Setting up/Breaking down in the Rain!

[Mellow]

Okay.. I've been pretty lucky in my very novice experience as a MotoCamper. I've only had to set up in a slight drizzle a couple times.

So, what techniques do you use for setting up in a complete downpour?

Also, if it's still raining hard, what technique do you use for packing up in the morning?

[mongo]

If it looks like a short downpour I try to wait it out. Otherwise leave all but the tent on the bike, throw the tent up as fast as possible and get the fly on it, I don't even put stakes in the ground. Then I unload my pad and bag, getting them into the tent under my upper body, and make sure there is no touching of the outer walls during settup of these items. If it appears I will be camping in rain when I leave the house I will pack the pad and sleeping bag in garbage bags, just to keep them dry from the bike to the tent and back. You have probably been motocamping as long as I have and we just learn as we go. Thats why I joined up here, more experience by more braincells!

[Trekker]

One method I try to use every time I camp is to set up a fly over the picnic table if possible. Here in the northeast we have plenty of trees to lash to....
If it is raining I can breakdown and pack almost everything on the table under that fly and keep it all mostly dry. I use a MSR Parawing fly, which came with a couple of poles that break down to manageble lengths for packing.

http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=39200261&memberId=12500226

So..... I pack up everything I can inside the tent or under the fly as best as possible. If I am using a stand alone tent I can even carry it under the fly to shake off and pack. The large fly stays wet.... but it is packed on top of the bike and will dry out when set up again. I also pack the tent fly, if wet, with the wet parawing fly if I feel that might help keep other stuff somewhat dry.

[STeveGray]

Hmmm. I'm glad you asked this question, Joe. I'm going to be watching the thread to hopefully learn. I haven't had to set up or tear down in a really good rain yet with my new tent. My old tent (really old) had zippered covers over the screened openings so rain getting in wasn't so much of an issue. The newer styles have much better ventilation but no way to cover the large expanse of screen. I have no trouble imagining what the inside of the tent will be like trying to set that up or take it down in a good steady rain (to say nothing of a downpour.)

OK. Whoever has the magic answer, post it here!

Edit -- Oops. Dave and I were typing at the same time. Thanks, Dave!

[Mellow]

I have taken mine down in a good rain... consisting of packing everything I could while inside the tent, air mattress, sleeping bag, etc... then putting it all in my Cabela's waterproof backpack bag (http://www.motocampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=48).

Then, un-staking the tent and uncliping/attaching the fly as much as possible. Then as fast as possible, packing the fly and breaking down the tent. At this point, doesn't really matter how wet it gets, it's always too wet. The idea is that the next stopping point is nice and dry. Set up camp as soon as you get where you're going then head into town for dinner to allow it a little extra time. If the inside is wet a camptowel (http://www.motocampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=201) could be used to get the inside prepared.

Sleeping bag for me is a synthetic one, would really like a down one for it's pack-a-bility but if it got wet, that would suck big time.

[Trekker]

Something else to consider when setting up.

This past June my wife & I were car camping at the NPS Big Meadow campground on the Shanandoah Skyway when a mountain thunderstorm was blowing in. We watch three guys on bikes ride in just before the downpour. The Rangers in the park office gave them an old abandoned blue poly tarp to help them stay dry under. Just as they pulled into their site the skies opened up. I watched in amazment as these guys hurried to setup their three little tents in the pouring rain. The storm blew out after about 45 minutes, and these guys were standing with soaked tents and sleeping bags and this unused poly tarp......

So many times these storms (at least in the summer) blow in & out fast, and all they needed to do was to huddle under the poly tarp until the rain let up! All their gear was in water proof bags and would have stayed dry. They could even have just stood around in their rain gear and helmets waiting for the rain to stop!

Moral of the story...... unless your sure the rain will just keep coming... wait a little while! Or at least don't panic... set up a temp shelter with a tarp... find a park pavillion or shelter to unpack in temporarily.... You can even use the tent rain fly sometimes as a temp shelter (if it's easy to get to).

