Hi we have just bought a new tent a Sunncamp Vario 600 plus which does not have a porch / covered area.
Which unfortunately we can't get the extension as its the 2007 model.
Where do you cook if it is good old english weather - Rain.
I thought about getting a sunncamp day tent but wasn't sure if you would get charged for two pitches or even if you can cook in these.
Or a Kyham windbreaker with a roof shelter.
Or has any one got some suggestions, as we are camping for two weeks this summer.
Thanks
We've been mulling this one over ourselves.. please don't buy a gazebo as you'll find on many comments on this site, they can prove dangerous when taken by a strong gust of wind! In the past I've used a tarp with poles which you can use in a multitude of guises! You could also consider something like the Coleman shelter which says it can fit onto most family tents. Follow this link: http://www.outdoorgear.co.uk/eshop.asp?wci=product&wce=51106301
It looks like it would give you more space for cooking under and sitting under than the Khyam windbreak?
We used the outdoor revolution double outhouse for the first time last weekend . Fab little kitchen tent, (pack size is tiny. like the 2 man kids tents you can buy in tesco.) It was still standing in the gales that flattened our 2 tunnel tents last weekend, would definitely recommend it. It could do with an extra pegging point in the centre back , to stop it blowing in , in high winds, but which I will solve with a CLING ON , a little clip that I can attach another pegging loop to.
Argos also have the handy tent on offer at half price at the moment, £35 but this will be a bigger packed size due to steel poles.
I have never had a utility tent before, and wouldn't be without one now. all the kitchen stuff was left in it, so much safer and left much more room in the tent.
a utilty tent doesn't usually get charged extra for, or if it does its only an extra pound or two.
Definitely don't use a gazebo, we did once and it was trashed in a freak wind at 4am, was terrified it was going to go threough the tent next to us, the poles bent and snapped, and it was like trying to hold a parachute down.
Kitchen tents are the dogs do-dahs for cooking in. They keep the smells, grease and possible risks out of your main tent and they hold one heck of a lot of kit, which gives you more room in your main tent. No1 choice.
There are very rare campsites that place restrictions on having auxiliary tents on your pitch. More often they make an extra charge for you to pitch it in your main pitch, same as a pup tent or a day tent/gazebo. It's usually £2.00 - 3.00 per night, though some greedy sites will ask £5 per night. I personally thing £2.00-£3.00 per night is worth evey penny, especially for the extra storage.
We were never charged extra for it but our main tent wasn't all that big. It was also very useful for storing all the odds and ends that we didn't want in our main tent.
Quote: Originally posted by Green Pesto on 30/5/2008
It's a chair to sit on & a table for the cooker underneath a fishing brolly tucked in behind a windbreak for me! .... More than adequate!!!!!
Golly! And I thought I was into rough camping!
Seriously tho' one soggy week in Dorset when it rained all week, I had a similar arrangement with the cooker under the table but without the windbreak and brolly....wasn't good!
Of course the idea was we ate "out" when it rained but you try finding a restaurant who will feed eleven dripping people and two smelly and muddy large dogs when every other camper in Purbeck is looking for somewhere to eat: thank God for fish and chips!
Nowadays I cook over a fire although I take the cooker "just in case." I had been going to make an awning for the side of the Aruba to cover the cooking area (not the fire!) but am thinking of buying a Cabanon cooking tent.
Quote: Originally posted by bates on 29/5/2008
Hi we have just bought a new tent a Sunncamp Vario 600 plus which does not have a porch / covered area. Which unfortunately we can't get the extension as its the 2007 model. Where do you cook if it is good old english weather - Rain. I thought about getting a sunncamp day tent but wasn't sure if you would get charged for two pitches or even if you can cook in these. Or a Kyham windbreaker with a roof shelter. Or has any one got some suggestions, as we are camping for two weeks this summer. Thanks
We've also got this tent . We cook inside , but don't tend to have huge dinners, only toast or bacon sandwiches . We either have a barbie in the evening or go to a pub.
Quote: Originally posted by RoseViolet on 30/5/2008
We've also got this tent . We cook inside , but don't tend to have huge dinners, only toast or bacon sandwiches . We either have a barbie in the evening or go to a pub.
Thats such a scary story - we had to cook inside this bank holiday as the wind was so bad but I felt incredibly nervous about it.
We bought a cooker stand with shelves underneath which fitted all the plates and food in. Our dilema now is - if we put this outside with the cooker on we couldn't leave all the stuff underneath. Any stray dog (or sheep or something) might run off with our cornflakes and if it rained the cups would fill with water! It was certainly too heavy to lift in and out everytime. It was lovely to stand and cook rather than hunch over the cooker on the floor.
I think the only answer is a cooker tent outhouse thingy!
Quote: Originally posted by Indiana17 on 30/5/2008
We bought a cooker stand with shelves underneath which fitted all the plates and food in. Our dilema now is - if we put this outside with the cooker on we couldn't leave all the stuff underneath. Any stray dog (or sheep or something) might run off with our cornflakes and if it rained the cups would fill with water! It was certainly too heavy to lift in and out everytime. It was lovely to stand and cook rather than hunch over the cooker on the floor.
Same here Indiana 17 but we just chucked a B&Q tarp over the top, a judicious peg or two, and as long as the grub is kept wrapped, all is well!
The Wynnster Leisure Shelter which looks like a lightweight (less dangerous than the cheapy gazebos) shelter, with zip in sides and a clip on groundsheet - does anyone have one and can you comment if they're any good?
We're off to southern Brittany in August and want something to both cook and eat under and keep the sun off - and possibly the wind and rain, who knows eh?! I like how it has the zip in sides - both to keep the sun and wind off, but can be opened right out like a gazebo - comments?
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Topic: Cooking in Bad Weather
