Very wet van from sideways rain.

mchbiker · Apr 8, 2023

We had driving rains overnight and woke in the morning to find water just about everywhere internally down the one side of the van, it was a real mess. Other than a catastrophic failure of the canvas it would seem to have more obviously come in via one of the small vents (we have an internal topper). Has anyone else suffered this? We have had the van 7 years and never seen this before. Many thanks.

larrylamb · Apr 9, 2023

I don't know if this is the cause but in your picture the roof canvas rubber has come away slightly from its fixing in the top corner. Lower the roof and reseat the seal checking the other corners too.

The Blue Merle · Apr 9, 2023

mchbiker said:
We had driving rains overnight and woke in the morning to find water just about everywhere internally down the one side of the van, it was a real mess. Other than a catastrophic failure of the canvas it would seem to have more obviously come in via one of the small vents (we have an internal topper). Has anyone else suffered this? We have had the van 7 years and never seen this before. Many thanks.

View attachment 106996

There’s been loads of posts over the years about rain coming through roof canvas vent.
I always use to park with the rear of van taking rain/wind, I think lots just block vent with a temp bit of tape.
Just use search function on here, or someone more clever will add link for you.

Cali Phillip · Apr 9, 2023

larrylamb said:
I don't know if this is the cause but in your picture the roof canvas rubber has come away slightly from its fixing in the top corner. Lower the roof and reseat the seal checking the other corners too.

My roof did that too, I put it back twice with the help of plastic bicycle tyre levers, it came back out so I used a thin smear of slikaflex the last time, its not came out since.
You mention the vents, I am of the belief coming from a mountain tent users background that as there are vents, the canvas roof was never designed for heavy sideways rain. If you need the roof up I would get an external topper pferablety with some opening vents with flaps over the zips so allowing them to be slightly open for some ventilation. Winddeflectors on the from windows help the ventilation in general too. hope this helps.

mchbiker · Apr 9, 2023

larrylamb said:
I don't know if this is the cause but in your picture the roof canvas rubber has come away slightly from its fixing in the top corner. Lower the roof and reseat the seal checking the other corners too.

Well spotted. It was the other side I was being lazy taking the picture from that side. Regarding the rubber that was after a fix from VW! It's much better than it was but will be taken back. The adhesive probably didn't go right to the corner.

mchbiker · Apr 9, 2023

Phillip T said:
My roof did that too, I put it back twice with the help of plastic bicycle tyre levers, it came back out so I used a thin smear of slikaflex the last time, its not came out since.
You mention the vents, I am of the belief coming from a mountain tent users background that as there are vents, the canvas roof was never designed for heavy sideways rain. If you need the roof up I would get an external topper pferablety with some opening vents with flaps over the zips so allowing them to be slightly open for some ventilation. Winddeflectors on the from windows help the ventilation in general too. hope this helps.

Thanks, with 4 of us there isn't usually an option to drop it at night. We have been lucky in the past as we have seen some a few storms. I might have a look at a few external toppers. The internal one had worked well until now.

mchbiker · Apr 9, 2023

The Blue Merle said:
There’s been loads of posts over the years about rain coming through roof canvas vent.
I always use to park with the rear of van taking rain/wind, I think lots just block vent with a temp bit of tape.
Just use search function on here, or someone more clever will add link for you.

Thank you.

Cali Phillip · Apr 9, 2023

mchbiker said:
Thanks, with 4 of us there isn't usually an option to drop it at night. We have been lucky in the past as we have seen some a few storms. I might have a look at a few external toppers. The internal one had worked well until now.

Often the case all berths required!
I bought the comfort ease one from the club shop with windows and vents, had some very heavy west coast rain and no leaks.
I have one issue only , theres rods inserted for the front corners which makes it hard the pack, its long and I have considered taking them out. Not sure other makes like Rainbow screens or pulser screens have these. There was a review of Rainbow here

Lambeth Cali · Apr 9, 2023

We have one of those external silver foil covers we use very occasionally if camping out of season in the uk. Which is rare for us. It’s primarily for warmth but would keep you dry, covers the top vents and is very quick to put on with a bungee at the back. Cost about £100

It is just a tent when it boils down to it. We put this on last year on our 15 year old roof. Yet to check the results.
Fabsil GRFAB41 Aerosol Spray on... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000XY9NVU/?tag=eliteelect-21

Always been mildly suspicious of the effects of a bungee cord on the canvas.

andrew bazeley · Apr 15, 2023

Lambeth Cali said:
We have one of those external silver foil covers we use very occasionally if camping out of season in the uk. Which is rare for us. It’s primarily for warmth but would keep you dry, covers the top vents and is very quick to put on with a bungee at the back. Cost about £100

It is just a tent when it boils down to it. We put this on last year on our 15 year old roof. Yet to check the results.
Fabsil GRFAB41 Aerosol Spray on... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000XY9NVU/?tag=eliteelect-21

Always been mildly suspicious of the effects of a bungee cord on the canvas.

Totally with your comments! Yes - THE ROOF IS BASICALLY A TENT!! In extreme storms, many tents would leak. My roof is also 15 years old, and I've rarely had rain coming in. Turning the van round so that any wind goes up the slope rather than into the side helps a bit. I also agree about the bungee. It reduces the risk of splits, but I suspect it doesn't do the canvas any good!

CALI FATE · Apr 17, 2023

We have a 7 year old T6 Beach - i would say that having lived through Irish west coast storms the rain will penetrate the canvas if its relentless enough - we have woken to find the bedding very wet on a couple of occasions - i have used fabsil which is effective but needs to be done each year

My big tip is to keep the inner roof drains / drain holes clear - if the side gulleys fill up with rain water this can cause much flooding inside the van

RockinNRollin · Apr 17, 2023

The 6.1 we hired was fine in heavy lashing rain; got the odd drop through the roof vents but nothing significant, but I gather the newer canvas (this was a 2022 van) are more waterproof. I am sure I have read somewhere about making a little cover with magnetic catches and sticking it on the outside in really rough weather, although how you'd reach it from the outside I'm not sure unless you have a step ladder