bunk ends leaking

[sharkladyangie]

I am fairly new to hybrid camping, but owned a pop up for years. We are having a problem with leaking in both of our bunk ends. The leaks appeared to be coming from the horizontal seam that runs around the bottom of the tent material. That seam just happens to be at the exact same height as the top of the memory foam mattress. It is only the top of the memory foam mattress that is getting wet, not the bottom mattress. I have sealed all of the tent seams with Coleman seam sealer, but we are still getting leaks. I'm thinking it's because the hybrid tent doesn't attach in the same way as the pop up tent. In the pop up, the tent extended several inches past and over the bottom of the bed. In the hybrid, the tent attaches with velcro and then another piece of tent covers that velcroed area to just barely past the bottom of the bed. I think water is creeping in that way. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks so much!
Angie

[RoyB]

I use 9x12 tarps on the tent bed ends of my OFF-ROAD POPUP. This idea might be able to be adapted to your hybrid until you can find the leak source. The tarps also cuts down on the bright ends during the day. I use bungee stretch ropes to hold the tarps in place on both tent bed ends.

This is what I call a poor man gizmo...





Roy Ken

[Mike_Up]

That's why we went to a hard side. Had a Forest River Rockwood pop up and while the tent didn't leak, it just fell apart. Then the tent got damaged by the service department doing warranty work on other things! It spent more time in the shop than my drive way or the campground. Traded up to a StarCraft. It was very very reliable and was built excellent. The problem was the Aqualon tent. It leaked. It was 1 years old and I was fighting leaks on the bunkend in the upper corner seams. StarCraft replaced the bunkend. 1 year later the other bunkend started leaking. StarCraft was closing. They agreed to replace the bunkend but replaced it with the wrong one as there was a mid model design change in 2007. It fit but was loose and didn't match the other bunkend. We had enough of tent leakage and the such, on an expensive NEW camper. So I traded to a 23' travel trailer in 2008.

I will tell you I used Seam Grip and the water based seam sealers. NONE WORKED!

Previously talked to StarCraft customer support, they said use Paraffin wax to seal the seams with. Then later said they'd just replace the bunkend. At the pop up forum here, others agreed wax is the way to go.

I really wish I never had them change the bunkend and just used wax to seal the seams. I really liked that pop up but after we got soaked in a thunderstorm from water literally pouring in through the needle holes, my wife would NOT camp in it again even after it being fixed. She hated it that much, plus the work it took to pack everything in it and out of it. Setup wasn't bad just the packing since it had no storage.

I don't regret getting rid of it as the tent problems were such a disappointment. Plus I really don't know if the wax would had even sealed the water out.

Even the Rockwood kept getting holes in the vinyl top where I had to keep sealing the actual vinyl. Then the dealer causing tent damage while doing warranty work on something else.:M I love tents just not on my campers anymore. 🙂

If all fails, I'd try wax but make sure it's recommended by your tent and camper maker.

[Padlin]

I noticed mine leaking where the threads had elongated the holes they go through, same horizontal position by the sounds of it. I sealed those with Seam Grip. Don't know about the quality of the Coleman product but the Seam Grip is top notch. I also re-waterproofed the fabric window screen covers (if that's the right term). Water seamed to just leach through it, most tenting should NOT need this but it seemed to help mine. It may not be compatible with your fabric. Aqua Armor

[bikendan]

it would help if you posted year/brand/model of hybrid, since many have different setups and attachment styles.
that's why many of us have our trailer info in our signature line. that way we don't have to keep posting that info.