Flysheets on campers

Submitted: Friday, Oct 05, 2007 at 21:32

ThreadID: 50279 Views:3357 Replies:8 FollowUps:1

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Bri

Hi
The wife and I are wondering why people add extra tarps and the like over thier campers. We have noticed this particulary over the bed end of Sunwagon types, so ?????/ We have almost got our camper on the road We bought a oztrail and have just collected the trailer so if the weather holds out Tomorrow will see it go together

many thanks Bri

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Reply By: obee - Friday, Oct 05, 2007 at 22:00

Friday, Oct 05, 2007 at 22:00

My wife and I use a fly/tarp to keep the rain off, to keep the sun off, and to provide a veranda that needs no zips.

A wet tent packed will quickly develop mould which loves to eat the canvas. Mould smells.

A tent exposed to direct sunlight heats up.

In the old days tents always had a fly that absorbed the rain rain but ran the water off to protect the actual tent. If you expose canvas to enough rain it will get through. Some one told me they just put plastic over the bed but not my idea of comfortable living.

We dont use it for every camp.

Owen

AnswerID: 265232

Reply By: Member - reggy 2 (VIC) - Friday, Oct 05, 2007 at 22:31

Friday, Oct 05, 2007 at 22:31

gidday bri
as an avid tenter and roof topper i also use a fly as it also keeps the frost off top and it does not get as much condensation inside double thickness helps
in the heat you put poles under to lift to create a draft which keeps it cool

AnswerID: 265237

Reply By: Motherhen - Friday, Oct 05, 2007 at 23:03

Friday, Oct 05, 2007 at 23:03

To keep you dry at night!

Motherhen

Red desert dreaming

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AnswerID: 265242

Reply By: Gronk - Saturday, Oct 06, 2007 at 09:41

Saturday, Oct 06, 2007 at 09:41

I have a KK and if the forecast is for rain ( especially for the day we are packing up ) we sometimes put a tarp over the CT...

Saves packing the tent away wet and more importantly, saves having to air it after getting home..

AnswerID: 265272

Reply By: Member - Ian W (NSW) - Saturday, Oct 06, 2007 at 13:37

Saturday, Oct 06, 2007 at 13:37

All of the above,

Reduces/eliminates condensation in chilly weather.
Keeps frost off in winter allowing earlier pack ups.
Hell of a lot cooler in summer.
Keeps the canvas dry in wet weather.

My flysheet is oversize which gives me a nice shade awning and allows me to fold up the camper under the fly sheet whilst its raining.

Beats the hell out of folding up wet canvas then having to open it all up again when I get home to dry it out.

Do it! Takes a bit of experimentation to get the set up right, after that you will never go back.

Ian

AnswerID: 265291

Reply By: Member - Roger B (VIC) - Saturday, Oct 06, 2007 at 22:22

Saturday, Oct 06, 2007 at 22:22

All of the above. Plus, condensation. We have an old (1978) Jayco Dove with original canvas in excellent condition, but we always put the bed end flies up, even for an overnight stop. If we don't, there's always condensation inside the sleeping alcove, which will wet the bedding when you fold the unit down. Takes only 10 minutes to put the flies up. Well worth doing.

AnswerID: 265354

Reply By: Bri - Sunday, Oct 07, 2007 at 21:35

Sunday, Oct 07, 2007 at 21:35

Thanks everyone for your input.
Well the new camper is up (in the back garden) getting a bit of a wet down, hopefully the sun will come out in the next couple of days so we can pack it up fo a few days away. We will keep the flysheet in mind as it all makes good sense
regards Bri

AnswerID: 265488

Follow Up By: PradOz - Monday, Oct 08, 2007 at 20:53

Monday, Oct 08, 2007 at 20:53

Sounds like you may have allready learnt your lesson but don't know it yet.

If you had have put a tarp up allready in the back yard your camper would now be nice and dry!!

You could still be working on those last minute things while its raining and not had a care in the world.

When you eventually get to take it out of the yard, put the tarp up so there is a gap between it and the roof. That way you get the benefit of keeping cool and dry in summer, and even in winter you stop the condensation and rain etc. Just take a look at the permanent vans in caravan parks and you will see that the old ones have a metal roof over the top with a gap between the roof and it for the same reasons.

Also, unless you want problems with eyelets popping out and rips setting in, get a good quality tarp. Only use the cheapo if your desperate.

And if your still not convinced, try having a party and not putting a tarp up. We all do and most of the time it doesn't rain so it keeps the moist night air and cold off you.

"Cheers Big Ears"

FollowupID: 527591