A good tent is supposed shelter you from the elements. However, after years of use, sometimes the elements get the best of our gear and our trusty tent might get damaged and needs to be repaired.
Ripped fabric, leaky seams and broken tent poles are common repairs that can be easily fixed by any ambitious do-it-yourself ‘er.
How to Repair Ripped Tent Fabric
Sharp rocks, fallen branches, heavy winds or heat from a nearby fire can push your tent fabric beyond its limits, possibly causing damage. A resulting rip or a tear doesn’t necessarily mean your tent is useless. True, you’re now more exposed to the environment but the damage is totally fixable!
So, instead of trashing a perfectly good tent, you can quickly and easily repair the damage (and former glory!) of your primary piece of outdoor equipment.
Follow these 3 simple steps to repair a ripped tent fabric.
Tools and supplies required:
- Scissors
- Rubbing alcohol
- Clean cloth or rag
- Tenacious repair tape (for fabric tears)
- Mesh patch (for mesh tears)
1. Cut off any loose threads
Often when a tent tears, the fabric produces loose fibers and threads. These dangly bits need to be trimmed prior to patching up the tear. Using a sharp knife or scissors, cut any loose threads.
2. Clean the area thoroughly
Dust and debris clinging to tent fabric must be cleared prior to patching any tears. Dab rubbing alcohol onto a clean cloth and clean the tear and surrounding area throughly.
3. Cut and apply repair tape
Measure and cut two pieces of Tenacious repair tape with dimensions about 1 inch extra than the tear on all sides. When cutting the tape, round the corners to prevent peeling over time.
Lay the tent fabric flat. Remove the tape backing and apply the tape onto the tear. Apply firm and even pressure to ensure the adhesive properly bonds onto the fabric surface and no bubbles form. Repeat the taping process for the other side of the tear. Taping both sides of the tear ensures a strong, weatherproof repair.
For mesh tears, follow similar steps but use mesh patches instead.
And there you have it! Now you have a strong, water-tight patch, restoring your tent back to its original glory.
How to Fix a Leaky Tent Seam
Tent seams are where two fabric pieces are joined with thread and sealant or seam tape. That’s why seams are usually the first place water tends to bleed through. After years of use, the waterproof sealant or tape applied to seams can breakdown and wear away, allowing water to penetrate through.
So, to restore the waterproof properties of a seam there are two options: 1. Using seam tape, or 2. using seam sealant. This article by MSR clearly explains the difference between the two options and when seam tape or sealant should be used [Tents 101: Seam Taping vs. Seal Sealing].
By far the easiest and least complicated method is to use seam sealant. And, once applied, it provides a permanent waterproof and flexible seal that dries clear for nylon, canvas and other outdoor fabrics!
Follow these 4 simple steps to repair a leaky seam.
Tools and supplies required:
- Scissors
- Rubbing alcohol
- Clean cloth or rag
- Rubber gloves
- Seam Grip sealant (comes with applicator brush)
- Respirator (optional, if applying indoors)
1. Trim peeling seam tape (if required)
If your tent has seam tape peeling off, use scissors to trim off any loose tape or peeled edges.
2. Clean the area thoroughly
Dab rubbing alcohol onto a clean cloth and clean the length of the seam and surrounding area that needs to be sealed. Only the inside portion of the seam needs to be treated.
3. Apply seam sealant
Caution: If you are going to apply sealant indoors, please use a respirator or do it in a very well ventilated room. An ideal environment would be in an open garage or outside on a warm, dry and slightly windy day.
Using the application brush, apply an even layer of Grip Seal sealant along the length of the inside seam. The sealant will penetrate into the seam and dry to create a waterproof barrier.
A one-ounce tube of sealant is meant to seal about 12 feet of seam so apply accordingly.
4. Allow seams to dry
Allow the sealant to dry for 24 hours in a cool, dry place with plenty of ventilation.
Say goodbye to forehead drips and wet tent walls! Re-sealing your tent seam is easier than ever, and your tent is as good as new!
How to Repair a Broken Tent Pole - Temporary Fix
As the back-bone to every shelter, tent poles take the brunt of the forces inflicted onto a tent from wind, rain, snow and ice. Whether it’s in the line of duty or an unfortunate accident while en-route, poles can splinter, crack or snap.
