HI, I'm having a problem with my Monty 6 as I can't see it mentioned any where in the forums, wonder if I'm doing something wrong.
The monty is great in good weather, but when it rains, the front is angeled in such a way that water comes in the front when you open the door. The base is further out than the top so the door points to the sky, and the rain. I suppose i could use the side canopy to go in and out, but we use that as a toilet and the kids never remember.
I could get a canopy but its a lot of money to just stop the rain dripping in. Is this a design floor or am I doing something wrong. Is a canopy worth it to just keep the rain off? I'd get the extension but its massive, and cooking under the extension attached to the tent, doesn't seem much safer than cooking in the tent its self. (if it catches fire the tent will go too) so again extension just to keep the rain dripping in the door seems OTT.
What do other monty6 owners do?
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Its not a design flaw, most tents have sloping fronts it helps water run off and they have made the side porch door just for this purpose.
if you don't want to get the canopy , and yes it is expensive to buy just to keep the rain off the front doorway , when you already have the side door,
Id just peg the front door shut so that the kids have to remember to use the side door when its raining.
We just use the porch door when it rains. We would like to get the extension but not sure we can fit it in the car at the moment, if we get a trailer eventually then we will get one. I'm thinking of getting the Quecha tarp to use as a canopy for rainy days and also a sun shelter for hot summer days as much smaller to carry.
Im afraid after our first and only trip in the rain in the Monty we rushed out and bought the extension because of the door flopping inwards and soaking the carpet. It does look massive but with the sloping floor to roof of tent its actually not as big as it looks when you are stood inside it. We do actually cook in our extension but we will position the kitchen across the entrance rather than to the side of the extension & its also handy for shoes & outdoor toys plus other bits of storage. In my opinion the extension is definitely a better purchase than the canopy which is still open to the elements at the sides. I can understand your hesitation though as the prices are sky high this year.
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thanks for the fast replies. so everyone uses the side porch eh? TBH its not just the kids that forget, its me too, I think its silly I have to use a different door just cos its raining though I suppose it does make the rain run off. I don't suppose a universal side canopy fits the front ?
I have a Quecha tarp, and it does sort of work as a canopy but it looks a mess and I'm not sure I'd trust it in bad weather, you have to build it higher at one end to make the rain run off. Maybe I should stop being so fussy. Car space is at a premium too,so maybe I should just try to get in to the habit of side porch. Bet the toilet gets kicked over though!
I bought my outwell side canopy to put on our old sunvalley just so that i could leave the door open in the rain but having it up transformed the way we camp. We sit out under it as shade in the sun. We sit under it when raining. Obviously no rain gets in the tent. It's somewhere safer than inside the tent to cook, with better ventilation. It is great for storing wet, muddy shoes and clothes. It provides shelter from the wind. It traps heat when sitting out around the bar b q come a chilly evening. Gives a covered dining area. The list goes on. When our old sunvalley died, I bought the new model sunvalley just because it has an attached canopy. Now i couldn't be camping without one.
Incidently, if you don't fancy the front canopy on the montana, the vermont side canopy also fits the monty and is the same colour so will look neater than your tarp.
Claud
have to say we to have got the extension and it makes the monty so comfortable like what was said previously even when it is raining we can sit under the extension and not get wet. so you can still enjoy the outdoor living. and it makes the tent a lot less cluttered. we to cook under ours i know it is still not ideal but it is well ventilated. the extension is not as big as it looks in the photos of it and as for packing space it folds up quite small. i definately would not like my monty as much without it, But if you are not going to get one why not use the other side door in the rain.
------------- luv kateboo xxx
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thanks for all the replies, I'm still going round in circles. The minimalist in me thinks I should use the side porch, but I still think the front door should be designed to work in the rain. I've tried to avoid buying the extension, and even bought a cooking tent(which we've not used yet). We saw an extension up last year and it looked huge, but I've seen some photos on this site that make it look really good.
Maybe I should just not go camping in the rain, the OH would definately agree with that.
I'll try to use the side porch next trip and see how it goes. (of course the shopper in me wants to buy the extension just because I can)
Get the extension - it really does make a difference - we always take ours down the night before we are due to go home, and the Monty doesn't seem half the tent without it. Great for sitting under, cooking under, having somewhere to put your doormat etc...
I'm no expert in these things but I would think that the slope is for aerodynamic reasons rather than helping the water run off. The water would run just as well (if not better) off a vertical door.