Bushwalk Australia

Hi folks,
It's been a while since I have posted, but anyhow.
For some time now I have a damaged tent floor, and although I can manage during most shorter trips, it does get very anoying to wake up finding that tent floor and mattress are soaked. As I do a few winter trips each year too, this can be very frustrating especially when camping on snow. Because I like my tent and want to keep it for some time to come I think it is about time to do something about the tent floor. I have patched some of the visible holes but even using a groundsheet, water still gets in. So does anyone know a good repair sho which can repair or replace the floor. Macpac type material would be great. If anyone has a guesstimate on pricing that would be cool too. If all else fails I may could try replacing the floor myself, if a suitable material is available. My tent is an Exped Sirius Extreme. And no I don't have the money to buy a new tent, ... not now anyway.

Cheers,

samh

Have you contacted Exped? If not, you should.

A friend of mine had a branch fall on/through his Exped tent. They repaired it (might have even replaced the fly) free of charge.

McNett Tenacious tape is a very good product, sticks like nothing else.
If you know where the holes are, give it a shot.

@ Strider
I know Exped are usually good at helping out. However I had a few issues with the tent before and last time I asked for their assistance they seemed rather annoyed, but still maybe worth a try, if I ask nicely

samh,
How did you damage your tent floor and how bad is the damage ? pin holes can be fixed with silicone ,rips need patches or tape and if it is so bad perhaps you need a new tent
corvus

it's mostly pin holes and smaller, the trouble with fixing it with silicone, (which i have done with most of the obvious ones) is finding them and there seem to be alot. Ah well maybe you are right, a new tent would solve many other problems too, if there wouldn't be the cost.

samh

Sam you could hang your tent on the washing line turn it to face the sun view the holes then patch or even paint the total floor area with diluted silicone ,or just get a new tent
corvus

If I paint the whole floor why not bring a second floor instead, the weight would roughly be the same. I could also bring a second ground sheet for inside the tent. Man, you give me an idea... maybe I should buy a new te...NO better don't think any further

If you hold the tent floor towards light, and there are a zillion holes, you need to replace the floor. If there are less than 30 holes, use some sort of seam sealer, and DIY.

If the floor needs replacing, either ask Exped whether they will do it, at your cost, or learn how to sew. Materials are easily bought online ---Cuban fiber, silinylon, proofed nylon etc. a bathtub floor is easy to make, and seam sealing also easy to do, in the shoe scheme of things.

I'd start learning how to sew. I bought my sewing machine 29 yrs ago, and have made clothes, sleeping bags, rucksacks , tarps etc. it allows you to design to your needs, rather than use a commercial product which doesn't fit your criteria.

A

I have tried everything with leaky tent floors over the years. The last time I tried it I used undertile waterproofing membrane (as is used in bathrooms) which is theoretically completely waterproof and flexible (depending on the brand and typ used). Even with a full coat of it, the floor was still not completely watertight. All of the outdoor gear shop recoating products I have used over the years have provided only limited and short term rectification.

I am a big believer in do it yourself, and like Andrewa I make a lot of my own gear BUT this is one job I would get done by someone like Remote or Venus. When I asked remote about a large-ish two person tent floor replacement they said as a very very rough estimate (without seeing the tent) it would be around the mid $200 mark, which sounded fair to me.

Clarence

did you try Tent Sure ?
http://www.mcnett.com/Tent-Sure-Tent-Fl ... -P169.aspx
8oz can do 85 sq feet, so you would be using about 4 (or less) for yours and that is about 110g
That is wet so I would think less than 100g dry
Not that much less than a groundsheet but maybe worth considering.
(no experience with that,just a suggestion)
Franco