Rain & A Tent??

[Everyyeardisney]

Today is our last day to cancel and the forecast is calling for thunderstorms Monday.
We are first time tent campers and not sure how bad it will be in a tent with the rain. Need advice!!
This trip we are checking in Sunday evening and checking out Wednesday, we are NOT going to any parks. This trip is solely to tryout camping (got a tent for Christmas ) and hanging out at the fort.
What would you do????

Thank you for any advice,
Nicole

 

[snowmedic]

I would take the tent and go enjoy. We have stayed in a tent every time we visited the Fort, for 1 1/2 - 3 wks. Bring a couple of tarts with you, one for under your tent, and one to put over your tent. We did this once, did it help with rain, yes, was it a pain to take down and put up if there was rain, yes. But your tent will stay dryer, if it rains.

 

[Everyyeardisney]

Our tent is an L Shape of 3 room 16x16. It comes with a rain fly and we have a trap for underneath it.

 

[maxiesmom]

Do you have, or could you get, and easy up canopy to put up over the door to your tent? They are great at helping to keep the rain out of your tent, and will give you some extra space to take off rain gear and such.

 

[snowmedic]

I wouldn't rely on just the rain fly. I have done without it and have never had any rain in my tent, but there always could be that one time. People run rope from trees to tie down there tarps. Even with a L shape tent you could still cover it with a tarp. Or just chance it. Before we go out for the day, whether it was going to rain or not, we would make sure the bedding was off the floor, along with anything else that might get soaked and pulled the beds away from the walls of the tent. Not trying to discourage you about tent camping, just saying that is what I would do. There are other Fort tent campers that will be here also giving there opinion, but I say, have a great time.

 

[mtnminnie]

I would also bring a tarp to cover the picnic table to keep it dry if it rained. A nice, dry picnic table is nice. Also, if you have some rubbermaid tubs you might want to throw some things in there just in case some of your things do get wet.

We like to camp in the rain, but we usually have a warm fire going and I know you cannot do that at FW.

bring some games to play inside the tent for waiting while the rain passes.

 

[mtnminnie]

oh, and if you have them, two raincoats...so one can be drying if one is wet.

 

[peg110]

Bring a couple of tarts with you, one for under your tent, and one to put over your tent.

Hmm.... Interesting use of "Tarts"

Just kidding (I know you meant Tarps), I just couldn't resist.

We like to camp in the rain, but we usually have a warm fire going and I know you cannot do that at FW.

Not true, you can have a fire, just not an open pit fire. You have to use an enclosed fire pit that will keep sparks and embers contained. There is a list of approved campfire pits http://allears.net/acc/fw/campfire-pits.jpg However, it's certainly not the same as an open pit fire.

In all seriousness though, I hope you go despite the weather. Particularly if this is your "Test" camp with the tent. Testing things in perfect conditions is NOT a way to test it. You want to test in adverse conditions to truly evaluate it.

My pieces of advice in addition to what has already been mentioned, is if it's raining, RESIST touching the inside of the tent. Depending on the material (Probably nylon?) when you touch a "Wet" Tent, that's a spot where moisture will like to come through.

Also if you have time and the ability, I strongly recommend using a water repellent on your tent such as Kiwi Camp Dry (or similar). Pay particular attention to the SEAMS. Coat the entire outside of the tent. Also worthwhile to spray the seams on the inside too if you can. The problem here is that you need to let it dry completely. Typically you would set the tent up, spray it down, let it dry (over night) and then re-pack your tent. Depending on timing you may not be able to do that. Alternatively, if it's NOT raining when you get there, you can set up your tent, and spray it down with the camp dry there. You just want to make sure you have several hours to let it cure/dry. Ideally a full day but even if you get 8 -12 hours, you are better off then without it.

Either way, I hope you have an awesome time.

 

[bama_ed]

OP,

As of this moment (Thursday morning) the Monday rain in AccuWeather now shows up as a "Passing Afternoon Shower", 0.2" of precipitation expected, 0.5 hrs of precipitation. I know you are probably checking forecasts too but it looks like it won't be as bad as you initially thought.

Oh and for those of us stuck at home where it's cold, Monday's forecast temps are for 75F/59F which sounds like great tent camping weather.

Bama Ed

 

[amcc]

We used a product called Gear Aid Water Based Sealer that I had read about when I was doing extensive research on our popup remodel. It's like a glue that you put on the seams on the inside of your tent - well worth it and our canvas hasn't leaked at all. As others have mentioned, we used a waterproofer that was sprayed on for the rest of it.

I would go even if it rained. Put stuff up so it doesn't get wet in case water seeps in. Spend time riding the monorail and visiting hotels while the showers pass. Have a great time at the Fort! Last March we were scheduled to do our first tent camping ever at the Fort when we got our popup. My sister ended up using tenting on our site (first time tenter too) and even with a little bit of rain, the tent stayed dry and they had a great time. The tent she used was an Ozark brand one from Walmart so it wasn't particularly high-end and it still did great.

 

[MotherRunner]

We have camped in serious rain and wind and it was fine. Keep everything away from the inside sides of the tent.

Also the footprint tarp (the one that goes under the tent) needs to be just shorter than the actually length and width of the tent. Fold it under if necessary. If it is longer than it will collect rain and then move under the tent.

If wind is expected use extra stakes. Go grab some heavier plastic ones in town if you can. The metal ones that come with the tent are useless in wind and rain. IMHO.

Other than that. Enjoy. Camping in rain is actually peaceful and nice. Just make friends with some RV neighbors

 

[peg110]

Camping in rain is actually peaceful and nice.

I actually LOVE going to sleep in a gentle (even slightly heavy) rain on the tent (Nylon is nice, Canvas is awesome). The sounds of the rain drops is almost soothing to me, like white noise. It's even better if I am in the woods in the middle of nowhere but I don't think I could ever get the DW to do that.

 

[mtnminnie]

bump.

wondering if you went and how it went......

 

[5stljayhawks]

I am sorry to report but everyyeardisney was washed away, during a heavy down pour into the lake and are now stranded on discover island.

 

[peg110]

I suppose there are worse places to be stranded.

I hope it's not like Gilligan's Island though. You know the ability to create all the comforts of home except a boat!