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Well the car is all packed and we're almost ready to go, so I thought I would check the weather forecast again and horror of horrors they are expecting heavy rain and thunderstorms from 2 days before our arrival until 2 days after!!

How do you pitch a 5m bell tent in Heavy rain?

So far we have only ever pitched in fair weather and so the inner groundsheet and canvas have remained dry, we've been rained on once pitched but again we've been lucky and its been dry again for at least 24 hours before having to tkae it down again.

Any tips on pitching it in heavy rain though without getting the inside of the canvas and the groundsheet soaking wet? Or do we need to take some towels with us and expect to dry it all out once its up??

Thanks!! :)

Well I put the ground sheet in after I pitch mine, so not a problem. I peg out the side walls, then fit the pole, the tent will hang in shape but loose. Now walk in the ground sheet folded in half and lay it down, then lift and pull the pole over the first half and pull out the second half under the pole. Now just reposition the pole. I have even managed to do this on my own. Then we have one person inside and one outside so we don't walk water inside.

I do it this way because I can never get the sheet central to the walls.

So do you unpack the canvas and put it down on the wet ground whilst pegging it out I guess? does the inside of the tent not get too dirty/wet?

thank you :)

Quote: Originally posted by raf48 on 04/8/2011

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Well I put the ground sheet in after I pitch mine, so not a problem. I peg out the side walls, then fit the pole, the tent will hang in shape but loose. Now walk in the ground sheet folded in half and lay it down, then lift and pull the pole over the first half and pull out the second half under the pole. Now just reposition the pole. I have even managed to do this on my own. Then we have one person inside and one outside so we don't walk water inside.

I do it this way because I can never get the sheet central to the walls.

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Sorry, I forgot to mention that I use a footprint under the tent ground sheet, it all  just goes on top. This is over size, so I just fold it back under once the tent is in position. Obnviously the footprint will get some water on it. but not mud. Any water on the inside of the tent dries out with no problem when/if the rain stops.