How to set up tents in the rain????

[mark444]

Just looking for pointers and/or tricks on how everyone sets up camp during a rainstorm?? Assume I would be wearing a decent rainsuit (probably Frogg Toggs) which allows me to work in the rain, but how is a tent set up without the insides getting all wet?? I've thought about the overhead tarp-tied-to-trees method while the tent is assembled, but not sure if I'll have the nearby trees, etc.......any other little secrets to doing this??

[bigTom]

Work REALLY fast...:)

I will wait until very near dark to see if it lets up....

[Aldawg]

Some camps have a pavillion, or lean-to, maybe something similar. If you have a free standing tent, then you can set it up under a roof then carry it to your site. Other than that, like the guy above me said, "work really fast"

[ImRubicon]

Speed is about it , although we kind of forgot what rain is around here

[Black and Blue]

All that can be said is GOOD LUCK!:D

[Ironheadziggy76]

A lot of tents can be pitched with the fly first, then the tent attached inside. I've done this once to see if I could, but me being XXL sized I'm sure it would be comical to watch! :lol2

[Black and Blue]

Last year while enroute to the Chill out with Mr. Guy, we didn't set up our tent in the rain, but had to break camp in a heavy down pour while at Cricket Creek CG in AR. I believe Mr. Guy beat the rain, but we didn't. This is what happen to our, (Wife and I), gear.:p We had to dry them at Ironheadziggy76's place.:D

[VABob]

A lot of tents can be pitched with the fly first, then the tent attached inside. I've done this once to see if I could, but me being XXL sized I'm sure it would be comical to watch! :lol2

For me, painful on knees and back as well.

... how is a tent set up without the insides getting all wet??...

The ones I have the ground cloth goes down first, then the poles so they get bent. Then the fly gets put on. THEN put down the door carpet, so only water goes in, less mud and sand. I have my bag for my wet clothes in the vestibule closest to me. I throw the bug-net-tent floor in, crawl in snap the farthest points out, trying to keep my boots/shoes on the carpet. I work my butt back through the door and then open the bug-net to go in and affix any points left. Choice at this moment, is to crawl in and strip the wet clothes off, which will make the interior really wet. Or strip the wet clothes off then crawl in, which will make the interior somewhat wet. Either way, I will need to wipe up the mess, so my sham wow type cloth is nearby, usually in the bag in the other vestibule with my dry clothes.

Another option is not to stake down the fly and ground cloth and work around the outside of the tent to clip in the bug net. This way, you can raise your tent, and then move it where you want it. Of course, if it a stormy and windy day, this method can lead to an umbrella in the wind moment.

I've thought about the overhead tarp-tied-to-trees method while the tent is assembled, but not sure if I'll have the nearby trees, etc.......any other little secrets to doing this??

A baker-lean-to or an modified A-frame can help with coverage while getting the tent up and afterwards for cooking. Good examples are Dusty Boot's pictures of him using a pole over a picnic table, Blue Traveler' use of a hiking stick on his seat. ThatDude has great tarp examples too.

If there are no trees around, then there are probably few limbs around to use as poles. I am not from the mid-west, so I don't know how well that type of shrubbery could be used to support a tarp. Options would be to carry hiking pole(s), carry tarp pole(s), or ask a ride partner hold up the middle of one side while the tent is being constructed. A camera tri-pod can work on a picnic table. I've temporarily tied out to a duffle bag on a picnic table. Maybe there is a fence post around, or even use the your bike's handle bars and rack as tie points.

Nowadays, I typically carry two poles, a tarp, plenty of cordage, some sort of ground cloth, and stakes. That's in addition to my hammock/tarp or tent. It just makes it simpler. Put up the tarp, throw down the ground cloth, then figure out what to do next. The extra ground cloth is something I use all the time, even during dry times to change my shoes.

Of course, there is the usual credit card and a nearby hotel. I've found this less than successful because it starts raining only when I am about to put up my tent.

[Trailace]

Speed is about it , although we kind of forgot what rain is around here

I do this with my tent and it works wlll. You can take it Down the same.

[quadancer]

Wow, what a great thread for my inexperience.
Note to self: stow the poles up top with the shade tarp! Thanx fellas!
http://inlinethumb22.webshots.com/40213/2133324370106878013S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2133324370106878013dzWhPO)
I guess I could also use our 2man gear tent in a pinch, since it sets up much faster than the big one.

