What's the best way to re-waterproof an old tent?

[moosemama]

We have a VW camper, so don't often tent-camp anymore - well not unless you include the awning.

We are however, hoping to go away to a National Trust campsite in a couple of weeks, just for one night and they don't accept camper vans, so we will have to dig out our old tent instead.

We had it out last September to lend to some friends who were camping with us and that night it was torrential rain. Whilst it didn't leak like a sieve, it did leak and dh is making grumbly noises about not wanting to go this time unless it's been reproofed.

He says, as a scout (many many moons ago ) they used to have to put up the tent and paint the tent with a waterproofing solution and it was a real pita.

So, I am here to ask all of you lovely camping experts if you can tell me what's the best way of re-proofing a tent?

It's one of the old Lichfield 6-man ridge tents if that makes any difference?

Many thanks.

You can get sprays now I think, should make it easier?

You can get sprays, but if you're doing a whole (large) tent, it's a very expensive way of doing it. If you just needed to do the seams, then a spray would do you.

I've recently reproofed my bell tent (doing it your DH's way) and it took 3 5L cans of paint-on Fabsil to do it.... on the plus side, it didn't take that long and dried really quickly (we had some good weather!).

Thank you.

I think the spray doesn't really sound like an option then seeing as we need to do the whole tent.

Sounds like it's good old paint on Fabsil here we come!