Can you over do waterproofing?

[newbie]

Being new to the PU world I have a question that may seem stupid. Can you over do the waterproofing on the tenting material? I want to really get the seems good and, apply atleast two coats to the rest. Any ill effects to really laying the stuff on? Also does Kiwi Camp dry worK good? It seems to be cheaper than the stuff at the RV store.

[rccs]

Why do you want to water proof your camper, is water leaking into it when it rains? I have had my Coleman since 1996 and have never had a leak at all and have never used any kind of water proofing on it either. If it isn't leaking it is probably best to leave it alone.

[tlhdoc]

What is the tenting on your trailer?  The type of tenting determines what kind of waterproofing stuff to use.  My PU has Sunbrella and you are supposed to use 303's "High Tech Fabric Guard" to re-waterproof it.

[newbie]

It did leak just a bit around the stitching when cleaning it so, I want to seal it just to be sure. The material, It has vinal on the top and, cavass on the sides.

[wavery]

I used to build and repair cockpit enclosures for sailboats. I built them out of Sunbrella.

After a few years of direct sunlight, every day, Sunbrella does lose it's water repelling properties. As stated previously, High Tech Fabric Guard will restore the fabrics water repelling properties. I have applied it many times, on many boats.

You can't put "too much" on. It is best to soak the fabric through with the Fabric Guard to get the best results. You can apply it with a sponge or a spray bottle. Make sure that you clean the fabric first with a light detergent. Just be aware that the Fabric Guard may change the color of the fabric slightly if you only treat the seams.

However, considering the small amount of sun exposure that a PU camper gets, compared to a sailboat enclosure, I would say that a light coat on the stitches may well solve your problem. That stuff is pretty expensive and it could cost you a couple hundred dollars to thoroughly soak all of your fabric. I just can't believe that it is necessary anyway, unless your PU is set up full time.

BTW, for those of you that may be wondering, it is better to wash your tent fabric then not to. Some people are concerned that they may wash away the water repellent from the fabric. The fact is, dirt on the fabric does far more damage. The dirt is made up of a lot of bacteria and organic material. As this material breaks down, it turns to acid. The acid does far more damage to the fabric than the soap that you would use to clean it.

We used to wash our Sunbrella cockpit cover, on our sailboat, at least once a week (50 times a year) and apply a coat of Fabric Guard every 2 years.

[tlhdoc]

It is best to soak the fabric through with the Fabric Guard to get the best results.

Glen Raven Mills says 2 light coats work better than one heavy coat of High Tech Fabric Guard.
 
 
"Applying 303 High Tech Fabric Guard

[wavery]

Glen Raven Mills says 2 light coats work better than one heavy coat of High Tech Fabric Guard.
 
 
"Applying 303 High Tech Fabric Guard

[tlhdoc]

If I were selling the product, I might recommend the same as they do. All I have is 14 years of practical experience on a 24/365 basis.
 
If you get a chance, go down to your local marina and see how many boats have Sunbrella cockpit enclosures on them. I'd say about 60-75%. Stop and ask the owners how often they treat their Sunbrella. Get ready for a quizzical look. Most will have no idea what you are talking about and they have had Sunbrella out in the sun every day of the year for years.
 
The difference that the Tent Trailer has is the storage and bacteria and acid build up from not being washed on a regular basis.

You lost me on your reply.  Glen Raven Mills are not selling High Tech Fabric Guard. The website that I posted the information/link from is the company that makes Sunbrella.  You recommend soaking the material in High Tech Fabric Guard which would take much more of the product than spraying the Sunbrella with 2 light coats.  Glen Raven Mills says under normal use you only have to treat the Sunbrella every 5 years.  You treated yours every 2 years and used a lot of the product by soaking the material.  My point is that you don't have to soak the Sunbrella to replace the factory waterproofing.  I would think that Glen Raven Mills knows what they are talking about.

[wavery]

You lost me on your reply.  Glen Raven Mills are not selling High Tech Fabric Guard. The website that I posted the information/link from is the company that makes Sunbrella.  You recommend soaking the material in High Tech Fabric Guard which would take much more of the product than spraying the Sunbrella with 2 light coats.  Glen Raven Mills says under normal use you only have to treat the Sunbrella every 5 years.  You treated yours every 2 years and used a lot of the product by soaking the material.  My point is that you don't have to soak the Sunbrella to replace the factory waterproofing.  I would think that Glen Raven Mills knows what they are talking about.

That's correct. Glen Raven Mills sells Sunbrella and are trying to convince consumers that it is inexpensive to maintain it.

That has not been my experience. Two light coats of Fabric Guard won't last through a couple of washings IMO. I have tried doing that and have found it FAR more effective to apply it with a sponge and let it soak through the material. Having said that, we are not talking about material that sits in the sun every day. tent trailers get very little sun and should go many years without treatment if it is kept clean. The areas around the stitches may be the exception. I have even used small amounts of silicone sealer on the tip of my finger and applied it to leaky stich holes (the material must be clean first or it makes a mess).

BTW, I need to make a correction. I recommended, "that you clean the fabric first with a light detergent". I should have said, "a mild soap". Never use detergent on Sunbrella.