[Dusty Boots]

I've done it both ways, under a hastily rigged tarp(my usual preference) or, by placing the tent's rain fly over the spread out tent body, placing the assembled poles under the fly and hastily erecting the tent, keeping the rain fly over the tent/poles while I erect it.
I did it this way at Newton Creek Campground, east of Yellowstone's East Gate, when we outran a thunderstorm in Yellowstone, only to get caught behind an inconsiderate driver, driving a monstrous motor-home who refused to pull over and let the long string of traffic behind him get past. It was raining by the time we found the campground and I had the tent up in record time(<3 minutes) .... hardly got a drop on the inside. :)

If I'm carrying two of my tarps (http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=84552444250 5763&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302702975), I can leave the tent under the tarp and erect a tarp over the picnic table/kitchen area, or remove the tent/tarp to where I want it


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3164/2966631783_76bf0ac0f5_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3657/3667677105_d5e373fd1a_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2746/4162484223_5fa450200b_o.jpg


In the last photo, I used one of my telescoping, adjustable tarp poles (http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_listing.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=25343743 02703001), to keep the centre of the tarp higher/taunt, to better repell the deluge of rain that was falling at the time. I now carry 2 of those poles and recently bought a pair of Noah's Staffs (http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___28096), while they were on sale for $17 each at Campmor.


Dusty

[quadancer]

YOW...at $25 a pole it got me to thinking...
I wonder if I can score some of those flourescent fiberglass poles used for barriers, warning signs, and caution tape. Then use some pieces of copper tubing for connectors, with a small dimple in the center (or four) to keep the tubes from sliding down the pole.
Might be cheap. You could rig up some copper "t"s to interconnect them too.

[kayakinbiker]

Some camps have a pavillion, or lean-to, maybe something similar. If you have a free standing tent, then you can set it up under a roof then carry it to your site. Other than that, like the guy above me said, "work really fast"

That's what I would do too, plus you can usually get away with putting your bike under there temporarily til ya can pick up your tent and move to where your campsite is...I even left my bike under a pavilion for a bad night of rain with the yogi's permission.. there was some bad flooding hanging around on that trip and I beat it!

[kayakinbiker]

I've done it both ways, under a hastily rigged tarp(my usual preference) or, by placing the tent's rain fly over the spread out tent body, placing the assembled poles under the fly and hastily erecting the tent, keeping the rain fly over the tent/poles while I erect it.
I did it this way at Newton Creek Campground, east of Yellowstone's East Gate, when we outran a thunderstorm in Yellowstone, only to get caught behind an inconsiderate driver, driving a monstrous motor-home who refused to pull over and let the long string of traffic behind him get past. It was raining by the time we found the campground and I had the tent up in record time(<3 minutes) .... hardly got a drop on the inside. :)

If I'm carrying two of my tarps (http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=84552444250 5763&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302702975), I can leave the tent under the tarp and erect a tarp over the picnic table/kitchen area, or remove the tent/tarp to where I want it


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3164/2966631783_76bf0ac0f5_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3657/3667677105_d5e373fd1a_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2746/4162484223_5fa450200b_o.jpg


In the last photo, I used one of my telescoping, adjustable tarp poles (http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_listing.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=25343743 02703001), to keep the centre of the tarp higher/taunt, to better repell the deluge of rain that was falling at the time. I now carry 2 of those poles and recently bought a pair of Noah's Staffs (http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___28096), while they were on sale for $17 each at Campmor.


Dusty

Hmmm.. I really DO need tarp lessons! I want to use them, bring them but never erect them...I'll have to get some of those poles too. Would make it morecomfortable to walk under a tarp and not have to crouch to get under it..maybe I can get suggestions for tarping 101 at the Northwoods campout.. I usually just throw my tarp on the tent and hold the corners down with rocks.. then I get to hear the animals walking on the ends at night.. oh and I can still breathe BTW..that method makes for for warm mornings when the temps drop down..

[quadancer]

I don't have poles yet, so I look for something like a log to stand on next to trees and get my ropes up high as I can. Works fairly well if ya have trees on four sides. Last camp I had the extra tarps. 1 was the shade, 2 (plastic) was a footprint for the tent, 3 was footprint for the gear tent, and extended out to the other tent. This gave me a "porch" we could take shoes off at the edge of and walk around clean, and keep the tent clean. Neat.
I wouldn't do that if rain were imminent though, for flooding. As you can see here, I didn't even have the rain fly on the tent.
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb223/quadancer/BIKE/Runs/DeSotoCamp012.jpg
Sonovabiscuiteater...I went to photobucket and enlarged the photo but it still won't go big here. Hm. Maybe that only works for larger originals?

[Mellow]

Ya just set it up...

If it's raining hard, hang out and wait a bit for a lull in the rain and then work fast.

