sandy tent?

[hsmamato2]

Hey all _I've never camped at the fort before,but I recall seeing some advice here a while back,and can't find it again.....isn't the Fort pretty sandy? we are planning a camping trip on a sandy beach site this summer,and I'd love any good advice about keeping sand outside the tent door!
In regular sites,I use a doormat inside and outside the door for dirt,etc- what else can I do?

 

[clkelley]

Hey all _I've never camped at the fort before,but I recall seeing some advice here a while back,and can't find it again.....isn't the Fort pretty sandy? we are planning a camping trip on a sandy beach site this summer,and I'd love any good advice about keeping sand outside the tent door!
In regular sites,I use a doormat inside and outside the door for dirt,etc- what else can I do?

I put a sheet of that very cheap painters plastic underneath the tent, and just ditch that after breaking down. That way it doesn't stick to the bottom of the tent and less of it you take home.

The doormats and a wisk broom are about all you can do.

 

[hsmamato2]

inside the tent? how do you keep it down,I can imagine i sticking to feet and getting all rumply(is that a word?)

 

[Tri-circle-D]

We try to follow a shoes off rule for coming into the camper. I set up a large rug outside the camper door, and have three or four mats as well. That keeps things pretty clean. The "sand" at the Fort is weird stuff. It is not a problem at all when it is dry. It doesn't really stick to anything when it is dry. But when it is damp- forget about it- it clings to everything! Our kids wear shoes that are easy to slip on and off, and we do the best we can when things get wet.

This "sand" issue, is of course, not an issue in the new premium spots, and really not much of an issue in the full and premium loops either, as you can usually set up your tent or camper so the entrance is on the concrete. On the partial loops, though, you need a sand strategy.

TCD

 

[clkelley]

inside the tent? how do you keep it down,I can imagine i sticking to feet and getting all rumply(is that a word?)

No, underneath your tent, and actually underneath your groundcloth. Then when you roll up your tent to pack it away, just ditch the really thin stuff.

I do actually cut a piece of 6 mil plastic to fit inside my tent in addition to a piece of 6 mil plastic cut to fit underneath my tent. The plastic inside is just an extra layer to protect from any seepage from the bottom. It is thick enough that it doesn't get "rumply" as you say.

 

[eandesmom]

Shoes OFF is the best you can do. We keep all shoes outside the tent doors. Off to the side so you don't trip but outside. IF it's going to rain they can go in but then go into a lawn and leaf heavy bag.

You may have more issues though with sandy clothes (bodies, feet lol). Not much you can do about that other than embrace the feeling of nature. Broom is a must. Personally I like a dustpan too!

If you follow shoes off and do your doormats I think you'll be fine.

 

[hsmamato2]

thanks for the advice.... I guess we'll buy all the supplies and learn to 'embrace the natural sand"

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Hey, I went out with a girl named Sandy Tent once. A lovely girl. That was just after my break up with an Irish lass named Patty O'Furniture.

 

[2goofycampers]

Hey, I went out with a girl named Sandy Tent once. A lovely girl. That was just after my break up with an Irish lass named Patty O'Furniture.

 

[chartle]

I would look for a mat that looks like hard artificial grass.

This should let the sand fall off the bottom of your shoes.

A regular mat is just going to smear the sand around and let the sand get on the next pair of shoes.

 

[stacktester]

I keep a 1 gallon shop vac in my camper. Works great to keep it off the floor.

 

[Rhonda]

We keep a mat outside the tent door for our shoes. And we have a little whisk broom to brush the floor every day.

 

[des1954]

The pads are a mix of sand and coquina shells and sticks to everything. Keep shoes outside the tent and you'll be okay. Do as Carol suggested and pick up a plastic painter's drop cloth to put on the ground to set your tent up on. It'll save you a lot of time sweeping the bottom of the tent off when you break camp. Then just toss it out. Also, the 1 gal shop vacs are pretty reasonable and very handy to have around. If you have a pop-up awning you will be using for dining, you might wish to have ground cover for that as well. Again, use a plastic painter's drop cloth before putting your mat down.

Home Depot sell 8X12 plastic drop cloths for $7.98. Use nails to anchor the corners as you spread them out. They're light & the slightest breeze can blow them around before you can put your ground cloth over them.

Hope this helps.

 

[Stewy]

Here is a great trick we learned at the beach when there is no foot wash available. Use baby powder. Sprinkle it on and the sand comes right off. I don't know why it works but it really does. Try it!

 

[growinupdisney]

when we have camped in the past where there isn't any concrete at all just dirt or sand we have put an extra tarp down right in front of the entrance of the door to the tent or popup door it is a little more heavy duty. I would just sweep the tarp off now and then to keep from tracking it in. It would also give more living space (that is cleaner) than just sand or dirt.

 

[hsmamato2]

all good ideas.....I forgot about the baby powder,just wrote it on my packing list!
And the extra tarp and mats in front should help too....I have to start checking my supplies......trying to pack the right amount,not over or under!