We're off for our first camping trip in a couple of weeks and what with the weather shaping up to being it's usual summery self I'm fully expecting to be bringing home a wet tent. Have you got any tips on getting it dry once we get home, assuming I can't just bung it up in the garden because of the rain. We don't really have the room indoors to have a soaking wet tent draped around the house, do you reckon I could take a couple of hairdryers to it without doing any damage to the fabric or is that a ridiculous idea? Should I just wait for a dry day and pitch it in the garden?
i usual put mine in the garage on top of my packed dandy and its dry in a day or two. If not there then i put it flat on the living room floor at night and then pack it away the next morning. its a bit of a hassle and i usually have half a ton of loose grass around but dog helps by eating it up as fast as im brushing it
The best way is to put it back (if you have the room)up even if it is raining. It wont hurt ot to get rained upon for a week or 2 or 3 or 10 if it is up! Its when its packed away wet and left.
By all means dry it on the line, over the banister etc but by doing this there is always a small chance that you my damage the tent in some way as unless you live in a mansion with a huge staircase etc you will have to keep turning your tent reguarly.
Most people on here dry their tents draping them all over the house for a day or 2 with no problems but IMO its best erected where it will dry very very quickly once the rain stops.
I had my tent in the garden for 3 weeks last year waiting for the rain to stop whilst I was actually at home! LOL
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I have in the past covered the bed with a large plastic decorators sheet and spread the tent out over it during the day . Fold it up at night and repeat till dry. Lived in a flat at the time,no garden and a living room the size of a cupboard. A bit tedious, but the only way I had of drying the tent.
Thanks for that moog56 I'm in that situation now. That's given me solution if mine gets wet. Do have shared garden but doubt my neighbours would appreciate a tent however small spoiling their outlook.
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Thanks for the replies, I'm not sure the missus would appreciate a damp tent spread across the bed, plastic sheet or not. I'll probably have to put it up in the garden and hope for a bit of dry weather.
The most important thing is to unpack it as soon as possible when you get home. Put it up in the garden and leave it there until it dries. It won't matter if it gets soaked just make sure it is properly dry before you pack it up and put it away. Mould is a nasty thing!!!
Quote: Originally posted by LittleLemon on 16/7/2009
The best way is to put it back (if you have the room)up even if it is raining. It wont hurt ot to get rained upon for a week or 2 or 3 or 10 if it is up! Its when its packed away wet and left.
By all means dry it on the line, over the banister etc but by doing this there is always a small chance that you my damage the tent in some way as unless you live in a mansion with a huge staircase etc you will have to keep turning your tent reguarly.
Most people on here dry their tents draping them all over the house for a day or 2 with no problems but IMO its best erected where it will dry very very quickly once the rain stops.
I had my tent in the garden for 3 weeks last year waiting for the rain to stop whilst I was actually at home! LOL
That's not a problem with your Cabanon, but leaving a synthetic tent up for 3 weeks can seriously eat into it's lifespan!
But putting it back up is the easiest way to dry it. Another tip is to have a footprint or tarp under the tent, this will make it easier to keep dry and clean if it's wet.
We are in the same position as others posting here - we cannot put it up in the garden as the tent is bigger than the garden! No choice then, it has to be dried in the house. So far we have been lucky with only a very slightly damp tent (being mainly the guy lines and the SIG base). The thought of a dripping wet tent does bring about thoughts of horror in that the stairs will turn into a marsh with the water dripping off the acres of the Vermont whilst hung over the bannister.
I think the key to drying inside is to turn on a regular basis and keep turning until fully dry.
I am lucky to have a good size garden and a garage, so that's where I would dry my gear when I get home.
A room that is not used often perhaps, or the bathroom over the bath?
DK
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