rain in the tent

[disneynewbeemom]

We went camping last weekend and once again it rained. (It always rains when we go camping!!). We had bought a new tent and sealed the seams and sprayed the entire tent with Campdry to waterproof it. It rained about 4 inches in a very short time. Our DS7 did leave one window of the tent open which did account for some rain in our tent. However, because of the large amount of rain in such a short time, we got water in our tent. We had an area where the water pooled on our tent roof (I'm not sure if we didn't stake it down tight enough or what), but it eventually leaked in. After arriving back at our campsite at 10:00 and finding everything wet, we just packed up and returned home. However, we are going camping in FW for 8 nights and won't be able to return home nor do we want to come home. What should we do to ensure that we do not have this problem again? Are there trees where we could hang tarps? Our tent is big (14 x 12). I am thinking of hanging our clothes on our garage sale hanging thing and covering this with plastic to ensure our clothes stay dry. I am also planning on putting our underwear, socks and shorts in a plastic shelving unit. Please give us suggestions. There is nothing worse than being wet!!

 

[We4mickey]

When we tent camped DH always put a huge tarp over the entire tent. He staked it so it was outside the sides of the tent by a good foot or more. That way the water wasn't so close to the tent edges. Also, we always keep our clothes in plastic tubs with lids. It keeps them dry. You don't get any moisture in them even with humidity alone. Hope that helps a little.

 

[disney6family]

A tarp hagning over the tent is a good idea and make sure you have your groundcloth a few inches inside your tent perimeter and that the tent is staked out so the floor is tight. Our troop's new boy scouts always seem to stake the tent loosely or leave the ground cloth outside the tents perimeter when they go camping for the first time (and it always rains when they go camping too!) and those are sure ways to get water inside.
Also, like the pp, we recommend those rubbermaid or sterilite totes to keep their clothes and other items dry.

 

[disneynewbeemom]

Thank you. Do you tie the tarp down with stakes? I will definitely be putting our clothes in tubs!! The less that can get wet, the better!

 

[clkelley]

I have never had that happen to an actual tent. I always make sure the rainfly is staked down really tight and the tent is stretched out and staked very well.

I have had an inexpensive shelter cave in on me due to sagging water, but never a tent.

I also put plastic inside my tent so if there is some seepage from the bottom it stays under that plastic.

 

[MLEmde]

I agree with the tarp over the tent. We had the same problem, and the tarp solved it. I would also recomment taking a shovel and digging a small drainage trench around the tent. Better yet, if you plan on camping alot in the future, invest in a small pop-up camper with AC. That's what I had to do if I wanted my wife to continue camping with the family! ha ha ha

 

[donac]

Everyone had great ideas. THe tarp over the tent is the first defense. Clothes in plastic bins also help. I also would put the sleeping bags onthe plastic bins while you are in the park. The trenches around the tent would also help. We have done all those things. Also put a tarp under your tent but if you don't have good pad put another piece of plastic under your sleeping bag.

Make sure your tent and the rain fly are stretched real tight and make sure your tarp over the tent has a pitch to it so that the rain runs away .

Have fun. We have tented there many times and it is a great experience.

 

[clkelley]

I agree with the tarp over the tent. We had the same problem, and the tarp solved it. I would also recomment taking a shovel and digging a small drainage trench around the tent. Better yet, if you plan on camping alot in the future, invest in a small pop-up camper with AC. That's what I had to do if I wanted my wife to continue camping with the family! ha ha ha

PLEASE don't trench your tent in natural areas. It is terrible for the soil and goes against Leave No Trace!!

 

[Tent Camping Mom]

PLEASE don't trench your tent in natural areas. It is terrible for the soil and goes against Leave No Trace!!

Ditto!

 

[Memph1s]

If you had water pooling on your tent something was not adjusted right. You want your tent to be set up tight enough that water can't pool but not so tight you over stress the seems. When the tent is set up right, there should be no place that you can press down with your finger and it not snap right back in place when you release pressure. I would suggest setting the tent up in your yard and rain on it yourself to see what you need to adjust to keep the water running off. A trench is not necessary in well draining soil like at FW. The loose rock and sand drains very well and if it rains so hard that it can’t your small trench will be overwhelmed anyway. A tarp over the tent does help a lot with rain and shade. Just be sure water can't collect.

 

[Tent Camping Mom]

We had an area where the water pooled on our tent roof (I'm not sure if we didn't stake it down tight enough or what), but it eventually leaked in.

Did you have a rain-fly on it?

We've never had a problem with rain but last March at FW we went through a good little storm. We were dry as a bone but I overheard someone at the CS that they were soaked and were trying to dry everything out with blow dryers.

What we do is seam seal at least once a year. Use scotch guard on everything, even the rain-fly. Our tent has a bathtub bottom which is good if you're ever in standing water. We use the painter's plastic (thanks Carol for that little tid-bit years ago ) underneath the tent but mainly as a protection against the gritty coquina pad. Just make sure the plastic isn't seen...the tent should overlap it. Also, make sure nothing, absolutely nothing, is touching any of the sides...not even your body. Anything touching can act as a wick and once it's started, there's no stopping it.

 

[disneynewbeemom]

I have shown my husband all of these responses. He now believes that we did not tie down the rain fly. We remember discussing the ties, but thought we did not need to tie it down because it was not going to be windy. Little did we know... oh well, we live and learn!! We will be more prepared next time!! Thank you for all of your responses and advice.

 

[Katie Dawn]

Also, make sure nothing, absolutely nothing, is touching any of the sides...not even your body. Anything touching can act as a wick and once it's started, there's no stopping it.

I second this! We once had our pillows and top of sleeping bags pushed up against the top of the tent. Tent Camping Mom said it best...once it starts seeping through it won't stop until it stops raining and the fabric dries.

 

[Louisianafive]

We camped in tents At FW a couple of weeks ago when it rained and hailed while we were at MK. We had a EZ up canopy over each of our tents and the only water that got in is where we had left a door open. If you keep everything closed while you are gone, you should be in good shape.

 

[disneywithfive]

How much bigger should the tarp be (then the tent) and is it suspended over the tent or on top of the rain fly?