Renegade Camping
Member
I've used my RTT last weekend and again this weekend and have some questions for you all in terms of taking care of these things.
I've noticed condensation build-up during this weekend's trip, likely due to the cooler weather (low of 44 degrees last night and the night before. When we got home today, I set up the tent again so the sun could dry it out between now and next weekend's trip.
My question is, is that necessary given I'll be using it again next weekend? I mean, we're not talking puddles of water, but there was certainly some dampness. I know it shouldn't be closed up for an extended period of time if wet, but does 5 days count as "extended?
Second, I'm wondering what should be done about the mattress (if you want to call 2" thick padding a "mattress"). Since that was a bit damp as well, should I remove that and perhaps store it in my basement? It's a finished basement with a living room, bedroom and full bathroom, so it's not an unfinished dark and damp torture chamber. The downside of doing that would be having to open the tent up before each trip to put the mattress inside before leaving. Then again, if I were to open it before each trip, I could also put in the inflatable mattress, pillows and sleeping bags, so those things won't take up space in the vehicle.
I'm aware of the anti-condensation mats that are sold for these, but the sites I checked that sell those were sold out. I've also read that while they help with condensation, they don't completely prevent it. Are there things I can do to help with this issue? While I closed 3 of the windows, I left the entry/exit one open in the hopes that would help decrease the amount of condensation. Maybe it did, maybe it didn't. Should I have l left two other windows partially opened? Last weekend I left all 4 windows open, and didn't have any condensation at all, but it only got down to about 65 degrees last weekend.
I've noticed condensation build-up during this weekend's trip, likely due to the cooler weather (low of 44 degrees last night and the night before. When we got home today, I set up the tent again so the sun could dry it out between now and next weekend's trip.
My question is, is that necessary given I'll be using it again next weekend? I mean, we're not talking puddles of water, but there was certainly some dampness. I know it shouldn't be closed up for an extended period of time if wet, but does 5 days count as "extended?
Second, I'm wondering what should be done about the mattress (if you want to call 2" thick padding a "mattress"). Since that was a bit damp as well, should I remove that and perhaps store it in my basement? It's a finished basement with a living room, bedroom and full bathroom, so it's not an unfinished dark and damp torture chamber. The downside of doing that would be having to open the tent up before each trip to put the mattress inside before leaving. Then again, if I were to open it before each trip, I could also put in the inflatable mattress, pillows and sleeping bags, so those things won't take up space in the vehicle.
I'm aware of the anti-condensation mats that are sold for these, but the sites I checked that sell those were sold out. I've also read that while they help with condensation, they don't completely prevent it. Are there things I can do to help with this issue? While I closed 3 of the windows, I left the entry/exit one open in the hopes that would help decrease the amount of condensation. Maybe it did, maybe it didn't. Should I have l left two other windows partially opened? Last weekend I left all 4 windows open, and didn't have any condensation at all, but it only got down to about 65 degrees last weekend.
