taking the camper down in the rain

[Minton]

We are getting ready for our maiden voyage with our '00 Coleman Niagara and
were wondering about tips you "experts" might have for us newbies in breaking
camp with it raining. With our luck, it will be pouring down rain the first
time we go. Are there any pointers to keeping everything from getting soaked?
We've had several dry runs in perfect conditions but not sure about the rain.
I have been "lurking" for a couple of weeks but haven't seen anything -sorry if
this has been discussed before.

Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
The Minton's
'98 Chevy Z-71
'00 Coleman Niagara

[andrew]

Usually when we fold up the camper we push canvas in along with the bunk.
When it is raining, I let the canvas hang over the bunk as we slide the bunk
in and then fold the wet pieces of canvas on top of each other inside the
unit. This way maybe a corner of teh bunk gets wet. Be sure to open the
unit up as soon as you get back and leave it open until it is completely
dry.

Enjoy

Andrew Dickerman
98 jeep cherokee
97 dutchmen 1204
Minton <ktkvm...@aol.comnojunk> wrote in message
news:20010305205544...@ng-cf1.aol.com...

[From the PNW]

, "andrew" wrote:
>Usually when we fold up the camper we push canvas in along with the bunk.
>When it is raining, I let the canvas hang over the bunk as we slide the bunk
>in and then fold the wet pieces of canvas on top of each other inside the
>unit. This way maybe a corner of teh bunk gets wet. Be sure to open the
>unit up as soon as you get back and leave it open until it is completely
>dry.

>> were wondering about tips you "experts" might have for us newbies in

>breaking
>> camp with it raining.

>> The Minton's

Carry several large plastic bags, like used for bagging leaves. When it
rains, cut the bottom seam off and slit one side, making a large plastic
sheet. Cover the beds with plastic bags and THEN slide the bunks in and fold
the canvas in neatly on top of the plastic bags. Keeps the beds from getting
wet.

Gail
In the Great Pacific Northwest

[Gerry Pierce]

1. Be quick! Know what you have to do, in what order, before you take the
tenting loose.

2. Hopefully, you will have stowed everything you could before the rain. If
not, large plastic trashbags work great to stow wet stuff in. (I keep 3-4
boxes in the trailer all the time)

3. Flip the mattress's over so the vinyl side is up. If you have plastic
sheeting available, cover them. Waterproof mattress pads are also good.

4. Possibly, you can rig a tarp over the bunk end to shelter you. I have
toyed with the idea of attaching a piece of awning rail across the front and
rear so that a tarp wrapped around a piece of cord and slid into the awning
rail and draped over the bunk end. Others have tied them to the yakima racks
on top.

We have never had to set up or tear down in the rain. We definately have
seen the rain, it just has let up before we started to break down. The
pop-up is definately better to take down than a wet tent!

Good Luck!
Gerry&Robyn
99 Mesa
96 E150

"Minton" <ktkvm...@aol.comnojunk> wrote in message
news:20010305205544...@ng-cf1.aol.com...
>

[Marty]

We have vinyl mattress covers over the mattresses. This way if we have
to fold up wet, the mattresses don't get wet.

Marty

[Kubek Crew]

We do something similar to this. We saved the plastic that came w/the new
camper (if that is available to you) to put on the mattress when we fold
down, wet or dry to keep dirt off our 'beds' also, It's a good wet barrier.
On our previous campers, before I wised up, I just cut a piece of plastic
from a large roll used for home draft barriers when insulating...comes in
large rolls. Failing something like that, a good idea and simple are
mattress covers. Like rubber sheeting or plastic used to protect mattress
from 'young children' or someone ill who might have accidents.

Bring lots of rag towels. We replenished our house towels and took the
good, but worn towels to the camper for all purpose cleaning. From drying
things to degunking the dogs paws. If they aren't to be laundered and
reused for showers, it's amazing how many things you can clean up with them.

Kimberly

--
Still Camping & Loving It
_____________
/_____________\___
| __|__|____________|-----+
O

~ Kubek Crew ~
* '00 Mesa '00 Astro *

[popaPete]

I carry a couple of cheap (99 cents) drop cloths. They are small to store
and my hope is each trip I'll not have to use them. But when I do, I spread
them over the mattress before we start to close up and then procede
normally. Then just throw them away when I open up to dry out the tenting.
Works great.

--
Pete & Chisako Miller
aka popaPete
2000 Coleman Fairview
1995 Ford Ranger Extended Cab
West Palm Beach, FL

"Minton" <ktkvm...@aol.comnojunk> wrote in message
news:20010305205544...@ng-cf1.aol.com...
>

[Doug LeMasters]

We've had the priviledge of setting up and down in the rain. Neither is fun.
Taking down is more difficult. How we do it:
1) Wait for a lull.
2) Get all the periferal stuff done first like disconnecting power, water, etc.
3) Complete all inside work including putting up the door.
4) Lay tarps or vinyl or plastic covers over the mattresses. (Optional)
5) Close one end at a time. Wipe down the canvas (top & sides) before and as you
shove in the bed. Carefully fold the canvas in on itself so that damp surface
folds to damp surface. This should leave the "dry" side laying on the mattress.
This actually works better than you think.
6) As you would normally, check your lights before you leave.
7) Open the trailer to fully drive as soon as possible - especially if its a hot
day.
I'll be honest - this is fairly easy for us because in addition to my wife, I have
two teenagers both of whom are fully capable of putting up and taking down the
camper by themselves. The extra hands make work a lot faster & easier.
Doug LeMasters
SantaFe 99
Explorer 96

Minton wrote:

> Are there any pointers to keeping everything from getting soaked?

[Steve Silverwood]

In article <CaYo6.19488$Fz.50...@typhoon.austin.rr.com>,
and...@austin.rr.com says...

> Be sure to open the
> unit up as soon as you get back and leave it open until it is completely
> dry.

That's about the most important thing to do. Mildew can destroy the
canvas in remarkably short order!

--

-- // Steve //

Steve Silverwood, KB6OJS AOL Instant Msgr: "steve kb6ojs"
Fountain Valley, CA USA Yahoo! Messenger: "steve_kb6ojs"
http://home.socal.rr.com/silverwood Email: kb6...@arrl.net
1998 Jayco 8' Popup Fax: 425/699-7473

[RC]

Canvas? ;-)

Living in Florida, I've had my fair share (and then some) of
having to pack a wet camper. Fortunately, the synthetic
material on my Coleman dries very quickly once I open it up
when I get home. My camper lives under an awning, which
not only keeps it looking new, but also allows me to raise the
roof about halfway and dry the tent material even during
nasty days.

I also pack old towels (aka: garage towels) for wiping the
vinyl material over the beds. I then shake the tent material to
reduce the amount of water on the surface of the tent and
screen materials. This minimizes the amount of water trapped in
the camper.

While I didn't think of it until just now, it would probably be
smart to flip the mattresses over (cloth side down, vinyl
side up) to prevent rain from soaking the beds while closing
the camper and also keeps the wet tent off the cloth.

Robert
http://mutantcyborg.tripod.com/Camp1/clinch.html

Steve Silverwood <kb6...@arrl.net> wrote in message
news:MPG.151758374...@news-server.socal.rr.com...