While camping, a broken tent pole can be repaired with a make-shift splint or sleeve. A splint can be made from any solid piece of material, such as a tent stake. A sleeve is a hollow tube, slightly larger than the tent pole.
Below are the steps to temporarily fix a broken tent pole in the field.
Tools and supplies required:
- Duct tape
- Pliers
- Tent stake, or
- Aluminum sleeve repair kit (for 7.9 – 8.5 mm diameter poles)
1. Unbend and clean the break
If the tent pole is bent but not broken, gently attempt to straighten the pole as best you can. In the case of a break, there may be sharp pieces of metal sticking out. Using pliers, remove or bend these parts so that the outside of the pole is smooth.
2. Align and attach the splint or sleeve
To mend the break with a splint, align the broken pole with a tent stake or any metal rod. Tape each end of the splint securely to the tent pole.
Similarly, for a sleeve, slide the sleeve onto the tent pole. Align the sleeve so that it is placed in the middle of the break. Tape each end of the sleeve securely to the tent pole.
These short-term “in the field” solutions should get you through the rest of your camping trip.
How to Repair a Broken Tent Pole - Permanent Fix
A more permanent solution would be to replace the damaged section of pole with a new piece back at home. All you need to do is measure, mark and cut a new pole and replace it!
Below are the steps to fully replace a broken or damage section of tent pole.
Tools and supplies required:
- Replacement tent pole(s), either fiberglass replacement kit or aluminium replacement kit
- Hacksaw or pipe cutter
- Sand paper
- Masking tape
- Permanent marker
- Needle-nose pliers
- Locking pliers or binder clip
1. Unstring existing poles
To disassemble the poles, start by removing the elastic chord connecting the poles. For fiberglass poles, use needle-nose pliers to pull the knotted end of the chord from one end of the poles. For aluminium poles, unscrew the end cap to reveal the knot hook.
Unknot the chord and carefully remove the poles from the chord. Maintain the order of the poles until you’ve reached the broken pole. The elastic chord can be reused if it has not been damaged, otherwise you can use the chord that comes with most pole replacement kits.
2. Measure and mark replacement pole
Based on the material of the pole, purchase a fiber glass or aluminium replacement kit.
Using the broken pole as a guide, measure and mark the same length on the replacement piece with a permanent marker.
For fiberglass poles, wrap masking tape around the mark. This will help prevent sharp edges from forming when it’s cut.
3. Cut replacement pole and sand edges
Using a hacksaw, cut the new pole at the mark. Once cut, use sandpaper to smooth the edges of the cut. This prevents any sharp edges from damaging the elastic chord when the poles are folded.
Alternatively, for aluminium poles, a pipe cutter tool results in a much better cut and doesn’t require sanding. Place the aluminum pole in the cutting tool, aligning the mark with the cutter blade. Tighten the blade with the dial. Rotate the tool around the pipe to start cutting. Gradually tighten the blade and continue to rotate the tool around the pole until it has full cut through.
4. Restring poles
With the remaining tent poles still on the elastic chord, pull the chord tight. Use locking pliers or a binder clip to keep that section chord taught. The remaining chord can now be used to restring the poles in the same order as before including the replacement pole.
Once through the final pole, knot the end of the chord as originally knotted. Remove the locking pliers or binder clip. Check to see if the chord and poles have been re-installed properly.
These simple DIY tent repairs are quick and easy; any camper can do it! Enjoy more of the outdoors in your revitalized tent for plenty of more years to come.
I hope you found these tips helpful for your tent repairs. Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
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Thanks for sharing in your post that using seam sealant is the simplest solution to fix a tent because the permanent waterproof and flexible seal dries clear for nylon, canvas, and other outdoor materials once applied. However, I think I would need a tarp tent repair service for our truck tent since I don’t know so much about sealant, and I better hire a professional to fix it because it gives me peace of mind that it is done well than just me doing the fixing.
Hi Marie! I’m glad you found the information useful. You’re right, for a heavy duty truck tent, the material is slightly more thicker so perhaps consulting with a professional tent repair person would be better. What type of truck tent do you have? And, what is the damage? Perhaps the damage is covered by warranty?
Happy camping,
Shane