Proper way to fold up tenting

[tknick]

I have wondered what the best way is to fold the cavas on my Coleman Bayside.  I have looked in the manual and it really didn't specify how to fold up, just make sure it's inside when the roof goes down.

I usually pull the tenting completely inside-out from the inside after I push the bunk ends in.  Then I progressively tuck the sides as the roof goes down.  

This is all well and good when the roof is dry.  If it were wet, that would get all the other canvas as possibly the matresses wet when breaking camp in the rain.

Any suggestions would be appreciated

[Old Goat]

I have never removed the plastic shipping cover that came on the mattress's of our 01 Niagara. It does an excellent job of keeping them dry from damp canvas and accidental spills by the grand kids...I cut an old broom handle down to 36" long and installed a 3/4" white rubber crutch tip on one end. This I use to push the canvas in on the ends when folding down. It is especially handy at the front end with the storage trunk...Makes the job much easier to spread the canvas more evenly...

[Kelly]

I usually pull the tenting completely inside-out from the inside after I push the bunk ends in.  Then I progressively tuck the sides as the roof goes down.  

This is all well and good when the roof is dry.  If it were wet, that would get all the other canvas as possibly the matresses wet when breaking camp in the rain.

I think everybody probably has their own method.  This is what works for me ...

I work from the outside ~ unless the bunkends are so high I can't reach!!  First I tuck in the sides then I push in on the 'roof' section and make a fold about halfway down.  This folds the canvas in on itself instead of out on the bunkend.  (make sense?)  Then I  push the bunk ends in.  I tuck the excess in as the roof comes down, too.

If it's raining I change things a little bit.  First I turn the mattresses over (vinyl side up).  Then I let the tenting hang down over the bunkends while I push them in.  After the bunk ends are in I tuck the tenting in ~ still pushing the sides in first and folding it in on itself.   If I'm really lucky the mattresses don't get too wet.  Sometimes I'm not so lucky  :rolleyes:

Experiment ~ you'll find the method that works soon enough.

[tlhdoc]

For rain I keep some extremely cheap plastic painters drop cloths in the PU.  I cover the bunkend with them and they keep it dry.  If you turn the bottom of the tenting (the vinyl section) up, the bungee cord helps hold the vinyl in a bowl that will help catch any water that runs off the sides.  I also don't fold it in the same place every trip, so that the fabric doesn't wear on the fold lines.

[wavery]

I live in Southern California :S
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He says, while it is raining outside