Covering the PU with a plastic tarp while camping

[flyfisherman]

Back when I was a tent camper (and still do once in awhile, via canoe/river), I would stretch a plastic tarp over the tent which would serve also as an awning. Works fine, even though a little extra weight and work.

On a fall steelhead fishing trip to Michigan, was advised that a Canadian front was on the way and I'd do better covering the canvas bunk ends. I did and was real glad as the temp fell forty degrees, ending in a sleet/snow storm - could not believe what a big difference just having thebunk ends covered made. Later was to add Reflectix to the bunk ends and that was a greater cool weather advantage.

Had been seeing some popups completely covered with these plastic tarps and kind of dismissed it as extra work. Then last spring, on a group trout fishing trip to North Carolina's Black Mountain, fishing the Toe River, an old timer (that's anyone older than me!) and his wife took the site next to me. He had an small, older Coleman (think he said it was a '78 model), which he had bought new ... and it still looked new ... stores it in his garage. Anyway, he and his wife set-up the camper, and then he completely covers it with a larger than the camper, plastic tarp. Had a four of those metal extending tent poles, which where placed at the tarp's four corners, then staked off with guy ropes. There was enough excess tarp to extend beyond the PU's little awning, which gave him & his wife plenty of sitting space, plus they had a little table which she used or cooking. Along about late Saturday afternoon it starts to rain and continues off & on through the night, and on into Sunday. Everyone is packing up in the rain (except me, I'm staying a couple more days), even the "older couple" with thier little Coleman have to pack it up as they have plans for the following day. And I watch the old timer close-up his little Coleman ... under the plastic tarp ... And it's dry!  They then roll up the wet tarp and, pitch it in the back of their pick-up and head for home.

I promptly went out and bought a tarp and four of those extending tent poles at our neighoring ProBass store. And to date, have had one stay under the tarp, with even some rain coming our way and I closed it up the next day ... dry.

How come I have to be around here so long to learn so little?


Fly

[lpm]

We have done the same thing.  Definitely keeps the trailer dry.  We tend to do it in the fall a lot because we never know if we are going to get a couple of good days to dry out the trailer.

[AustinBoston]

He had an small, older Coleman (think he said it was a '78 model), which he had bought new ... and it still looked new ... stores it in his garage. Anyway, he and his wife set-up the camper, and then he completely covers it with a larger than the camper, plastic tarp.

Older pop-ups probably had real canvas roofs, and they needed to either 1) be covered in wet weather or 2) be re-waterproofed periodically or 3) both.

With materials like Evolution 3 and Sunbrella, the waterproofing is essentailly lifetime as long as the tenting is not abused.  There are other advantages to covering the end, as you found with the cold.  But my 7 year old Sunbrella has never let a drop of rain into my pop-up, and I've done very little to protect it.

Austin

[Old Goat]

I carry a silver colored plastic tarp along to use as a wind break around the awning if needed when camping in winter or rainy weather. Last summer when we were camped in Georgia for the 4th holidays, it was very hot and I covered the bunk end that we sleep in with the tarp folded double and held it in place with small plastic clamps. It made quite a difference by lowering the temp a bit...

[flyfisherman]

Older pop-ups probably had real canvas roofs, and they needed to either 1) be covered in wet weather or 2) be re-waterproofed periodically or 3) both.

With materials like Evolution 3 and Sunbrella, the waterproofing is essentailly lifetime as long as the tenting is not abused.  There are other advantages to covering the end, as you found with the cold.  But my 7 year old Sunbrella has never let a drop of rain into my pop-up, and I've done very little to protect it.

Austin

You might have mis-understood my post (but it's perfectly clear to me!),  there's no leaks in any of the forementioned campers ... the entire covering of the camper, front to back, side to side ... ensures the camper is under the tarp and when it rained, the campers stayed dry. Hence, closing the campers up, under the tarp, even in the rain, the camper canvas was dry. There's been some times I've had to close-up wet (even in the rain!), and then popup it open first chance I got and let it dry out.  Having the camper set-up under the tarp canopy means it stays dry ... even while closing it up in the rain.



Fly

[Wild Wild Qwest]

Hey Fly, don't mean to stir the pot, but aren't pop ups made to be outside? Like Austin said, I have seen this on older units that have leaks. However, IMO there's no need to cover a non leaking pop up. Some campers even think rain is kewl...  :screwy:

[chasd60]

I am biting my tongue on this one.

[flyfisherman]

Maybe the subject matter was just too complicated ... or should I say "too deep"; come to think of it .... maybe all wet?



