Tent Pole Repairs and 5 Other Handy Tips

If you’ve damaged part of your tent during your camping trip you’ll find that most things are simple and easy to repair. Let’s start with the tent pole repairs:

1. FIBREGLASS TENT POLE REPAIRS

Has one of your fibreglass tent poles split or cracked? Don’t worry, tent pole repairs are simple to fix. In most cases you won’t have to purchase a complete new pole. You just replace the section. Some tents come with one or more replacement sections but if yours does not, just purchase tent pole repairs kit, but take a sample pole to the camping store as pole diameters vary.

2. SMALL FABRIC REPAIRS

Small holes or tears can usually be repairs without too much fuss. For polyester/nylon tents you can use ‘cloth tape’ which is strong, waterproof and comes in different colours. Tear-Aid is another popular product. It is recommended to repair on both sides of the fabric. Cloth tape is also good for cotton fabrics as are ‘iron on’ patches which as applied with a hot iron. We strongly recommend all campers carry a repair kit at all times. For large holes and tears you should consult a canvas repair specialist.

3. FLOOR REPAIRS

Most tents have polyethylene (PE) floors which is the same as polytarp material. These floors are best repaired with Cloth Tape (both sides). Do not use a solvent based glue (like airbed glue) as this will dissolve the floor material. If you experience seepage through floor seams, then use a seam sealer on the outside/bottom only. Repairs to PVC (vinyl) floors can be done with a patch and pvc glue.

4. LEAKY SEAMS?

If you have some seepage through the seams of the fly material then seam sealer must be used. Most tent flys have their seams taped at the factory but this may come off over time. If you need to apply seam sealer to a tent fly it must be applied to the underside of the fly. Cotton tent seams are best repaired with a ‘wax stick’ (outside only).

5. HOW TO REPAIR A TENT FLY THAT LEAKS

Unless there are obvious holes a leaking polyester/nylon tent fly is usually simply fixed with an aerosol based waterproofing treatment. This is a simple and inexpensive method yet very effective. The aerosol applies and dries within 10 seconds and the fly is ready for use. Be aware that the fly needs to be completely dry before application. Canvas tent tents are best proofed with a liquid waterproofing compound which are applied with a brush or roller. The fabric needs to be washed and dried first. Always test a small patch before using it on the rest of the tent.

6. ZIPPERS

If the zippers on your tent are a bit stiff, applying a wax stick or waterproofing aerosol often relieves the problem. Making sure the tent is dry before storage will often prevent sticky zippers.