Apologies if similar topics have already been posted....
Having extensively read forums on this site I have decided I will not be cooking in my tent. I am therefor looking for a cooking solution.
My dilemma is utility tent or tarp?
I have a Vango Amazon 600. The footprint of the tent is 650 cm long by 445 wide (without guy ropes)
Here is my criteria / imagined set up:-
1. Don't want to store kitchen stuff in main tent (1 & 3 year old running around)
2. I don't fancy moving a kitchen table etc. every time I want to cook.
3. I would like all my cooking gear (which I have still to buy) to be covered / protected from weather when not in use.
4. I intent using EHU inside the main tent for heater and fridge.
5. I envisage my cooking set-up to be fairly basic to start with. (small budget twin calor gas burner) Small gas BBQ / party grill. Prep table.
6. I am not mad keen on being charged extra for EHU, a utility tent, large tent etc. Part of the draw to camping is cheap holidays but when browsing some campsite websites, when you add up all the extra's the cost soon mounts up!
So I would welcome any members views and opinions as to how I should proceed re my kitchen set-up?
1. Will a utility tent fit on a standard pitch in addition to my tent?
3. What tarp would work well with a Vango Amazon 600 - by extending the Canopy (only 140 cm long at present which is not enough to shelter from rain IMO)?
Thanks in advance for your advice.
* This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, as an eBay Partner Network member we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
If you want to store equipment outside the main tent then it will have to be a utility tent.
Tarps are great (wouldnt go camping without one) but if you store stuff underneath then you are not guaranteed to keep it dry as the rain and wind direction can change in the blink of an eye
A utility tent can be closed up
Some sites charge for utility tents and some dont.
As to whether or not a utility tent will fit on a pitch with a large tent, again that depends on the site and their pitch sizes.
Dont be afraid to ask. Other wise you may find yourself on a pitch that is not big enough.
I think you'd be best getting the double outhouse. We got ours from the same place as your link (Skyblue). It doesnt take up much room either. Where do you intend to camp? The reason I ask is, if you join the Camping Club, you can pretty much pitch your tent and outhouse on one pitch. They do a family deal and it includes everything. We took a pup tent and an outhouse last year to Barnard Castle and used them without having to pay any extra. Also it opens up the Certified sites to you as an option too. These sites are usually small, but a lot have EHU and good facilities - Usually for under a tenner a night too!!
I'd go for the utility tent - The double holds a LOT.
------------- Always forgive,Never forget;Learn from mistakes,But Never regret;People change,Things go wrong;Just remember life goes on
Cool campers use Delta Pegs.
The happiest people aren't the ones who have everything they are the ones who make the most of everything they have
Re cookers. we initially bought one without legs so it would go on the kitchen table but we stored all the kitchen stuff in our porch but didn't cook in there. Like you we didn't want to move tables all the time so in the end we bought one with legs so the cooker lives outside under the canopy (we also have 2 young children) and everything else inside. Just thought I'd throw that in incase it helps you choose one way or the other.
------------- From tents to trailer tents to a tin tent to an air tent to trailer tent and back to tin tent!
Hi tazharts
Due to the size of your tent,You will always need to book over the phone quoteing the footprint size,if you do not do this you may be refused a pitch on some sites.
I doubt if you will ever get a serviced pitch that you can pitch an Auxillary tent anywere but close to the front of your tent. But I will agree that the kitchen tent is the way to go.There are plenty to choose from on the market and a low top one's may fit under the amazons canopy to one side.
Good luck with your choice.I used the argos one for a season but was glad when I bought the cabanon kitchen tent.
Found this one on ebay as for quality I can not say but from a good stable and looks about the right size and height and is colour cordinated Link But here is a link to most of them if you have time to go through all the pages.
Regards
Rex. Here
Hi again
To repair the small holes in the kichen tent could be done with Tenacious and is nearly invisable. Tape[URL=http://www.seattlefabrics.com/goretex_fabric_repair_kit.htm] here [/UR
Post last edited on 13/03/2009 15:35:18
* This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, as an eBay Partner Network member we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
------------- "Be the person your dog thinks you are" (BM)
I'm a huge tarp fan, partly because they don't attract extra pitch fees but mailnly because they can be configured in limitless ways depending on what you want to do, especially with a windbreak, without breaking the bank.
Hi Hairywol.
I also am a great favorite of Tarps. But it would cost an arm and a leg to find a tarp anywhere near the width of the amazon Even the biggest Tatonka would be a meter short.You would require a tarp 8 meters wide or 10 m to reach the floor, to make a permanent wind resistant kitchen, plus two good wind brakers with an 8m one.
Regards
Rex.
------------- "Be the person your dog thinks you are" (BM)
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Utility Tent or Tarp
and looks about the right size and height and is colour cordinated
