Pitchin' a tent

[S. Heisley]

Hiker Chick wrote:

3. Tarp inside the tent to protect the floor from shoes and dog toenails as well as modest amounts of water.

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A tarp is a good idea! I use a large old sheet on the inside floor of my tent and put a light-weight roll-up bamboo runner over top, in the walk area, to help keep the sheet in place. Anything tracked in will normally filter through the runner's slats onto the sheet. The sheet won't keep water out; but, hopefully the plasticized bathtub-style tent bottom and plastic ground cloth will. At the end of the stay, I pick up the four corners of the sheet, pull the bundled sheet out of the tent and shake it out to get rid of any debris that may have accumulated on it. Then, when I get home, I throw the sheet in the washer and dryer and it is ready for the next trip. That keeps the tent floor reasonably clean, anyway.

4. Keep clean clothes in the car or in waterproof bags

Forgot that one! I use a water resistant duffel, which may not be good enough if a river runs through the tent.

[mk10108]

Former Military types used channeling technique when you cannot adjust for ground slope.

[HossHoffer]

How right you are Hiker Chick. You never hear a good camping
story start with "My tent stayed so dry........"

Tim

Gonna spoil your theory. We have a big three room Coleman. Never use a ground cloth. Tent always stays dry if the rain fly is put on right. We got the ultimate camper revenge when the boom-box playing, drunk laughin', meth pipe smokin', loud, obnoxious family in the next site were sent scurrying for their leaky tents when a mountain thunderstorm hit one evening. We spent the time underneath our pop-up canopy playing games and reading and dashed to our tents to sleep when it was time. The rain drowned out their moans for the rest of the night while we slept warm and dry. In the morning when it was still drizzling our neighbors threw their camping gear into their Jeep and I watched as mom lit up a meth pipe while dad drove away with the two teenagers whining in the back. I chuckled and patted myself on the back for throwing the canopy in at the last minute and securing the rain fly.

I guess I've just been lucky or have the right kismet. We have tent camped all my life. Rain, snow, sleet, hail, windstorms, lightening, you name it. Which is why I am building a teardrop. I am tired of putting up a tent for an overnight stay.

Happy Camping, Hoss

[hiker chick]

How right you are Hiker Chick. You never hear a good camping
story start with "My tent stayed so dry........"

Tim

We got the ultimate camper revenge when the boom-box playing, drunk laughin', meth pipe smokin', loud, obnoxious family in the next site were sent scurrying for their leaky tents when a mountain thunderstorm hit one evening.

why I am building a teardrop. I am tired of putting up a tent for an overnight stay.

Happy Camping, Hoss

Another benefit of the teardrop is it will be easier to move to another site when the Loud-Meth family camps next door. (also pays to pack earplugs)

The teardrop has transformed weekend camping. I don't even unhitch.

It is delightful. Woke up this morning and my first conscious thought other than coffee was planning the next trip.

Now back to the coffee....

[m38cdn]

...we used to do trenching...when I was in the Boy Scouts and we used WWII shelter halves for camping...since we camped in the piney woods, we would rake up some pine straw, place it in the tent and put a poncho over it, with the sleeping bags on top...along with some proper trenching, you could stay dry in all but the most persistent rain...at least until the rain soaked thru the canvas shelter half............
madjack

I was in Scouts in the 60's I swear we had Boer war vintage tents. The type with 3' side walls and a rigid ridge pole. These were not the 7.5x10' boy scout tent as I have a vintage one. If you did not trench you would float out in the rain.

My current tent <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/m38cdn/4897199393/" title="1974 vintage tent- Very little shade by M38CDN, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4101/4897199393_ef1f0e8355.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="1974 vintage tent- Very little shade" /></a> a 1974 vintage cotton tent will keep me dry in up to 4" of water as the floor is heavy PVC. Since my tent incorporates 4" of PVC up the side wall I have never had to trench.

The current tents they have today use a polypropylene floor that is subject to water percolation when bent over and over when it is folded up. I can stay dry in the greatest of downpours. Camping in nylon tents in the same rain you get wet at least that has been my experience.

I have never had to use a fly or tarp over my tent. Just make sure the waterproofing is kept up. Like all cotton/ canvas products..never put them away wet. They will rot.

[Kharn]

If car-camping, bring an Easy-up/tail-gating canopy. If you arrive at the site during a storm, set up the canopy over the spot you will place the tent, then assemble the tent underneath it. Your tent wont take on water while you fight with the rain fly, and you have extra insurance from the roof springing a leak.

A second Easy-up is also good for covering the picnic table, and don't forget carwash sponges or shamwows to clean up any water that gets in the tent, beach or bath towels are way too large to wring out.

[CarlLaFong]

...we used to do trenching...when I was in the Boy Scouts and we used WWII shelter halves for camping...since we camped in the piney woods, we would rake up some pine straw, place it in the tent and put a poncho over it, with the sleeping bags on top...along with some proper trenching, you could stay dry in all but the most persistent rain...at least until the rain soaked thru the canvas shelter half............
madjack

I camped under a shelter half, while on vacation in South East Asia, in 67-68. I had two, one to sleep on and the other for shelter from the rain (monsoon). I usually woke up dry. As long as you know where the wind is coming from, you should be fine. Just burn off the leeches with a lit cigarette and you're ready for breakfast. Scrambled eggs in a can..........yum.