Fly

[AustinBoston]

Maybe the subject matter was just too complicated ... or should I say "too deep"; come to think of it .... maybe all wet?



Fly

Since we're making terrible puns...

Well (another deep, wet subject), with a name like Fly, shouldn't you be an expert on tarps?

Austin

[tlhdoc]

Hey Fly, don't mean to stir the pot, but aren't pop ups made to be outside? Like Austin said, I have seen this on older units that have leaks. However, IMO there's no need to cover a non leaking pop up. Some campers even think rain is kewl... :screwy:

If we do a long dry camping trip (if we will not be running the AC for cooling or heat) I have put a 20 X 30 foot tarp over the entire PU.  Then when it rains we have a lot more living room outside.  The back side of the PU (where I someday hope to get a sunshade) where I wash the dishes at the outside shower is under cover.  Nothing dripping on to the clean dishes and if it is raining I can wash them and still stay dry.  It also keeps the PU dry which can be very important if you are going to be towing  home and it is going to take a couple of days to get home.  I don't want mildew growing on the tenting.  I put the tarp over the PU before I crank it up.  Then after the top is up I tie the corners of the tarp off to a few trees.  Then set up the PU and add more lines to the tarp.  I use a combination of rope and bungee cords so that the tarp will "self drain" when it rains.  I have pictures of this set up in my webshots album.

[Wild Wild Qwest]

I personally don't like having a huge tarp draped over the PU. We have been through our share of wet weekends. The Gizmo covers help shed water and if necessary we can set up an E-Z Up canopy over the pic-a-nic table.

Hey Tracy, If it's called 'dry' camping, then why do you need a tarp?  :p  BTW - If it rains like it did last year at the Glen, can we come over to your site and sit under the tarp?  :S

Happy New Year from here!

[tlhdoc]

I personally don't like having a huge tarp draped over the PU. We have been through our share of wet weekends.

I don't set it up for a weekend, only on long trips.
 
QUOTE=Wild Wild Qwest]Hey Tracy, If it's called 'dry' camping, then why do you need a tarp? [/QUOTE]
I need the tarp to stay DRY.  Hence dry camping, not wet camping.
 
QUOTE=Wild Wild Qwest] BTW - If it rains like it did last year at the Glen, can we come over to your site and sit under the tarp?[/QUOTE]
Nope, no big tarp at the Glen.  First off I run the AC there, second it is only a weekend trip.  Now last year DiW did have a tarp setup over her tent on my site.  I don't know if she is going to the glen in 2007, but if she does, I am sure you are welcome to share her tarp.  
 
The place I have tarped the most is in Maine.  When we go there it is usually for 10 to 13 nights of dry camping.  Having the tarp really adds to the living area when it rains.  Even if the rain is blowing you stay dry under the tarp.  You can even have your fire ring under the tarp if you vent it correctly and have the tarp high enough.
 
Happy New Year back at you!:D

[wynot]

How does one run the A/C and have a tarp up?  Or can the tarp sit on the A/C unit, as long as it is taut and not covering the sides or rear?

As anyone who has camped with us has seen, we make ourselves at home and sprawl out at campsites, with bikes, etc..

[wavery]

How does one run the A/C and have a tarp up?  Or can the tarp sit on the A/C unit, as long as it is taut and not covering the sides or rear?

As anyone who has camped with us has seen, we make ourselves at home and sprawl out at campsites, with bikes, etc..

You would not want to run the AC with a tarp over it. It would not get enough air circulation and may over-heat.

However, it would be a neat modification to have a tarp with a hole in it for the the AC to come through. It would also help stabilize the tarp if the wind got up.

You would need to cut the hole so that the AC fit through perfectly then reinforce it by sewing in a double hem or use binding tape. You could put the tarp on before popping up and have a bicycle inner-tube (or something) to go around the bottom of the AC unit and hold the tarp in place and seal it at the same time. It really wouldn't be that hard.

[wynot]

You would not want to run the AC with a tarp over it. It would not get enough air circulation and may over-heat.
 
However, it would be a neat modification to have a tarp with a hole in it for the the AC to come through. It would also help stabilize the tarp if the wind got up.
 
You would need to cut the hole so that the AC fit through perfectly then reinforce it by sewing in a double hem or use binding tape. You could put the tarp on before popping up and have a bicycle inner-tube (or something) to go around the bottom of the AC unit and hold the tarp in place and seal it at the same time. It really wouldn't be that hard.

Could cut the tarp so that it fits over the AC as long as you slid it from the front down, and then over the back.  Sew in Velcro and double stick the camper roof around the AC bottom.  Wouldn't be a perfect seal, but probably adequate.