Camping in the rain

[Bird]

Big big tarp and make sure you dig trenches around the perimeter and then sit back and get smashed. (drunk that is) 

Foo

Trench is a top idea, but do it as the next step after setting up the trailer...  not 0

[Moggy]

I do also realise I sound a bit soft.

Mate soft has nothing to do with it.

Getting out camping is supposed to be enjoyable, not stressful, & as other have alluded to you cant pick the weather & $hit happens.

But I too have had "the every time we go out it rains" & no matter what happens if swmbo cant enjoy herself then there's no such thing as a happy camper.
I'd happily go by myself but she cracks the $hits at that proposition as well

The biggest gripe swmbo had was if the bedding got wet/damp, which i think theres a minor design flaw wiyh my camper that just doesnt lend itself to wet weather camping, however to overcome that i recently bought a tarp to throw over the main camper, with a little bit more for living area & i'm hoping that will appease the goddess. (i MUST add she likes going camping but must be comfortable when sleeping)

I might add in the example of Shanes.......no....no...no.... nothing you can do about that (but my big tarp means at least the love nest  is dry)

The other thing is try camping in central Australia rather than coastal areas.

That and also its gotta be a numbers game, the more you go the more likely you are to hit that perfect trip 

[Rumpig]

That and also its gotta be a numbers game, the more you go the more likely you are to hit that perfect trip 

reckon you are onto something there....when we first started out camping many many years ago, our neighbour would say to let him know when we are going away so he could fertilise his lawn...it rained most times we went somewhere...lol. These days we seem to look at the forecast more before deciding to go somewhere, i don't like wet weather camping so avoid going away if the forecast looks very average, would rather the kids were playing at home inside rather then being couped up at a campsite somewhere. For me camping is about going somewhere and relaxing, not setting up tarps and the like to try and stay dry.

[jayjay]

And the worst of all is the hassle of having to try and dry it out afterwards when you do get back home........ no space to erect the camper in the driveway, it is not secure - and no time either- how the heck are you meant to do it and be at work anyway ??!! - after all, you have had your time off, and once home, it's back to work to pay the piper!!!
Yes, it's good to get away, and I don't mind a light shower or two...... but if we have to pack up wet - oh my!!!
Having said that, our first trip away in our Trackie, was the proverbial baptism of fire- ahem, shall we say, - wind and rain!!! Most around us, packed up and went home- we stayed!!

[BMPatriot]

reckon you are onto something there....when we first started out camping many many years ago, our neighbour would say to let him know when we are going away so he could fertilise his lawn...it rained most times we went somewhere...lol. These days we seem to look at the forecast more before deciding to go somewhere, i don't like wet weather camping so avoid going away if the forecast looks very average, would rather the kids were playing at home inside rather then being couped up at a campsite somewhere. For me camping is about going somewhere and relaxing, not setting up tarps and the like to try and stay dry.

Yea thats it mate i just want to be enjoying myself and i want the other half and the kids to be doing the same thing. My wife suggested we have a spare set of clothes for me in the car each time we go so when i setup/packup in the rain i have dry clothes. I say we just wait till its sunny again haha

[Alan Loy]

Camping with kids in the rain can be fun for them if they have the right gear and you can just let them loose.  I recall an Easter camped by Lake Eilden (Vic) that rained every day.  The kids had a ball digging trenches, making dams and general civil engineering work.

A big tarp gives extra dry space.  An ozpig would be great for the colder climes

[oldmate]

Yea thats it mate i just want to be enjoying myself and i want the other half and the kids to be doing the same thing. My wife suggested we have a spare set of clothes for me in the car each time we go so when i setup/packup in the rain i have dry clothes. I say we just wait till its sunny again haha

z

I understand how you feel, but don't let the rain hold you back, unless it's a cyclone  . We have hooked the trailer on and left plenty of times in the rain, get to a site set up in the rain, go to bed and wake up to a beautiful sunny day and for the rest of the weekend. The best thing is you will many times have the place to yourself, as most people chicken out and stay home cause it was raining. 

[BaseCamp]

the very thought of getting rained on whilst camping simply freaks me out.

I avoid it at all costs - eg: "wont go"....

Apart from the penned-in, claustrophobic and dank misery; its the thought of all my lovely camping gear getting wrecked; not having anywhere homeside I can deploy and dry gear; (we live in an inner city townhouse complex).

My ultimate hope/dream is in being a self funded retiree in a few years; having the (yet to be purchased) KKaravan on permanent standby; then doggedly monitoring BOM....     

Thus whatever tomorrow is; (a Saturday, or a Tuesday, etc) - when BOM predicts there will be a 80%+ chance a glorious weather - we will activate the Launch Sequence - and then we're off; spontaneously, the very next morning!!!!

80%+ chance a glorious weather for us is defined as magic mild blocks of 4 - 8 consecutive sunny days; capped to the months of approx Mar - Sep....  with a KK as the abode....   

that's glamping(lifestyle living)      

[Palmer]

t
My ultimate hope/dream is in being a self funded retiree in a few years; having the (yet to be purchased) KKaravan on permanent standby; then doggedly monitoring BOM....     

Thus whatever tomorrow is; (a Saturday, or a Tuesday, etc) - when BOM predicts there will be a 80%+ chance a glorious weather - we will activate the Launch Sequence - and then we're off; spontaneously, the very next morning!!!!
   

Sounds a lot like what my inlaws do now they are retirees

[lyn4680]

Mate, if I knew the secret to successfully camping in the rain with kids I'd be a squillionaire.

Gazebos are great (but not waterproof) tarps are awesome but bulky and take about a week to get perfect (but that will give you and the kids something to do when it's raining)

The number of times we've come home from holidays a couple of days early because of the weather is ridiculous

I look at it as the law of averages:  eventually the sunny days will outnumber the rainy ones...  won't they?

[graham]

Hmmmm if I'm going away , and I know it will rain , I'm still going , with the minions , they don't care if they get wet,as long as there is something dry at night
As a mate of mine dads used to say the weather is beautiful
Beautiful and wet
Beautiful and dry
Beautiful and windy
Need I go on , mind you we are only talking about inclement weather/rain , not major weather events
Cheers

[Coiled]

Adapting to the conditions helps.

When it is raining it is usually cooler and quite pleasant to stay in the tent for some R&R or QT with the better half. When the kids get restless let them go out and play and just hose them off afterwards

[BMPatriot]

I think some of it comes down to we just got our new camper and want to be out enjoying the thing not feeling like we are just battling the rain the whole time.

I'm planning another trip for next week hopefully so we'll see how the weather goes!

[gclan]

You need to have a few horror stories of camping in bad weather up your sleeve so in years to come, the family can all have a laugh together. It may not be fun at the time, but it is something you'll bond over.
It also makes all of the future fine weather camping more enjoyable

Here's hoping for fine weather for you

[deepop]

Shouldn't take too much preparation - you'll have a hat anyway, bring a long coat and good boots - all done.   Now you're not cooped up and can go anywhere you want and get the choice spots because everyone else took the soft option and stayed home.

How good is that?