Setting up your Quicksilver 10.0 in the rain

[rob]

I kept the plastic on my mattresses  Has only been raining once.  I then use a mattress topper and top sheet.  I keep a chamois in the camper to wipe everything down.

Awesome photo!

[johnc]

Nice photo! I guess I hadn't really thought of setting up in the rain but I will make sure we keep the tarp packed.

[walt3]

We use an air mattress we just get the tent up dry off the platform and air it up.

[aznighthiker]

After many years of tent camping, backpacking and a couple of years of popup camper we just wait for a break in the rain. Something I learned when camping with the parents in the mid 60's.

[admin]

Much like @aznighthiker we tend to wait for a break in the rain before opening it up. In the rare instance where we were forced to open up in the rain the wife and I prepped as much as we could and made a game plan so we could open the tent as quickly as possible. We have found that if the support bars are in place, and we work in sync, we can have the 10.0 uncovered and tent up in about 60 seconds or less. Granted this is just to a point where the contents of the camper are not getting rained on, and if its a heavy rain even 60 seconds is plenty of time to get things soaked.

[sandyu]

Cool camper. Never have seen that before.

[hiker74]

I can't imagine trying to set up in the rain...it's difficult enough keeping the flies out! Apache campers always had similar issues. They still are cool

[walt3]

The wife and I went to New Mexico about two years ago this September and it was the rain to end all rains there! Set up and take down in Carlsbad state park were in pouring rain. Light rain in Cloudcroft for set up and take down. We had over 96 hours of rain! Like I said earlier we use an air mattress so dry every thing off after set up and then set up the mattress. One good thing about having an ac we used it even though the temps were low to help with the moisture inside the tent. Have an electric heater so ran it and the ac on max to get rid of moisture and keep it warm. 96 hours of rain and only a little condensation inside to speak of.

[allenincalgary]

I agree- setting up or closing in the rain sucks. I actually started to flip the mattresses upside down when closing so the waterproof side is exposed when opening. saves the mattress from any issues if tent has any moisture on it when closing as well.

[idlerockfarm]

This all reminds me to take out the factory mattress.  I HAD left the plastic on, but the dog-beast dug holes in the plastic. I, too, use a pretty luxe air mattress, so that could be dried off easier. And the beast should stay on the couch anyway.

I considered a dehumidifier for planned wet trips. I ran the ac for moisture control on my beach trip this year and it got chilly.

[admin]

I thought I throw out an option for anyone looking to use brute force. I have opened up my 10.0 in a way that would work for keeping it mostly dry if I absolutely had to open it while raining. This is by no means recommended, nor is it easy. However if you have the strength or teamwork to do this then it might work for you as well.

When I have to work fast I have been known to place a single support bar into its bracket on the bunk while it is still closed. This can be done to just a single brace on each end while most everything is still sealed. Then when flipping the bunk open the brace will act like a support leg keeping the bunk open at about 3/4 of the way. The idea here is that its super quick to throw open the bunk on each side. Then with them mostly open you should have enough room to open the tent. Again it will not open completely but it will open enough to shed enough water and keep things dry. From here I only attach one or two snaps per end, and leave everything nice and loose. Lastly I either use my back, or I have someone else help lift one bunk at a time while I complete the placement of the support braces. As you lower the bunks down to their fully open position the tent will open up to the regular size and you can complete the snaps.

In the end its not exactly graceful, but it gets the job done quickly with minimal time exposed to rain.

-Sean