30-Day Hobo Challenge - Week 2 - Easy DIY Hobo Tent!, by WayPoint Survival on YouTube. 14 min 6 s.
- Video length
- 14 min 6 s
- Time to do it
- 2 hours plus overnight drying
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 7
What you need
Steps
Spread the king-sized 100% cotton flat sheet out flat on a clean, dry surface. Check it for rips, thin patches or holes before you treat it.
Put on gloves and eye protection, then work outdoors. Squeeze two tubes of 100% clear silicone into a gallon of odorless mineral spirits and stir until the silicone breaks down into a thin, cloudy liquid.
Brush the mix over the whole sheet with a 4 inch brush, working it into the weave in thin, even coats. Give the ridge line and the ground edges a second coat.
Hang the sheet over a line or fence and let it dry completely, usually overnight, until you can no longer smell solvent.
Cut and lash three shear sticks at the top to form a simple frame, then stand it up in a field and spread the legs.
Drape the dry sheet over the frame, pull it taut so rain runs off, and stake the bottom edges to the ground.
Apply the same silicone and mineral spirits mix to the hobo pack sack from week one so it sheds water too.
Tips and common mistakes
Odorless mineral spirits are flammable and give off strong fumes, so mix and brush well away from flames, stoves and pilot lights.
Test the mix on a scrap of the same sheet first to check the colour and stiffness it leaves behind.
Store any leftover mix in a labelled metal can with the lid tight, and keep it out of reach of children.
Re-coat the sheet each season, since the treatment wears thin where the fabric rubs on the poles.
Questions
Do I have to use a cotton sheet?
Yes, 100% cotton takes the silicone mix and grips it. Synthetic sheets and blends can resist the treatment and stay limp.
How long does the waterproofing last?
A single coat usually holds up for a season of occasional camping. Brush on a fresh thin coat when water starts soaking through instead of beading.
Can I sleep under it in heavy rain?
It keeps off steady rain but is not a storm shelter. Pitch it taut, keep the ground edges low, and dig a small drainage channel around the base.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
