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Topic: Breathable groundsheets

Mrs mouse

21/1/2018 at 11:55am
Location: Devon
Outfit: Lunar Ariva

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Hi, just looking to book a campsite in Cornwall. The rules are quite strict regarding using breathable groundsheets, terms state that even rugs cannot be used. Now we usually use a normal groundsheet in our awning with a couple of rugs over the top for added comfort. We have a folding camper but eat and sit in the awning and have cupboards for food and our clothes there. If it rains too much I assume the mud will seep up through a breathable groundsheet making for an unpleasant environment and muddy equipment. I know we could wear shoes but I am not keen on everything getting dirty. How good are the breathable ones at keeping mud out or how do you manage to keep thing dry? I know the advantage of grass not dying but not sure how much difference it makes when tents have sewn in groundsheets.

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Linda

2017
May - 3 nights Yeatheridge.
May - 5 nights Mill Park, Ilfracombe
July - 6 nights not sure where yet
August - 2 weeks Croatia, Camp Lanterna.
2018
May - 3 night Yeatheridge campsite
May half term - 6 nights Cornwall
July - 1 week Cotswolds
August - 2 weeks Vendee.

Bob61

21/1/2018 at 12:23pm
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I can't help with your specific question because I have never used a breathable groundsheet but you are right...tents have sewn in goundsheets and you can't remove those so insisting on breathable groundsheets in awnings is, quite frankly, stupid. The grass could well turn yellow in a dark awning anyway so it is pretty pointless.

The only sensible solution to the grass dying or being worn away on campsites is to rotate the pitches leaving at least one or two free to recover, and long stay campers to move their tents to another pitch after, say, 5 days.

On bigger pitches it is possible to move a tent across to the other side and park the car at the front rather than on the side...lots of solutions but campsites obviously want to cram as many units in as possible and then blame the camper for ruining the grass!

Personally I would find a less officious campsite...after all...we are paying customers not prisoners.

Geoff48

21/1/2018 at 1:21pm
Location: Bolton
Outfit: Avondale Dart 510 5

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We have a breathable groundsheet for the awning, yes when it rains it can get muddy and wet and there's not much you can do about it. Some sites even ask you to lift the breathable groundsheet when you are out. Last year in France when we had rain we had a small stream running through the awning, in addition to the problem at the time it also means getting the power washer out at home to clean the groundsheet, fortunately it does dry out quite quickly. You do have to move anything that may spoil off the ground and be careful with the electrics. When we had a tent (we had a 7 berth Relum) in the 90's I used DPM (Visqueeen) as a ground sheet. It certainly didn't do the ground any good but the pitches we went on were already devoid of grass. There's a lot of sites out there that enforce this rule which is rather pointless if you are on a hardstanding.

Opensauce

21/1/2018 at 3:13pm
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Fool the campsite Stasi by putting plastic sheeting under the breathable groundsheet. Some cheap plastic dustsheet from B&Q will do the job. What the eye don’t see, etc, etc.

Mrs mouse

22/1/2018 at 7:31am
Location: Devon
Outfit: Lunar Ariva

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Opensauce, that is something we have considered, placing an ordinary groundsheet hidden underneath. I'm afraid I don't relish the idea of a muddy underfoot if it rains and seeps up through in the awning and I'm sure with constant walking over would be difficult not to transfer mud into the camper. We also tend to use two large foam squares pegged down just outside the door of the awning as we find the constant walking in and out wears the grass and leaves it in a mess if we get rain so wonder if that will be acceptable but guess not! Think I would rather return to a site we visited before, just down the road which is less strict but very nice but other half like to go to new sites each time. Maybe will have to hope for no rain!

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Linda

2017
May - 3 nights Yeatheridge.
May - 5 nights Mill Park, Ilfracombe
July - 6 nights not sure where yet
August - 2 weeks Croatia, Camp Lanterna.
2018
May - 3 night Yeatheridge campsite
May half term - 6 nights Cornwall
July - 1 week Cotswolds
August - 2 weeks Vendee.

duffs54

24/1/2018 at 1:06pm
Location: Cambs
Outfit: Ford Duetto Autosleeper

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Agree we bought one used it once then it went straight onto ebay, it was a right mess.

Agree get a plastic sheet underneath, or go somewhere not so regimental like Bob61 says

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Duffs54

floppy-poppy

30/1/2018 at 11:59pm
Location: notts
Outfit: Outwell Oakland xl & Bear Lake6

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We used to have a trailer tent and had a breathable groundsheet. The first time we used it, it had been very wet and yes, anything that's in the awning does get wet. We did hit on the idea of plastic boxes and we bought crocs to walk around in and this did help, but the awnings still get damp and squidgy.
We've also got 2 tents with sewn in groundsheets (SIG), unfortunately these are out of any campsites' control as they are part of the tent. We also use square mats at the entrance to the tent, but these are breathable and work really well - they fit into each other like a jigsaw. You can get these in most camp shops and even at Aldi at a certain time of the year and aren't expensive

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May - Dorset
July - Saundersfoot
September - S. Wales
October - S. Wales

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