ATV camping in the back country is about seizing the moment and enjoying what nature has to offer. Sometimes that offering is rain, but don’t let that discourage your ATV camping plans. ATV camping in the rain can be just as enjoyable as with no rain. I actually prefer a little rain on my camping trips, I love the smell of the back country after a rain.
Rain is always a possibility so one must always be prepared and proper preparation starts with the loading of your ATV, if you have already prepared your camping gear. Always use a camping checklist for organizing your gear and always load your ATV for riding in the rain. That is make sure the gear you want dry stays dry and pack your rain gear so it is easy to get to.
For the gear you want to stay dry use waterproof storage bags (Travel Space Bags), ziploc bags or even garbage bags to load your gear into. Don’t forget about your sleeping bag as most stuff sacks are not waterproof and there is nothing worse than having a wet sleeping bag to sleep in.
Keep in mind that most soft ATV luggage is water resistant but not waterproof in a real downpour, so again store items you want dry in separate waterproof bags before loading in your ATV luggage. Once your gear is all sealed up and loaded on your ATV it is a good idea to take a tarp and cover your loaded front and rear racks as an added precaution using bungee cords to secure the tarp.
If it does rain while you are traveling to the campsite, just stop, put on your rain gear or poncho and continue traveling down the trail knowing your gear is protected from the rain. I don’t mind riding in the rain, in fact I kinda enjoy it but what I don’t care for is setting up camp in the rain.
I will always try to wait it out before setting up camp in the rain but if push comes to shove then I will remove the tarps from the front and rear racks, get some rope (Para-cord) and cover the ATV with my ATV cover. I will then find the best place to pitch the tent and try to set up the tarps to shield against the rain.
Once the tarps are setup I will get the tent setup underneath, unload the ATV and get my gear inside. The tarps also provide an area to congregate and cook meals on your camping stove out of the rain. If it is still raining then it is time for a ride and have some fun. If the rain stops, this is my favorite time to ride, no dust and the trails are tacky with good traction. WeuHoo!
If you manage to get to your campsite and get it setup without any rain then more power to ya. But if you see the storm clouds rolling in just make sure everything is stored properly and the tarps are up. Also you may want to stoke up the campfire and if it starts to rain throw a couple of big logs on the fire to cover the coals. This will help keep the coals hot and makes it easier to get the campfire going after the rain.
Bring a deck of cards or other games or activities to do while waiting out the rain at night or just read a good book in your tent listening to the sound of the raindrops on the tarp. Rain is just another one of the elements of nature you must prepare for when ATV camping. Properly prepared it’s just another adventure in the back country.
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