Tent camping and the rain

[Mickey Canada]

As my vacation approaches I am starting to wonder about the rain. We will be in a 18x10 cabin tent. Does anyone have any tricks or set ups that they do to 'help' protect themselves from having a bad experience?

Help!! What advice do you have?

 

[BookBabe]

The good thing about it raining while you are camping at WDW is that you don't have to sit in the tent waiting for it to stop. Some of my best times in the parks have been when it was raining because most people leave.

As far as camping in the rain tips go, I've been thinking about this as well because I'm there in 3 weeks. Last October the weather was gorgeous so I'm sure it's going to rain this time around. I have one of those easy up canopies so we have something over our picnic table. I'm taking a roll of quarters in case we have to dry things. I'm taking extra shoes in case they get wet. And of course the Mickey ponchos are packed and ready to go as are the Crocs. We also use these for water rides. I'm talking an umbrella as well.

I have a tarp under the tent. The seams have been sealed so hopefully we are good to go.

Good luck!

Jenn : )

 

[pmm0724]

The good news for you is that we are coming in to the dry season, so you may not even see any rain.

I have been tent camping in summer downpours and the note above gives you the must dos. If your tent doesn't leak, you will be fine. The worst we had was when we had to break down our camp site to leave when it was raining. That created a muddy mess in our car.

 

[clkelley]

In addition to sealing my seams and putting a groundcloth under my tent, I also cut a sheet of plastic to fit inside my tent, so in case any water does seep up it is under that plastic.

I also saturate the material of the tent with waterproof sealant. "Scotch Guard" is one brand. I actually use the brand that can be found in the camping section of Wal-Mart.

I also insist on setting up some type of shelter (Easy-Up or other brand) over the entrance of my tent. This allows you to sit in your chair or at the picnic table in the dry and allows you to exit and enter your tent in the dry. You can then leave rain ponchos hanging up on the shelter outside the tent, you can leave shoes outside the tent, etc.

Also make sure you stake down your tent at every place possible and stretch out and stake down every guy line. Also make sure it is stretched out completely and has no sags anywhere. The new tents are designed to shed the water or allow it to run off if set up completely.

 

[funhouse8]

When putting your belongings inside the tent keep them from touching the sides.

 

[Married2Mickey]

In addition to putting plastic sheeting or a tarp inside my tent as a previous poster suggested, I put a bath mat just inside the main door. I keep one outside too, and it's usually under a shelter that we put over the entrance to the tent so it stays pretty dry. The one inside is just to make absolute certain that no mud gets tracked beyond the door. We leave our shoes outside too. It's probably overkill, but I have been thankful for the setup on more than one occasion.

On a side note, if you end up having to take down camp in the rain, be sure to set everything up when you get home to let it dry out before putting the tent back in storage. The last thing you want is a mildewed and dirty tent for your next trip. YUCK!

 

[Mickey Canada]

Ok, my comfort feeling has just improved by reading the post replies. This is what I do:

1. Ground sheet under the tent.
2. Ground sheet inside the tent.
3. Yes, keep stuff away from the walls.
4. Yes, tie down everything with the rope lines.
5. Yes, I have an Easy Up 12x12 that will go in front of my tent. (inspired by Carol's pictures!! )
6. I do have a screen from my father's old gazebo that I can hang onto the Easy Up ...but I also will have tarps if I need to set up walls to keep the rain out of our 'sitting area'.
7. I do have a section of turf and matting for outside as well as inside the tent. I know the sand is a fan favorite around us campers!!
8. This year I bought cots for everone so we will be off the ground
9. Ponchos for the parks - check. Standard Disney backpack must have.
10. Full rainsuits for tearing down camp in the rain. Definitely not fun. Yes, never leave wet stuff packed up... not even slightly damp. It's not a pretty sight!

11. Most importantly - an open mind. We have been camping for years, in some pretty good storms / tornado!, but it's normally only for a couple days. This is going to be for a week. Most of our time will be in the parks, if it rains - just keep moving, moving, moving ..... " Hi, my name is Dory!!"

Sound about right!?

 

[TheGreatGonzo]

If your cots have legs that have small pads for feet - the legs cross in an "X" - you may want to pick up some of those 2" or 3" floor protectors you put under the legs of furniture to protect your tent floor.

 

[Mickey Canada]

12. Yes - I have the pads for the cots so that they don't dig into my tent flooring!! Already packed in the cot bag.

 

[BradyBz12]

Instead of packing your clothes/stuff in traditional nylon bags/duffels, consider putting them in covered plastic totes. Nothing worse than when all your clothes get damp and/or wet. Then you don't have to worry about them being on the floor of the tent or accidentally getting dripped on (one thing we've found in our hybrid camper is that we get condensation on the inside of the tents on cool evenings).

And I agree completely that some of the best times in the parks is when it rains!

Keep an open mind, your sense of humor, and HAVE FUN!

 

[clkelley]

Sounds like you got it covered!!!!!

No worries, just enjoy!!

 

[ntsammy5]

When putting your belongings inside the tent keep them from touching the sides.

12. Yes - I have the pads for the cots so that they don't dig into my tent flooring!! Already packed in the cot bag.

consider putting them in covered plastic totes.
And I agree completely that some of the best times in the parks is when it rains!

All good advice. My dad used to love being in a tent in the rain - loved the sound.

I never worry about getting wet - I've been wet so much it's like a natural state.

Another trick is to pack stuff in plastic bags - some people pack one daily outfit per bag just to make it easier. That's much too structured for me though.

 

[carolynb]

Great advice!! We are going in 11 days for our first trip to the Fort, plus we are tent camping. All the info from the dis has been great!! You guys are great!! We have learned so much about the Fort and we can't wait to get there!! Hope to meet some fellow disers there!!

 

[toostsmom]

We will be there next weekend, too! I have camped in downpours several time, and one thing I will always try to do, if possible, is rig a tarp over top of the tent - if there are trees to rig it to - as an extra precaution - the waterproofer is great, but never 100 percent.

 

[LiteBrite]

Question for those of you who use a ground cover inside the tent - does it make it harder to walk around? I'm picturing the thing bunching up, wrinkling, or slipping.

 

[toostsmom]

Question for those of you who use a ground cover inside the tent - does it make it harder to walk around? I'm picturing the thing bunching up, wrinkling, or slipping.

Not really, when you put your air mattresses, and other stuff down, it just serves as flooring. Esp if you weigh down the corners.

 

[Mickey Canada]

I've never really had a problem with bunching of the ground sheet inside the tent.

Our last camping tried it sure did save things. We had a pool of water 'inside' the tent but under the sheet, so we were good.

 

[toostsmom]

Get the "heavy duty" clear plastic drop cloths from the paint department at Walmart - cheap but durable.

 

[ntsammy5]

I never use a ground cloth but our tent camping is in the woods and on grass,never on sand or that cruddy stuff whatever it is at the Fort. When we did use ground cloths - the good thing about the drop cloths is you just toss it out when you're finished

 

[clkelley]

I never use a ground cloth but our tent camping is in the woods and on grass,never on sand or that cruddy stuff whatever it is at the Fort. When we did use ground cloths - the good thing about the drop cloths is you just toss it out when you're finished

For my actual ground cloth and inside cloth I use the 6 mil plastic that comes in a roll and cut it to fit. I don't toss that. I keep it. When I'm staying at the Fort, I also purchase the cheapo ground cloth stuff and lay that down first. That does get tossed.