Hi
Bought my tent/equipment etc and off out tow night for a night camping to test the tent etc. Just a stupid question on equipment?
Do people leave the cooker/kitchen + table etc outside the tent at night or tend to bring the equipment in? The tent is a bit small to bring all in, but wondered how others manage?
ps. we're off to italy/croatia so little chance of rain
Usually leave the main table outside; its a cut down door on four metal legs. If it gets a bit dewy overnight, a quick squeegee in the morning does the trick.
Kitchen cabinets not so tough so normally bring those in, or keep them under the porch.
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I would not leave anything with fabric outside without cover to minimise condensation soaking in. I would leave them by the front door in the front porch.
I would store my aluminium roll top table on its side, again, to minimise condensation.
I do not use a gas bottle, however, I did use butane or butane/propane gas canisters in the past, and they stay inside the tent.
I personally would not want to bring a big gas bottle inside the tent, and would leave it outside the tent, under cover if at all possible.
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We have always taken everything in at night and when we go out during the day. I would hate to think I had encouraged someone suffering from kleptomania! Honestly think out of sight etc is the best course of action.
Quote: Originally posted by pnefan on 04/7/2014We have always taken everything in at night and when we go out during the day. I would hate to think I had encouraged someone suffering from kleptomania! Honestly think out of sight etc is the best course of action.
I do the same although I have a big living area which accommodates chairs and tables. A smaller tent might be a problem although people with small tents tend to have less gear. Obviously you wouldn't want to leave anything in the open that can be damaged by weather so it goes in the tent or car. A nuisance if you have to dismantle things but better than tempting fate.
Having said that, lots of people do leave things outside the tent and it is very rare indeed to hear of thefts.
In would go canvassy chairs (not in pic) and stools. Shoes, cool box and towels. The rest would stay outside, although admittedly, it's all under a tarp for protection from direct rain.
I'd like to think the pots would be washed, and the bowl returned to the rack under the cooker, and that mesh bag would be emptied (drying pots!). All the pots/crockery etc goes in that big lidded box on the back table. We'd also close the cooker lid at night.
The only condensation we experience (Not always though) is table tops (take plenty of kitchen roll and anti-bac wipes) and the inside of that crockery box lid. (Take lid off for half an hour in the morning to air it.)
The smaller table (In the foreground) is, in all honesty, starting to crack, and I suspect the damp nights are to blame, so it's not a perfect solution, of course. No sign of problems on any other items though, so that may be down to the quality of Hi Gear tables/materials?? The larger one is still in perfect condition.
We have even been known to leave part bottles of vodka/bacardi/baileys out on that big table overnight... although that was a one-off, as we're normally sober enough to put it back in the tent at bed time!!
I'll continue with this approach until either the weather takes more of a toll, or fellow campers let me down!
If you must put things away, I'd put gas in the boot, rather than in the tent.
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Topic: Leave table etc outside at night?