Use your camp towels to clean up any water inside the tent once you're setup and you're good.

There are a very few tents that will allow you to setup the rain fly 1st w/poles and then you can setup the inner tent. My Marmot will allow that but I've never tried it. Honestly, I'm not sure I would as the tent is pretty fast to setup anyway.

Of all the camping I've done, a very few times has it rained when I was setting up and even those times the rain we very light so the odds are in your favor.

[George]

Work fast.

Get wet, dry off later.

Have someone else set it up as you stay under the picnic ground portico.

Get a motel for the night.

Lots of options. :D

[lytle1gw]

Heck its a free shower, just strip down and set it up.P^

[Mellow]

This thread is about setting up TENTS in the rain, I deleted the trailer posts, lets keep this on topic thanks.

[PoorSSJ]

My advice would be simple... make sure the windows are closed! If the outside of the tent gets wet it's no big deal.

[WingnutMike]

My advice would be simple... make sure the windows are closed! If the outside of the tent gets wet it's no big deal.

That's what I do. I always pack the tent with windows open to let air out as it's folded/rolled. If it's raining I stop under a gas station awning, car wash etc. and unpack the tent,close the windows & doors,zip-tie the tent stakes to the tent and generally get everything ready for a fast set up before getting to the campsite. I pull a trailer so I don't worry about getting the tent back in the carry bag.I just lay the tent on top of everything in the trailer for a quick grab and go. I've found it better to set up while it's raining because you can see where the water is flowing and pick the best spot rather than guessing before the rain.

[apopj]

I feel your pain, bro.... on a recent trip to Sturgis, I got caught in the rain while trying to put my tent up. By the time I got the fly over the inner tent, the floor was full of water.

I sold that tent and bought a single wall tent. I have had no problems since then, and have put the tent up twice since then. And, I have had no trouble with condensation either. Plus, the whole thing is lighter and easier to pitch.

[G wizz]

I feel your pain, bro.... on a recent trip to Sturgis, I got caught in the rain while trying to put my tent up. By the time I got the fly over the inner tent, the floor was full of water.

I sold that tent and bought a single wall tent. I have had no problems since then, and have put the tent up twice since then. And, I have had no trouble with condensation either. Plus, the whole thing is lighter and easier to pitch.

What ever happened to your teardrop camper ... :confused: Don't you have it any more?

[quadancer]

I sold that tent and bought a single wall tent.

So what kind izzit? :confused:
I love my North Face, but the rain fly really is a pain in a way.

[apopj]

G Wizz....... Towed that darn thing all over N America.... finally decided that I need something a little bigger, so sold it and bought a Bunkhouse with a queen bed. The teardrop was nice, no setup and secure in "bear" country, but it was like sleeping two in a one man tent. If one person turned, both had to. And ventilation left a lot to be desired. So when I tow, I tow the bunkhouse. Now travel alot alone and just use a tent. And sold the Harley with 50K miles and bought a Goldwing... miss that damn Harley... take care

[Retrax]

This is the reason why I am considering buying one of these...

http://www.catomaoutdoor.com/Catalog/ProductInfo.aspx?id=170

The poles, fly, and ground cloth are all integral (ground cloth can attach and detach with d rings). The packed size is a bit big at 26"X6" but at 7 1/2 pounds, I can haul it on my luggage rack.

Designed for motorcyclists. Instant set up, video is below...

http://www.catomaoutdoor.com/Catalog/Video.aspx?id=170&v=1

[VFR]

Nice tent, but don't you still have to stake out the vestibule??? Must be new design since I bought mine. I looked for the shortest & lightest. Mine doesn't have a vestibule but everything will fit inside it. I usually don't stake it unless it is windy. Biggest problem with those on a sportbike is the length--followed by the weight.

All that aside, they are great tents.

[Retrax]

It looks like you do, to get the vestibule part away from the tent (maybe one stake on each side?). Otherwise the tent appears to be free standing and probably wouldn't need the corner stakes. It looks like you click out the four poles, pop 2 stakes in for the vestibule (unless there is no rain and the vestibule door rolls up) and you're done. I also looked at the "wind ridge 3 second instant tent" but the rain fly is separate so the tent would get wet inside while setting up before the fly was attached.

So far, the Catoma is the fastest thing I have found which sets up and remains dry. If I get one this spring, I'll have to forward my experience to the forum.

[VFR]

Sounds good, but I have found that you have to stake out the tent or the stake in the vestibule moves the tent. Two of my other tents have vestibules & I found this out trying to shortcut the setup. You may not have to put all four tent stakes in but you at least have to do two of them.

I really like having the vestibule but there are conditions attached.