[Mark]

I do not like metal tent poles in mountain storms...

So my plan is to look up and see if the storm is going to blow through... decide that it is going to stay a while, open AAA or use GPS to identify suitable motel... call to make reservation (you get better deals by calling rather than just walking in)... ride to motel... checkin.

I know... I'm a wimp; but, I'm not a boyscout (and never played one on TV).
I've car camped and backpacked in heavy rains: wet gear really sucks.
And on a multi-day bike trip I can't figure out how I would get anything dry enough to use the next night...

Mark

[apopj]

Hi Guys,

Well, this is the problem I was trying to resolve in my post about Single vs Double wall tents. As mentioned in that post, I had exactly the same problem. While the tent (a Eureka Tetragon 5) went up easily, all sorts of rain came in through the ventilation mesh on the top before I could get the rain fly on. It was a mess inside and no amount of mopping up seemed to get it totally dry.
So, I began looking at single wall tents. The ones I have found have the bathtub floor, fully waterproof, and some of the have a flap that you can unzip to expose a mesh top for ventilation (shades of double wall tents)! It would seem that as long as you zip the outer wall before you take it down, putting it up should not present a moisture problem inside.
So, any thoughts on this? Thanks all and see you on the rode... Jeff

[mongo]

Hi Guys,

Well, this is the problem I was trying to resolve in my post about Single vs Double wall tents. As mentioned in that post, I had exactly the same problem. While the tent (a Eureka Tetragon 5) went up easily, all sorts of rain came in through the ventilation mesh on the top before I could get the rain fly on. It was a mess inside and no amount of mopping up seemed to get it totally dry.
So, I began looking at single wall tents. The ones I have found have the bathtub floor, fully waterproof, and some of the have a flap that you can unzip to expose a mesh top for ventilation (shades of double wall tents)! It would seem that as long as you zip the outer wall before you take it down, putting it up should not present a moisture problem inside.
So, any thoughts on this? Thanks all and see you on the rode... Jeff


You do have a good point.

[Blues Traveler]

Wish I could help out here. In all my years of camping from the bike I've only set up and broke camp in light rain. I've been lucky enough to get it all done before it started coming down really hard.

So Im curious too as to how's it done.:D

I really like the idea of setting up a tarp first. Have been meaning to get one as its been on my list of camping items for some time. If rains in the forcast I do bring along this big double folding umbrella. Its come in handy more than once and fits in the luggage.

[Echo]

Tho it's been years since I motocamped. After the first diasterous bike camping trip I came up with a trick that works for me whether bike camping or car camping.
I saw someone said about the park rangers offering the use of a tarp to 3 bikers? Well after my first bike camp out I now always carry a 8'x10' poly tarp. The tarp can be used as a overhead cover, awning, footprint and as a set up cover. It can be a pain to set up in the rain but when the rain isn't gonna stop soon, ya have to ya just have to.
Keep the tarp so that it's the first thing you can get at. Unfold it flat, get your tent
out and put it under the tarp, then you crawl under the tarp too! While sitting under the tarp you can run all your poles thru the sleeves and attatch the fly. It's will take some maneuvering but it can be done. And it's a whole lot better than the inside of your tent getting soaked.
If the wind is kicking up at all? you can stake down the tarp to keep it in place. Just be sure you leave slack in the ropes to allow for your movements under the tarp.
If you don't already have your rainsuit on? Your either already wet or gonna get wet. But with the prospect of a nice dry tent to get into you'll live and dry out of course! :D

[MidLife]

Okay.. I've been pretty lucky in my very novice experience as a MotoCamper. I've only had to set up in a slight drizzle a couple times.

So, what techniques do you use for setting up in a complete downpour?

Also, if it's still raining hard, what technique do you use for packing up in the morning?

Mellow,

Some tents will allow you to set up the rain fly first as a shelter.

Once the fly/shelter is up, you can then hang the tent itself to the poles from the inside, while you (and the tent) stay dry under the shelter.

