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Acronym Esq
(acronym.esq) - F

Locale: TX
Drying a tent for storage on 10/13/2009 09:48:59 MDT Print View

I have a big dome tent that I had to pack up wet this past weekend. Normally not a big deal - pitching in the yard dries it out for storage. H-town is suffering rain all this week, and I'm not going to be able to just backyard pitch dry.

Anyone think it's a dumb idea to toss my tent in the dryer on it's lowest setting? Anyone have any experience with this?

acronym 10/13/2009 10:45 AM
Jack Newton
(figster) - F

Locale: Central Arkansas
Towel and dining room table. on 10/13/2009 09:55:54 MDT Print View

I'm in your situation as well.

I use a towel and whatever broad surface I can drape my tent over. In my case, its a dining room table. You could use a bed or chairs or however. Perhaps you could turn a fan on it too.

Tumbling that sucker at low or no heat seems like a bad idea.

Jack
David Olsen
(oware) - F

Locale: Columbia Highlands
Re: Drying a tent for storage on 10/13/2009 10:02:50 MDT Print View

It is real important to store it dry, as coatings will
dissolve over time.

I finish drying tarps and sleeping bags all the time, but
do so only for a few minutes on low heat after they have
been otherwise air dried.

If your tent has metal parts that could damage the netting etc.
I would forgo the dryer tho.
Roger Caffin
(rcaffin) - BPL Staff - MLife

Locale: Wollemi & Kosciusko NPs, Europe
Re: Drying a tent for storage on 10/13/2009 15:46:52 MDT Print View

Hang it up inside for a day.

The Dryer is a BAD idea!

Fold up loosely.

Cheers
Brad Groves
(4quietwoods) - MLife

Locale: Michigan
Re: Drying a tent for storage on 10/13/2009 16:24:12 MDT Print View

Why not just drape it over your shower rod or door? Give it a day or so to dry, then store it in a big laundry sack.
Tom Kirchner
(ouzel) - MLife

Locale: Pacific Northwest/Sierra
Re: Re: Drying a tent for storage on 10/13/2009 17:33:47 MDT Print View

"Hang it up inside for a day."

+1

If you have an unfinished basement, dive 4 nails in joists
spaced to conform to the tent's foot print. Then hang the tent by its corner loops from the nails for a day or two before storing. I turn my Rainbow inside out to dry and clean, then reverse it to dry the outside.
Chad Miller
(chadnsc)

Locale: Duluth, Minnesota
Drying a tent for storage. on 10/14/2009 12:01:42 MDT Print View

Yup I too hang my tents and tarps up in the basement for a few days to dry them out.
Jason Klass
(jasonklass) - F

Locale: Denver, CO
Drying your tent on 10/19/2009 08:08:59 MDT Print View

I too have been tempted to put it in the dryer, but as others have already pointed out, it's a bad idea. Air-drying is best. What I do is hang it on my deck for a few hours, then turn it inside out and repeat. You want to make sure no moisture is lurking in the corners.
JJ Mathes
(JMathes) - F

Locale: Southeast US
Re: Drying a tent for storage on 10/19/2009 09:08:20 MDT Print View

"I have a big dome tent"

I used to have a big tent, when it got wet and the weather was too wet to set it up outside for drying I would hang it up in my garage and place a fan a few feet away to speed up the drying process. You will need to turn the tent over and inside out to be sure it's dry.