Roadchief Tent Care

CARING FOR YOUR CANVAS TENT PRE-TRIP WATERPROOFING:
Caring for your Canvas Tent Pre-trip Waterproofing:
Prior to using your tent, it is important to "season" the canvas to avoid leaks. Seasoning will
Prior to using your tent, it is important to "season" the canvas to avoid leaks. Seasoning will
swell the canvas stching, thereby clogging the needle holes, making your canvas
swell the canvas stching, thereby clogging the needle holes, making your canvas
weatherproof. To season the tent, hose the canvas down well with water, parcularly on
weatherproof. To season the tent, hose the canvas down well with water, parcularly on
the seams. This allows the material to expand and swell, thus closing up the stching holes.
the seams. This allows the material to expand and swell, thus closing up the stching holes.
We recommend seng up for a few days and nights to season the tent; two to four mes to
We recommend seng up for few days and nights to season the tent; two to four mes to
achieve best results.
achieve best results.
1. Choose a sunny day when you first set up your tent.
1. Choose sunny day when you first set up your tent.
2. Wet down the enre tent. The best way to soak your tent is by trying to emulate a half
2. Wet down the enre tent. The best way to soak your tent is by trying to emulate half
hour period of heavy rain and ensure complete saturaon.
hour period of heavy rain and ensure complete saturaon.
3. Allow at least four hours in between soakings to dry the canvas. CAUTION: Never apply
3. Allow at least four hours in between soakings to dry the canvas. CAUTION: Never apply
heat to dry your canvas. Leave it out to air dry only.
heat to dry your canvas. Leave it out to air dry only.
4. Repeat this process on the following days.
4. Repeat this process on the following days.
5. If water sll wicks through stching, rub the stching areas with a Seam Sealer or wax
5. If water sll wicks through stching, rub the stching areas with Seam Sealer or wax
sck.
sck.
6. Once you are sasfied that the canvas is keeping out water, it is recommended that a
6. Once you are sasfied that the canvas is keeping out water, it is recommended that silicone-free waterproofing agent is applied and the tent is allowed to dry again. A Spray-on
silicone-free waterproofing agent is applied and the tent is allowed to dry again. Spray-on
product that contains a fluoropolymer formula will result in perfectly waterproofed canvas
product that contains fluoropolymer formula will result in perfectly waterproofed canvas
in no me. Apply the product evenly and allow the canvas to dry thoroughly. Never use a
in no me. Apply the product evenly and allow the canvas to dry thoroughly. Never use silicone based treatment as they can degrade the canvas.
silicone based treatment as they can degrade the canvas.
7. Test the canvas by hosing it down again. If the water beads off the canvas, then you know
7. Test the canvas by hosing it down again. If the water beads off the canvas, then you know
the treatment worked. If not, dry off the canvas and repeat the coang process.
the treatment worked. If not, dry off the canvas and repeat the coang process.
TENT Tent MAINTENANCE
Maintenance
Never pack up the tent when it is wet or soiled as it can become covered in mould, mildew
Never pack up the tent when it is wet or soiled as it can become covered in mould, mildew
or stained by corrosion within a few days. If it is wet when you are packing up, then unpack
or stained by corrosion within few days. If it is wet when you are packing up, then unpack
and set it up to dry as soon as you get home or reach your next desnaon.
and set it up to dry as soon as you get home or reach your next desnaon.
Clean dirt, tree sap, leaves, animal droppings, and other things from your canvas as soon as
Clean dirt, tree sap, leaves, animal droppings, and other things from your canvas as soon as
you can. These harm the canvas and may cause dry rong or stains, therefore keep the tent
you can. These harm the canvas and may cause dry rong or stains, therefore keep the tent
away from bushes and branches. When dry, brush with a so brush, both inside and out.
away from bushes and branches. When dry, brush with so brush, both inside and out.
Hose down occasionally with clear, clean, cold water. Never scrub the canvas as this can
Hose down occasionally with clear, clean, cold water. Never scrub the canvas as this can
reduce the waterproofing of the canvas. Never apply soaps, detergents or other cleaning
reduce the waterproofing of the canvas. Never apply soaps, detergents or other cleaning
agents.
agents.
If you do end up with mouldy canvas, don't panic! Recfy it as soon as possible with a mould
If you do end up with mouldy canvas, don't panic! Recfy it as soon as possible with mould
treatment from your local camping store. To remove mould or mildew, use a mould and
treatment from your local camping store. To remove mould or mildew, use mould and
See over the page

mildew remover specifically designed for canvas. Once cleaned we recommend applying a
canvas waterproofing agent: both are available from most camping stores.
Keep in mind that there is no such thing as a permanent waterproof canvas coang. Over
me, you will need to repeat the treatment again. However, under normal wear and tear,
you should not have to waterproof canvas items more than once per calendar year.
When removing pegs, use another peg, a peg remover or the claw of a hammer - Do not use
the webbing or corner of the tent as your handle. Tent poles and pegs can leave rust marks
if they are wrapped inside a tent or trailer, so store them separately and in separate bag.
TIPS:
Tips:
Keep substances such as cleaning fluids, inseccides, petrol, oil, solvents, kerosene,
eucalyptus oil, or similar materials well away. Even the use of aerosols such as hairspray,
deodorant or aeroguard in the vicinity of the canvas can be harmful.
Reduce the risk of jamming fabric in the zip by holding the zip pull tab between your thumb
and forefinger with your thumb facing you. As you are closing the zip, clear the way in front
and under the zip slider. If fabric gets caught in the zip, pull out the fabric bit by bit. Do not
try and pull it out in one go, force the slider, or use pliers.
If there is a rip in the canvas or stches broken, do not panic. The material will prevent the
rip from becoming a major problem in most case. Check with a local canvas repairer to see
whether the problem is repairable. In most cases, it is a lot cheaper to repair than to buy a
new replacement
PH: 0800 299 499 | 021 686494
EMAIL: lex@roadchief.co.nz
22 Saleyards Road Otahuhu| Auckland
www.roadchief.co.nz