canvas waterproofing

[John Madill]

thinking about waterproofing the canvas on my 1962 soft-top Trade Winds.

Cabela's has a product called Canvac.

anyone here familiar  with it or have other recomendations?

[tlhdoc]

The product that you use, depends on what your tenting is made of.  Do you know what your tenting is?

[John Madill]

My top is canvas Tracy.

i bought a gallon of the Canvak today at Cabela's.

will give it a try on the roof and post the results soon.

thanks for the reply

[tlhdoc]

What brand and year camper do you have?  Good luck with the Canvak and let us know how it works.

[hoppy]

thinking about waterproofing the canvas on my 1962 soft-top Trade Winds.

Cabela's has a product called Canvac.

anyone here familiar  with it or have other recomendations?

I have not had the opportunity to use Canvac in the past, but I did use and can highly recommend a spray called "Campdry" that I purchased from Walmart in the camping section. It's used to waterproof jackets and hiking boots, etc., but I would use two cans of this stuff on my canvas about every three years.
 It helped keep the canvas from staining, and the water would bead-up like rain on a newly waxed car. Back then, it was about $4.95 a can.

[tlhdoc]

I have not had the opportunity to use Canvac in the past, but I did use and can highly recommend a spray called "Campdry" that I purchased from Walmart in the camping section. It's used to waterproof jackets and hiking boots, etc., but I would use two cans of this stuff on my canvas about every three years.
 It helped keep the canvas from staining, and the water would bead-up like rain on a newly waxed car. Back then, it was about $4.95 a can.

Why did you replace the vinyl and Sunbrella tenting on your PU?  Canvas is too heavy, dark and a pain to take care of.  I love the Sunbrella tenting on my PU.  I would not want to go back to canvas.  Sunbrella specifies using 303's High Tech Fabric Guard.

From Glen Raven Mills website.  They make Sunbrella fabric.
Re-treating the fabric

 As part of the finishing process, Sunbrella fabrics are treated with a fluorocarbon finish, which enhances water repellency. This finish is designed to last for several years, but must be replenished after a thorough cleaning. Based on test results, Glen Raven recommends 303 High Tech Fabric Guard? as the preferred re-treatment product for Sunbrella fabrics.
 Fabrics should be re-treated after thorough cleaning or after five years of use. For more information on re-treatment products, please visit www.303products.com."

[hoppy]

Why did you replace the vinyl and Sunbrella tenting on your PU?

 tlhdoc,
 Sorry, I may have been confusing during my first post.

 My very first PU was a 1978 Palomino with canvas tenting / vinyl roof, (owned from 1992 to 2003) and I used "Camp Dry" water proofing spray on the canvas material on that PU for many years.

 My new to me 2001 Mesa that I purchased back in 2003 still has the original Sunbrella 303 tenting material, and I haven't had to do any maintenence at all to it.  Got to love that Sunbrella material!

 PS: The Palomino was completely restored buy me right after I bought it. I replaced the original tenting material because of dry rot and holes, and the replacement was again canvas, installed a new Carefree awning system, replaced all the cushion, bedding fabric, and valance with an up to date at that time "flame stitch" fabric and color-coordinated design, (original colors and pattern were straight out of the "seventies") and I had to repair the original A/C, furnace, and fridge.