How to camp in the rain

[BAGR]

Here's a link on How to camp in the rain. It has some useful stuff and links.
http://www.wikihow.com/Camp-in-the-Rain It just reminds me of why i bought a pop up camper

[Tx White Knight]

Thanks, there is some great info there

[Mellow]

For me, the biggest issue about camping in the rain, or anytime for that matter is to anticipate the rain...

So, always pic your spot and visualize a rain storm. Will you be in a puddle of water based on where you set up your tent?

Another thing is to have a bag/duffel/pack that is waterproof so you can pack some stuff while in your tent and leave it on the picnic table or ground or wherever and know it's not getting wet then you can concentrate on getting the tent up or down quickly.

If there's a good roof over the picnic table, some have them some don't, you can always setup your tent on the table w/rain fly then walk it over to where you want it. Another good reason for having a stand alone tent.

Finally, make sure there's a way to pack your wet tent away from your dry stuff such as clothes or sleeping bag... nothing worse than riding the whole day after a downpour and arriving in great weather to find out your tent leaked all over your down sleeping bag. I always pack my tent in a separate bag and at the bottom of my pack... then, my rubber air mattress as a little barrier then my sleeping bag and other stuff. It might get a little damp in there after a days ride but I've yet to have that happen.

One thing I'm also going to start doing is keeping my rain gear with me in my tent, just in case. You typically know the weather your camping in and if there are impending storms coming so it shouldn't be much of a surprise.

[GoldWingGL]

Good info in both the link and what you said Joe...

[BAGR]

My sleeping bags and tent are in seperate water proof stuff sacks I got at the river rafters store. For the wet stuff I always have garbage bags with me.

[kingwing60]

thanks for your post but this is how i prefer to camp in the rain.

[GoldWingGL]

thanks for your post but this is how i prefer to camp in the rain.
111 or 112 ;)

[Mellow]

thanks for your post but this is how i prefer to camp in the rain.

Oh the shame.... oh the shame....

Real campers camp in the rain... LOL

[Trailace]

thanks for your post but this is how i prefer to camp in the rain.
:mad: LOL

[kingwing60]

Oh the shame.... oh the shame....

Real campers camp in the rain... LOL

maybe real campers but not necessarily moto campers... been hangin with six pipes too much

[Paper]

Good info on picking a site.. I remember one of the first bike rallys I went to. It rained like crazy all night long, and in the morning I had a 4' wide moat all the way around my tent. :eek:
I had to jump over it just to go get coffee..

A good tent and a nice big full size air mattress are my friends now when I camp. If it's really I pull everything up on the mattress with me.

[Tx White Knight]

Oh the shame.... oh the shame....

Real campers camp in the rain... LOL

So are you camping tonight??? :shower1:

[Mellow]

So are you camping tonight??? :shower1:

With the wind/rain from last night a tent wouldn't be much different than a house... sux not being able to sleep because you're subconsciously listening for a tornado warning.. But, just rain and strong winds here.. looks like Houston is getting it today.

[Trekker]

I agree with Mellow on technique... keep the wet things away from the dry things. I pack my tent in a saddle bag (& the poles across the back seat), and my clothes and sleeping bag in separate waterproof bags. During the morning packing- do as much as possible inside the tent and pack the tent last.

If your lucky enough to have put up a tarp (like a parawing), then packing the tent and other wet gear can be done under that.

Regarding the motel technique... I will admit to stying in a motel while traveling the Blue Ridge Parkway during a steady rain. Since the cloud had desended right down to the road... I had no choice since the closest campground was too far away. I would not have been able to reach that campground before dark and it was already too difficult to see the road during daylight. So... Plan B was put into effect!

[GoldWingGL]

Plan B can always be a good thing. We resorted to it even when it was nice out. It was so hot, getting in, out of the sun and in a cool room was much better for us. And of course, on a longer (2 week trip) you have to do it a few times....:D

[orchardrt]

Rain or not, it always good to have a picinic table. I have used my spare large contractor trash bags to always store my stuff, helmet, boots, jacket etc. in the bag on the table. I tuck the top of the bag through the slots in the boards and stuf stays dry, even for the morning dew.

Ben

[ImRubicon]

It didnt rain last night at Pac's bend in TX
Great night and cool breeze this morning .
Had a small fire and hot coffee for breakfast then a 40 mile ride home .
We should all go sometime.
It a little steep at $15 a ride in but they never run out of spots as its 1500 acreas and hundreds of spots .
Mostly not much more than a table and a hole in the ground for services

[wolfshead1]

Hampton Inn does it for me.

[Ripshod]

The Noah's Tarp (http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___22049) is an essential part of my camping gear. I also carry two Noah's Staffs (http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___22047) to pitch up two corners over the picnic table. When waking up on a wet morning, having a dry place to sit, pack and gear up makes a world of difference.

[Cousin Jack]

One thing I've never seen mentioned...... carry a big Golf-type umbrella to walk around under during a rainy camp. Makes all the difference in the world.....

Harley guys will maybe laugh, but they'll do it with the rain draining into their beards from their silly soaked bandanas!

This camp was drenched all night in a steady northwest rain, but with the umbrella, some Frogg Toggs, and a Campmor silican/nylon tarp stretched over our picnic table, we stayed dry and comfortable...... It was fun drinking good press coffee and eating breakfast at our tarped picnic table while all the RVers were penned inside!

:D:D:D:D:D

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd226/roscinante/Summer2011/SummerTrip2011095.jpg

[G wizz]

[QUOTE=Cousin Jack;50308]One thing I've never mentioned ...

Harley guys will maybe laugh, but they'll do it with the rain draining into their beards from their silly soaked bandanas! [QUOTE]


Curious ... Just what is it us "Harley guys" will do, and laugh about ?? ... :confused:

[Cousin Jack]

[QUOTE=Cousin Jack;50308]One thing I've never mentioned ...

Harley guys will maybe laugh, but they'll do it with the rain draining into their beards from their silly soaked bandanas! [QUOTE]


Curious ... Just what is it us "Harley guys" will do, and laugh about ?? ... :confused:

Laugh and point at the umbrella strapped on our rear bag.... had it happen....while they were busy loading Harley's onto a trailer......

[G wizz]

[quote=G wizz;50310][QUOTE=Cousin Jack;50308]

Laugh and point at the umbrella strapped on our rear bag.... had it happen....while they were busy loading Harley's onto a trailer......

Don't know as Harley guys are the only ones that know how to load bikes onto trailers ... But hey, they're good guys, they'll stop and help anyone load their bikes. ... even in the rain ... P^

Besides ... Harley guys aren't made of candy ... they know they won't melt in the rain ...

[kayakinbiker]

I have a few things to say about the rain...when caught in a nonstop deluge, the SAFE thing to do is find the 1st motel, especially if you are on an interstate.. too many idiots driving out there...

I was caught in a large 2 day rain/weather system in Wisconsin once.. I was bedded down in my tent for a day and a half in Brunet island SP, when a friend from Eau Claire called and TOLD me he and his wife were picking me and my bike up and I WAS staying in their trailer for the night! THAT is a GOOD friend! He donned his rain suit and rode my bike in the pouring rain back to their place..everything was hung form the garage rafters to dry..there was flooding all around me and I think I was the only tenter in the place!...

My tips: bed down with some good spirits if ya have some, a snuggly friend, and be near food if ya have to make a quick dash to a restaurant! Also ask if you can park your bike under a picnic shelter if nearby so you can load your bike with stuff and also drape your tent over a table to dry before ya pack it...pack extra pupperonis for the sweet lil dog too!.....oh and have a massive tarp!.....