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 Topic: What`s it like when the rain is heavy?
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25/8/2013 at 8:16am
Location: Scotland.
Outfit: Conway Camargue Lots of Vangos. .
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Joined: 19/6/2004 Diamond Member 
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I don't always use a groundsheet if the grass is good. A tent flysheet acts like a big umbrella, water runs off it into the ground. However if there's ground flooding this will gather in the dips, it's best not to pitch in a dip or at the bottom of a slope because of this!
If you do use a groundsheet, do not allow any part of it to poke out beyond the flysheet. This will act as a water scoop and you will end up with a flooded groundsheet.
If you do use a groundsheet, a small picnic rug by the door makes a good transition zone where you can take your shoes off and leave them. Use easy to take off shoes, Crocs are ideal. You can wear furry slippers indoors if cold!
Keep your sleeping area dry at all costs. Do not go in there with wet or damp clothes, change in the main area. Air out your bedding every day, to get rid of condensation. Air out the whole tent every day for the same reason.
Keep any air vents open 24/7. This may sound counterintuitive but good ventilation cuts down on condensation and keeps your tent drier.
Wear lots of layers. If the forecast is cold, wear thermals, you can sleep in these too. Take a hat.
If sitting outside on a camp chair remember your back can get cold. Drape a fleece blanket over it first.
Have a GOOD sleeping bag. For the UK this means a quality brand, three season one, not some supermarket tat. Your sleeping bag should be your second most important purchase, after the tent.
If using an airbed put some insulation between you and the airbed. A cheap fleece blanket held on with a fitted sheet is ideal.
Cheap fleece blankets (Ikea?) also make good snuggle blankets, and can be used in bed as well.
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25/8/2013 at 9:56am
Location: Devizes Wiltshire
Outfit: MWB VW Crafter PVC
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If the tent does not leak and has a decent hydrostatic head (HH) value of 2000 or higher, then one should be able to stay dry inside when it is pouring down with rain.
Need to remember to check the guys though, as rain makes the ground go soggy, and even good pegs like Delta Pegs can lift.
That's what happened overnight when it chucked down, woke up to discovered 2 of the Delta Pegs had lifted, one for the guys holding up the tarp, and the other was holding one side of the front of the tent.
I double-pegged for the guys for the main poles of the tarp, and triple-pegged the front frame for the tent.
Stay dry and warm as the others have already mentioned, carry spare clothes in case you need them.
Have fun!
DK 
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* Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest And Play! *
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25/8/2013 at 10:43am
Location: Derby.
Outfit: Karsten 350+Awnings
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We took our Filey last weekend, and after a lovely, dry day out on our new bikes, we returned just in time for the forecasted showers..... that actually ended up being rather heavy!
As it was at such an angle that, in our open canopy, our feet would get wet, along with our low table, and the vodka's there-on, we simply opened the whole front up, retreated back to the carpeted lounge area, and continued to stare out at the site, as we would normally do from the canopy.
T'WAS PURE BLISS!! :-)
The sound of rain on pollycotton is soothing, to say the least.
Coupled with the fact that, due to the rain, there wasn't a soul out and about... no doggies doin' the doo-doo dance, and not a screaming child could be heard! 
By chance, rather than skill, we were also well sheltered from the wind, whilst all ahead, each and every tent seemed to dance and sway in time to the rustling, creaking trees beyond.
We were still there after dusk, continually clinking our glasses, in time to the poetic beat of our contented hearts!!
And all this without that "closed in feel"!!
So in answer to the title.....
It's ok.... I suppose!
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