Just reverse the steps to take the camp down in the morning.

[Mellow]

MidLife, do you know which brand? I'd like to see more info on those models even if I don't end up ever buying one.

[MidLife]

MidLife, do you know which brand? I'd like to see more info on those models even if I don't end up ever buying one.

Mellow,

This is not a matter of brand, but features.

1) Check the tent specs to make sure the rainfly can be set up by itself.

2) Make sure the tent itself has no sleeves for the poles, only hooks.

3) Then you can do like me, set up the tent in the store and try the "rain maneuvre" before buying it.

I almost returned the MSR Mutha Hubba YOU MADE ME BUY (http://www.motocampers.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1982&postcount=24),because it was more then I intended to spend, but kept it in part because of these very features.

Another feature I liked was the slight back slant of the entrance doors, providing even more protection against rain entering the tent.

[jhealy]

For the past two yrs I have taken extended camping trips from LA to Chicago via Denver and Portland. Expecting rain (6 - 7 days out of 4 weeks), I pack everything in waterproof bags - Baja 40 for the sleeping bag, Cabala's waterproof duffle for clothes and pillow, and a water resistant bag for the tent, camp chair and other gear. When I reach the camp site I keep the rainsuit on and set up like I would normally. It takes about 15 minutes. The waterproof duffles keep everything in them dry. Once the tent is up, I sop up as much water as possible inside the tent with a camp towel, take off the rainsuit, inflate the air mattress and take a nap. I have a big tent - REI Basecamp 4 - so there is plenty of room to maneuver. Reverse the process for departures. Once the rain was so heavy and the campground in Minnesota so expensive that I decided to camp at a nearby Quality Inn.

Regards, Jim Healy

[Slink]

Hmmm. I'm glad you asked this question, Joe. I'm going to be watching the thread to hopefully learn. I haven't had to set up or tear down in a really good rain yet with my new tent. My old tent (really old) had zippered covers over the screened openings so rain getting in wasn't so much of an issue. The newer styles have much better ventilation but no way to cover the large expanse of screen. I have no trouble imagining what the inside of the tent will be like trying to set that up or take it down in a good steady rain (to say nothing of a downpour.)

OK. Whoever has the magic answer, post it here!

Edit -- Oops. Dave and I were typing at the same time. Thanks, Dave!

Don't do it get a Motel room. LOL

[funny-biz]

... I now always carry a 8'x10' poly tarp.

Good idea! I've been carrying two tarps lately- one for a footprint and the other for a threshold and/or sun shelter.

[sandman]

I take alot of ribbing by BMW types about my "excessively large" tent (9X7) but this is one of the real values of space. Once the tent is setup and the gear is inside I have all the space needed to setup bedding and even have room to setup chair and read or watch DVDs while in a comfortable sitting position in my Kermit chair.

Setting the tent up in the rain will get alot of water inside but once the rainfly is on I lift the tent from horizontal to vertical and allow most of the water to flow out the door. Once the tent is up and wiped out I bring all the other gear in before unpacking. It's important to pick waterproof packbags and separate your wetgear=tent from your drygear=sleeping bag+pad+cot,etc.

Tent is packed in a Helen Two Wheels tent bag and I fold and roll the tent and poles inside the footprint(Wallymart tarp)and slip it into the tube bag.

Sleeping bags(2), self-inflating pad and pillow are packed in a Helen Two Wheels large compression bag. (waterproof)

Cot and Kermit chair are packed in a Helen Two Wheels medium compression sack. (waterproof)

I carry an Ortlieb waterproof backpack for my shaving kit+jetboil stove and fuel+TP+shower towel.

Clothes are packed in liners in the ST's saddlebags.

All this gear was tested in a heavy deluge on I-10 last weekend at 75-80MPH and everything was stone dry when it came out of the bags.

I'm considering carrying a larger Tarp to cover bike and tent when weather won't give up and I choose to stay in for a layday on a long ride.