Hi All,

First-time caravaners and new Eriba Familia 320 owners. We have just returned from our first trip / tour, which went really well and overall we are very happy with the caravan. I do have one question that hopefully some experienced owners will know the answer to.

How waterproof is the canvas pop top?
On a particularly bad Scottish day with horizontal rain, the canvas top did leak in. My guess is it got through the zips and started to pool around the base of the canvas. But I have also noticed that in heavy rain the canvas does eventually start to feel damp. Is this to be expected? is it best not to put the roof up in really bad weather?

I'm sure that it shouldn't leak - so may need re-proofing sometimes if it's been cleaned (which should only be done with soap, no detergents or other cleaner !)

I've never re-proofed my Puck L canvas - but I know that only a recommended re-proofer should be used, you should find details via the 'Search' on the Forum, but I'm sure plenty of experienced help will be forthcoming from members !

You may get condensation drips on the inside from the metal rail where the canvas joins the roof on the inside - this is normal !

Hope this helps :)

Hi and
Regards Chris and Keith

Hi and
Tom & Margaret

I reproofed my 2001 Troll pop top canvas with 303 fabric guard in the Spring of 2015. This year we went to France in June where it was very wet, torrential rain, no leaks and I checked for leaks last weekend when I did my end of season clean prior to covering for the winter,still very watertight.If you have a go at re proofing be careful not to spill it on the roof, I masked mine with newspaper and low tack tape.Was an easy job, probably only took an afternoon, definitely worth cleaning first with soap.At the time i took of the black seal that surrounds the roof and cleaned all the green that collects, mind your hands on the sharp fibreglass edge.

Highmiler

Hi,

Thanks for all the replies.
It's a new van so the canvas hasn't been cleaned and hopefully shouldn't need reproofing. I did question this with the supplier who mentioned the fabric will weather and this should stop. I can sort of see that as I vaguely recall this use to get done with canvas tents.
For now, I will just see how we get on, I'm sure we get more rain to try it out in. The only day we really had a problem was when the rain was horizontal and at that point, I can see that it must eventually get through the fly screen vents. Still interested to know what other do in very bad weather.

I get the bit about weathering. Bit like your pants shrinking in the wash!

Must admit my canvas under the top is pretty filthy but It doesn't leak.

Just put the roof down if it does it again. Some Eriba owners I've seen on sites put their roofs down when they go out and when the go to sleep.

Ian

Just to say hello, Derek and Carole

Quote: bowlersontour wrote in post #7

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Hi,
Thanks for all the replies.
It's a new van so the canvas hasn't been cleaned and hopefully shouldn't need reproofing. I did question this with the supplier who mentioned the fabric will weather and this should stop. I can sort of see that as I vaguely recall this use to get done with canvas tents.
For now, I will just see how we get on, I'm sure we get more rain to try it out in. The only day we really had a problem was when the rain was horizontal and at that point, I can see that it must eventually get through the fly screen vents. Still interested to know what other do in very bad weather.

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Quote: Poptop320 wrote in post #10

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[quote="bowlersontour"|p38504]refer to your manual regarding closing the pop top whilst in the van, it will advise you that it should never be dropped whist the van is occupied.

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Quote: Deeps wrote in post #11

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Quote: Poptop320 wrote in post #10

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[quote="bowlersontour"|p38504]refer to your manual regarding closing the pop top whilst in the van, it will advise you that it should never be dropped whist the van is occupied.

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I haven't read this for myself but of course I might not have delved deep enough into the manual. My own view though is that if this is in fact the case, Hymer are erring on the side of being ultra cautious as I cannot possibly see anyone being overcome from lack of oxygen considering the number of natural ventilation spots in these caravans. As concerns ourselves, we often drop the top in very inclement weather although we've never experienced too much of it thank goodness, and because we are both fresh air freaks, more often than not place two or more window latches on their ventilation setting.

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The gas fire is completely sealed from the van interior. Cooking could be an issue but the fire isn't.

cleaning the canvas its a worthwhile job which ever method you use, must go and vacuum mine again,
lid down and no window on vent, yikes nose assault
pets do pass wind, dogs on tuna meat, definitely a window on vent situation
gluten free and accidently eaten gluten another window on vent situation

I cook with lid down, but am normally sat outside with thermals, and the little table with the little electric hob saves steaming up the interior in winter..