents and need to be treated as such when being waterproofed. Although canvas and polycotton tents and tent trailers have a water-resistant coating, they need to be weathered before you use them for the first time.
Small holes where the fabric has been stitched need time to shrink or else they’ll let water in through the seams. To shrink the material, simply give the tent a lite hosing down. This tightens the weave and makes the whole thing more waterproof.
Wax-Based Waterproofing
Waxed canvas and cotton have been used for many decades. Eco-friendly and full of vintage charm, waxed canvas is incredibly durable and is often used for backpacks, raincoats, and other outdoor accessories. Take note that waxed materials should never be ironed or washed.
Petroleum Wax
The easiest way to waterproof your canvas and cotton is with petroleum wax (also known as paraffin wax) and a heat source such as an iron or a hairdryer.
- Make sure the entire tent is well-coated with the wax, and run the hot iron or hairdryer over it until it’s well-melted in.
- Make sure not to keep the heat on one area for too long or you may damage the fabric.
- A mixture of paraffin wax and turpentine is also an effective method.
- Melt 1 pound of the wax into 1 gallon of turpentine and paint the mixture onto your pitched tent trailer.
This process ensures that the fibers of the canvas absorb the wax, preventing water from passing through the minute gaps in the fabric.
Beeswax
This can be used as a more environmentally friendly alternative.
- Heat the wax on the stove until melted and add 4 ounces of turpentine and 4 ounces of boiled linseed oil.
- Make sure to do this outside and make sure you remove the wax from the stove before mixing in the other ingredients.
- Mix well while it’s cooling.
- Once the wax has cooled and become soft, you can decant it into jars or tins to store away for future use.
To get the best results from this method, the materials you apply to it should be warm, so this process is best done on a warm day, ideally after the tent has sat in the sun for a while. A little extra heat can be added once the material has been waxed to make sure it soaks in well. When it has soaked in properly, you should see the fabric get darker, so it should be easy to check that the entire surface has been waxed evenly.
Waterproofing Spray
Using a spray product to waterproof canvas is much easier than using wax. There are several different brands, and everyone has their favorite, but one that is recommended particularly for pop-up trailer tents is Camp Dry Water Repellent Spray. Be sure to spray it on both sides of your canvas surfaces. Waterproofing spray can also be used on your leather shoes, hiking boots, and standard tent, so it is handy to take with you on your adventures.
Waterproofing spray is also ideal for addressing smaller problem areas. While you can still use a spray bottle on larger areas, you may find it easier to use a paintbrush or a roller instead. This method will use up more of the product but will ensure a more evenly distributed coat.
Silicone Spray
Silicone waterproofing spray is a good alternative for large areas, is cheap to buy, and quick and easy to use. Usually, only one coat is required.
- Shake the spray bottle well before use.
- Hold the can 6 to 8 inches away from the canvas.
- Spray the fabric item with sweeping strokes to ensure an even coat.
- Keep spraying until the item is fully coated. The fabric shouldn’t be soaking but should be damp all over.
- Flip the canvas over and spray the other side.
- Wait 6 to 8 hours for the first coat to dry, or longer if necessary.
- After 12 to 24 hours, you can apply a second coat if required.
Other Tips For Keeping Your Tent Trailer Waterproof
As we mentioned before, prevention is better than cure and there are several steps you can take to guarantee your trailer tent stands the test of time.
Buy Waterproof Covers
Never use water-resistant covers, only ones that specify they are waterproof. Water-resistant material is treated with a coating that allows rain to slide off. But the more soaked this becomes, the more the coating wears away. Once this coating has gone, the canvas becomes pretty useless as there is no protection and the fabric will get soaked. This is because the fibers in a resistant canvas are weak against rain before the waterproofing coating is applied. When it’s gone, the fibers have none of the built-in resistance we spoke about earlier.
Waterproof canvas, on the other hand, has no coating. Instead, the design of the fabric means that the fibers allow liquid to come right off. With no coating to be washed away, waterproof canvas lasts much longer. Your cover might get a little damp in heavy rain, but it shouldn’t become soaked.
Don’t Pack Up Your Tent While it’s Wet
Never fold or roll up any canvas when it’s damp. You might not relish the idea of sitting around for hours waiting for your trailer to dry out before taking it down and heading home but, unfortunately, it’s something that has to be done. Stowing any fabric before it’s fully dry is a sure-fire way of inviting in mold and mildew. If any bits of your trailer tent belong in a bag, make sure that it is also clean and free of mold or dampness before putting the tent away.
If you regularly roll up your awning or take down your tents too soon, it won’t be long before you’ll need to replace them. Mold and mildew can spread and get worse very quickly and can cause damage elsewhere in your camper, as well as releasing unpleasant spores and bacteria into the air.
If you must pack the tent up while it’s still damp, take it out and hang it in the open air as soon as you can. Hanging it in the garden will also allow for easy access to clean it and check for/repair damage.
Don’t Ignore Leaking Pipes
If any of the plumbing in your trailer springs a leak, don’t ignore it! If a leak is spotted while you’re on holiday, it can be tempting to place a bucket underneath the drip and leave it until you get home. However, the longer small leaks are left, the quicker they become a much bigger problem.
The more a damaged pipe is used, the more likely it is for flooding to occur. And if water seeps beneath floorboards or under fixtures, a lot of damage can be done to the structure of your trailer. Metal will start to corrode and wood will warp and rot. It may seem like a nuisance to call a plumber during your holiday, but ultimately, it will save you an awful lot of time, money, and stress to get it fixed as soon as you see it.
BONUS – Use Flex Seal
Check out these videos to see how it in action.
Wrapping It Up
Remember, the best way to waterproof your canvas isn’t by using any products on it. Simply spray it down with a hose to ensure the fibers do what they are designed to do – expand and block the holes in the weave to allow rain to glide off the fabric.
Brush the canvas down to get rid of mold, dirt, and mildew, wash off any stubborn grime and make sure all the canvas is dry before rolling it up or putting it in its bag.
Ensure that any waterproofing products you do use are spread evenly across all the fabric, and pay special attention to seams. Keep the tent well-ventilated when in use and store away carefully in between uses.
If in doubt about any of the processes used to waterproof canvas, or which products will work best for your needs, always check with the manufacturer or search on one of the many camping and trailer website forums that exist on the internet.
Following these steps should help your trailer tent last for years to come and allow you to enjoy your camping adventures stress-free, no matter what the weather is like.
