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Beastie_boy's avatar
Beastie_boy
Explorer
Dec 12, 2013

Noob here probably in wrong room

Here goes... Just got my new beast. No where new 1972 Starcraft. Canvas is mold stained on few areas and roof boards are rotted. I've also had to fix up the cable system. No step for an old stepper.... Right... Mechanically and construction is completed. Ok now before everyone says bear creek or the other company.... Has anyone else just thrown the canvas in your washing machine. Mine is in there now it was trashed and I took pics of before. I figured it had to be similar material to my carhart bib overalls. If it works I guess next step will be water proofing. But now that I've jumped to gun and have the thing in wash I set back and wonder why don't I see this recommended more often. I see most people saying toothbrush and scrub brush... Geeze Louise ain't nobody got time for that.
Folding Trailers

6 Replies

  • beemerphile1's avatar
    beemerphile1
    Explorer
    Dec 13, 2013
    Forget the spray stuff, very expensive and doesn't work.

    Use Thompson's Water Seal if you have real canvas. Slop it on with a large house painting brush and saturate the canvas. It might darken it and will make it sort of stiff but it will be waterproof.

    Like always recommended, try it on an inconspicuous area before doing the whole thing.
  • upstech76's avatar
    upstech76
    Explorer
    Dec 12, 2013
    While RV.net is a great forum I strongly recommend you check out PopupPortal.com We purchased a popup and camped in it the three years learning a lot from PopupPortal. We just recently upgraded to a TT.
  • Locky's avatar
    Locky
    Explorer
    Dec 12, 2013
    "She did not enjoy tent camping and has not gone with me or the kids for last 7 years."
    I want that tent lol.
  • Beastie_boy's avatar
    Beastie_boy
    Explorer
    Dec 12, 2013
    As I look around I see that just adding repellent can be a mistake. How would I know this is original canvas. I traded a shotgun for this pup from guy on Craigslist. It looks way to new on the one end to be original. I see no tags or anything to state material. In my head I think I'm venturing down the right path. Maybe someone has attempted this path and can shed a little light on this as in mistakes to not make like throwing in machine and hope for best route I've taken. Really though it probably needed replaced and don't want to tell wife just yet I'm an idiot! If I can get her into it one nice weekend she will probably be a new camper. She did not enjoy tent camping and has not gone with me or the kids for last 7 years. Open to suggestions and ideas ....and yeah I seen same stuff at Wally World and have a few cans of stuff here might be 2 different brands to test I suppose.
  • WyoTraveler's avatar
    WyoTraveler
    Explorer
    Dec 12, 2013
    A few weeks ago I was looking around the sport section of Walmart. They had some spray cans of tent water proofing.

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