How Waterproof Is Your Poptop Canvas?

[t0mb0]

We have a 2016 Reimo Easyfit LWB poptop. The sides are made from some kind of canvas similar in style to old-fashioned tent canvas. This means that it’s basically waterproof as long as nothing is touching it from the inside, whereupon it wicks water through - especially with a combination of wind and rain. Unfortunately we have three small kids up there so someone’s sleeping bag is pretty much always touching it!

Two questions:

1) Do other makes of poptop act like this?
2) Has anyone treated theirs with anything? I was thinking nikwax cotton proofer or similar. Or possibly even waxing the lower section where the sleeping bags touch and leaving the upper section clear to breathe.

We do have a cover to put around it when the forecast is really bad but it’s bulky, doesn’t fit perfectly and a bit of a faff.

 

[andys]

Won't they fit in the downstairs bed? Don't think I'd be comfortable about my grandaughter sleeping in the poptop, I'd have nightmares about someone slashing the canvas and stealing her. Plus she'd never get to sleep cos it's much quieter downstairs.
Think a waterproof wrap is the only way round it if they are going to touch it though

 

[Trevor]

That’s a little extreme on the slashing the canvas you can get covers for the pop top from rainbow and others.

 

[t0mb0]

They sleep up there fine, no way are they sleeping downstairs - where on earth are we going to sit and drink wine after they’ve gone to bed?

We do have a cover for it, I’m asking whether other people’s poptop canvas is similar.

 

[$immo]

I used a Fenwick canvas weatherproof spray on mine, it still let's some damp through if the sleeping bag touches it but it's not wet and the water sorts of beads on the outside now instead of soaking in.
Nikwax is a good product and I will probably do it again with that later in the autumn.

 

[t0mb0]

I used a Fenwick canvas weatherproof spray on mine, it still let's some damp through if the sleeping bag touches it but it's not wet and the water sorts of beads on the outside now instead of soaking in.
Nikwax is a good product and I will probably do it again with that later in the autumn.

Sounds like a reasonable plan, I might try similar.

 

[CaliStu]

I didn't expect the poptop on our Cali Beach to be very waterproof, especially as so many owners seem to fit waterproof covers in bad weather.

But we've used it in some very wet and windy conditions and never had any water come in. Of course its hard to say how much my kids lean against the fabric so that could be the difference.

 

[Salty Spuds]

Reimo have changed their canvas, mine is the newer type & it's thicker & more like a Goretex material, totally waterproof so far, but this doesn't help the OP. I'd use Fabsil on the old type to top up the waterproofing, still won't stop wicking if the side are rubbed though.

 

[t0mb0]

Reimo have changed their canvas, mine is the newer type & it's thicker & more like a Goretex material, totally waterproof so far, but this doesn't help the OP. I'd use Fabsil on the old type to top up the waterproofing, still won't stop wicking if the side are rubbed though.

Ah, that’s interesting! I wonder how many zillions they charge to put new style canvas in...

 

[DaveyB]

My Hilo was up in a torrential storm whilst in Weymouth a few weeks ago. The water was justbsoaking straight through, but based on the speed of the wind and the near horizontal rain straight into the side of the van, wasn’tnoverly suprised. Have now topped it up with a spray on/ rub in tent re-proofer.

 

[PukkaT6]

My Hilo was up in a torrential storm whilst in Weymouth a few weeks ago. The water was justbsoaking straight through, but based on the speed of the wind and the near horizontal rain straight into the side of the van, wasn’tnoverly suprised. Have now topped it up with a spray on/ rub in tent re-proofer.

For the price Id expect more really after all it literally has one job - keep the weather out.

 

[stuart-t6]

Sounds like a reasonable plan, I might try similar.

My SCA canvas appears to be water proof I have not felt or seen any moisture come through in the rain yet.
The canvas does feel quite thick with some sort of coating on it.

 

[Fish]

The idea of any treatment that puts an allegedly waterproof wax or coating on canvas is not good from a breathability point of view. Canvas is not WATERPROOF -- it's water resistant. It prevents most water from entering while allowing vapor pressure to escape and the interior to breath. It does this by the fibers swelling when wet to repeal water, then shrinking slightly when dry to breath. A waterpoof treatment will drastically increase sweat -- a MAJOR problem

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kiwi-Heavy-Water-Repellent-354-9ml/dp/B018FTF2AK

 

[Davenjo]

The idea of any treatment that puts an allegedly waterproof wax or coating on canvas is not good from a breathability point of view. Canvas is not WATERPROOF -- it's water resistant. It prevents most water from entering while allowing vapor pressure to escape and the interior to breath. It does this by the fibers swelling when wet to repeal water, then shrinking slightly when dry to breath. A waterpoof treatment will drastically increase sweat -- a MAJOR problem

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kiwi-Heavy-Water-Repellent-354-9ml/dp/B018FTF2AK

Spot on - all you end up doing is swapping the problem of water ingress for one of condensation forming.

If unable to prevent kids, etc., pressing up against the the inside of the canvas the best approach is going to be a pop-top wrap, such as those from Rainbow.

 

[Davenjo]

@t0mb0 - I've just re-read your OP and can see that breathability and wraps have already been considered.

My SCA has been up in some pretty serious winds and rains without any problems of water ingress but, having camped for years, I am always very careful to make sure nothing is touching the inside of the canvas. As above, whatever you apply to the canvas is likely to just create a different problem - even if you do get the canvas fully "waterproof" anything pressing up against it is still likely to spread the fibres and allow water to wick through.

If you don't like using the pop-top wrap, have you considered trying to fashion some sort of barrier that stops the kids touching the canvas (I'm thinking cot sides and bumper rails)??

 

[Salty Spuds]

Ah, that’s interesting! I wonder how many zillions they charge to put new style canvas in...

It's a 2day 2man job apparently. So 4 days labour for starters, plus the canvas. Can't see any change out of £1500 at a guess.

 

[GoatBoater]

Our SCA held up to a proper lashing this week without letting any moisture in. Kids up there too, so the sides were getting touched, prodded, kicked and generally abused the whole time.

 

[t0mb0]

Yes, retaining breathability is obviously paramount. The advantage of the current canvas is that it’s extremely breathable.

I’ll try some cotton specific proofer to enhance beading on the exterior. Then I might consider selectively waxing the small lower section that the sleeping bags are in contact with. I’ll experiment with a very small section first.

An interior barrier won’t work - there’s just not enough width up there to keep the bags off the canvas and any interior waterproof fabric layer will just channel water straight into the van.

 

[CaliStu]

If you're looking for an external cover, these are meant to be good and a lot cheaper than the other makes

http://shop.darenpucerscreens.co.uk

 

[t0mb0]

If you're looking for an external cover, these are meant to be good and a lot cheaper than the other makes

http://shop.darenpucerscreens.co.uk

I don’t want another cover. I’ve already got a vanshades one and it sags around the edge - even after they put an extra strut in it. It’s also quite bulky.