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 Post subject: Long-Term Tent Care
PostPosted: January 6th, 2011, 12:30 am 
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Joined: April 10th, 2009, 10:09 am
Posts: 163
Location: Guelph - Ontario
Hey all

Earlier today I organized all my paddling and camping gear.
I was thinking: My tent has gotten probably close to 2 or 3 months worth of solid use over the last two summers but I have yet to do any maintenance or waterproofing to it. I really don't want to take it out for a trip in the spring to get soaked and frozen during the night, so I was wondering... What do you do to keep your tent in good shape? Anything I really should be doing that im not?

Thanks,
Dave


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 Post subject: Re: Long-Term Tent Care
PostPosted: January 6th, 2011, 12:57 am 
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Joined: May 7th, 2010, 12:36 pm
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Location: Montreal
Nikwax makes a product that UV protects and waterproofs fabrics. After three years of use I treated my tent fly to keep it performing well.

You may also want to check your seams for stretching, zippers for wear (I've heard of zipper lube, but never seen or used it) and floor for pinholes, etc...

depending if your a groundsheet in our groundsheet out kind of guy then you might consider treating the floor if its worn.

Otherwise keep doing the basics, dry it out after a wet trip, pack it well, keep it away from sharp objects....


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 Post subject: Re: Long-Term Tent Care
PostPosted: January 6th, 2011, 1:35 pm 
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Joined: December 29th, 2002, 7:00 pm
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Location: Bancroft, Ontario Canada
There is zipper lube (eg. McNett's), I've never used it either. Candle wax rubbed into the zipper teeth will help keep it running smoothly and reduce wear.

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 Post subject: Re: Long-Term Tent Care
PostPosted: January 6th, 2011, 4:04 pm 
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Joined: June 20th, 2001, 7:00 pm
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Location: Toronto, Ontario Canada
Quote:
There is zipper lube (eg. McNett's)


I use this, good stuff, I recommend for all zippers, Having endured a tent zipper failure (at the height of bug season) I'd say zipper maintenance is more important than any other area.

I had an old Eureka tent that was used from the mid 60's to the late 80's, never did anything to it other than a couple of applications of seam sealer to the fly, never had any significant leakage (other than through the floor) but the zipper failure was what finally did it in.

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 Post subject: Re: Long-Term Tent Care
PostPosted: January 6th, 2011, 4:16 pm 
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Joined: December 30th, 2003, 11:36 pm
Posts: 1801
Location: Kitchener Ontario
Sierra Designs "Orion"

8 years.... 1 -2 weeks per year usage.... used with a footprint or a tarp under...

Never treated. always dried out, then stored "bunched" (not folded)

No issues at all. :thumbup:

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"The way of a canoe is the way of the wilderness, and of a freedom almost forgotten." Sigurd Olson, 1956


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 Post subject: Re: Long-Term Tent Care
PostPosted: January 7th, 2011, 9:23 pm 
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Joined: April 10th, 2009, 10:09 am
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Location: Guelph - Ontario
Thanks, sounds good. Ill look into treating it with something and lubing/waxing the zippers. Maybe Ill start using a groundsheet too to protect the bottom.

Dave


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 Post subject: Re: Long-Term Tent Care
PostPosted: January 9th, 2011, 10:45 pm 
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Joined: July 26th, 2009, 10:03 pm
Posts: 151
I waterproof my fly every two seasons. I learned a great trick for zippers from an army vet years ago. Run a bar of soap down your zippers at the start of the year. They will run smooth as ever. (Non scented soap I guess is best). I've done this on many zippers and it works really well. It lasts too.


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