Shade tent/gazebo/screen room??

[gardendame]

Well, you guys said it was okay for me to post more of my "camping for dummies" questions, so here's another one!

We need something to cover either the doors of the tents, the picnic table, or perhaps both at the same time. Problem is, packing room is obviously becoming a problem.

Is there a decent one that folds down into a very small bag/box? We have a wonderful EZ-up awning that we use for baseball tournaments, but it is way to bulky to pack along with tents, grills, sleeping bags, etc., etc.

I have seen cheap (oops, in-expensive) canopies at the corner drug store, but I'm sure we need something sturdier than that. I thought we could do without one for a while, but we scoped out a nearby campground this weekend (just spent the day hiking, picnicing, etc.) and the trees were covered with small caterpillars. They were falling everywhere. They don't bite, but can cause quite a mess if they fall onto plates of food, or folding chairs!. Even once the caterpillars are gone, other things will be falling out of trees, so some type of covering is a good idea, especially if we prefer camping under shade trees!

So, what is compact, easily transportable, but not completely disposable after one use???

 

[VAN]

Years ago we had a "dining canopy" which was quite inexpensive ... you get what you pay for - it was down with the first rainstorm.

I don't know if it is small enough for you, but last year I purchased a Coleman shelter at Target (on sale about $59) -- no screens on the side. All of the legs have elastic connecting the poles, so you only have to put them into the center ring. Extremely easy to put up and take down and very sturdy!! For what you are getting, I didn't think it was overly bulky but am not sure what kind of space you have.

I actually say someone use this type of thing last year at Ft W with a tent and so kept my eye open for them to go on sale. I've been very happy with the purchase!

Just as a side note, I have those cheap painter plastics along so if we do get a lot of rain, I can just use clothes pins to slip it around the edge of the roof to keep things dry ... use bottled water to anchor the bottom down. I will also clip a bed sheet to the edge for shading or privacy when necessary.

 

[clkelley]

The one I use comes from Wal-Mart and is about $30.00 in a solid green color. It folds up into a small bag that is very handy.

Our local stores have also had the identical canopy, except in blue or green with soccer balls/footballs/baseballs on it on clearance for around $15.00.

I would show a picture, but they're not available on Wal-Mart.com

The screen house for about $35.00 is on the website.

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/prod...5558&type=21&dept=4125&path=0:4125:4128:55558

Carol

 

[Carrie Ellis]

Hi,

Can I jump in?

I am in the same situation...we are planning to camp at FW in Sept. I have been looking for one of screened tents also that would fold up small.


CLKelley...have you used the one you bought from Walmart? and if so was it sturdy?

I am glad that I have all summer to look for bargains.

 

[clkelley]

Absolutely!! I would say mine gets used about 25-30 days per year and I've had it for three years.

In December 02, it rained HARD at Ft. Wilderness and my setup didn't budge one bit, and I stayed dry as a bone. I love laying in the tent or sitting in my chair under the shelter watching the rain

Carol

 

[Memph1s]

When we were tent camping we had a 9x11 Hillary cabin tent. I bought a 12 x 12 dinning canopy and then a 12 x 16 blue tarp. We set the blue tarp up over the tent the same way you would a dinning canopy and let the tent be the center support for the tarp and then added the 12 x 12 dinning canopy to the edge of that using the same poles. We ended up with a 12 x 28 area undercover. So our tent had extra rain/shade and we had the picnic table under canopy and about a 8' area between the tent and picnic table to just hang out under. It worked out great and it all rolls up to be about 6" round by 3' long. I just used the std canopy hardware plus 2 extra poles I made and 2 extra tie down ropes and pegs. I know this explanation is about as clear as mud but it was real easy, cheap and small. You just need to be sure that the tarp is set up so water will run off and not collect. You could make it all for about $40

 

[1Venus]

I've been camping once, but only with a tent. I'm confused about this issue. My tent came with a rain fly. Do I also need to put a tarp or shelter over the tent in order to keep dry?

 

[clkelley]

I don't put mine over my tent, but I put mine just in front of my tent with some overlap.

That way if it is raining, I can get in and out of my tent in the dry and I also hang my rainsuit/poncho under the shelter so it doesn't come into my tent with me.

Some people do put an extra tarp/shelter over their tent or entire campsite just for an extra measure of cover. I don't like to do that because, I like to look at the stars through the top of my tent which has clear panels for that purpose

Carol

 

[Carrie Ellis]

Memph1S,

So you used a dining canopy not a sreen house, right? Sorry to sound ignorant but this will be my first time to buy either. Would you recommend a screen house for FW? I have heard that the bugs are normally not bad in FW. The only reason I am concerned is for the kiddos.

Walmart seems to have the best deals!

 

[clkelley]

Yes, I use a dining canopy. I have been toying with buying a screen house also, but havn't done it yet. If I happen to see one on clearance at Wal-Mart, I may pick it up.

If I were to cook at my campsite at Ft. Wilderness, I might consider it more carefully to keep the bugs away from my dinner.

But as a general rule, the bugs are not bad at all at Ft. Wilderness.

Carol

 

[BoardwalkBabe]

Last year when we camped, we had both a tent and a screenhouse. Unfortunately, the screenhouse was a bit defective in that it didn't fit over one pole the way it was supposed to so I returned it.

This year we have a new screenhouse for our camping adventures. It's the Coleman 14x12 screen haven and we bought ours at Target (this is the one that is never on sale). Do not buy the Greatland one - that's the one we had which was defective.

It's nice to have a screened in, covered area to relax in, eat without swatting bugs and we spent some time in the screenhouse when it rained and stayed pretty dry.

 

[Memph1s]

Carrie Ellis,
The setup I described is just a canopy with no screens. We do have a screen room and do use it also when the bugs get to be a bother. Bugs at FW are usually not a problem. The deer flies can be at times. It only takes one or two of them to really be a pest. They will just not give up. It always seems to be a battle to the death with the deer fly. Screen rooms in general are a hassle to have to open and close every time you enter/leave and with kids all they want to do is come and go. So unless the bugs are really bothering us we don't put it up.

1Venus

No, you don't NEED an extra cover over the tent to stay dry. (Or at lest you shouldn't) We just do for extra cover and shade. It will really make a big difference if your site has no shade. In addition, as clkelley pointed out it gives you a dry area in front of your tent and helps a great deal to keep the entrance of your tent dry.

 

[1Venus]

I'm happy that an additional canopy is not a necessity! We just don't have enough room in our compact car for all this stuff. Last time I tried to follow Carol's suggestions with the rubbermaid bins, but I ended up having to unpack two of them because I could only squeeze one into the car. Since that was only a 3 night trip, I don't know how I'll manage for 1 week!

By the way, I requested loop 1500 this trip. Anyone know of a shady site in that loop. (You know - so I can avoid buying a canopy.) I guess we were lucky in 415 because despite it's small size, we were surrounded by trees and lots of shade.

 

[clkelley]

There was a thread back in December about a gentleman who ended up getting a trailer hitch and small trailer for his Escort Wagon so they would have enough room for the camping stuff.

If ya'll plan on spending a lot of time camping, but don't want to invest in a larger vehicle that might be the way to go.

The trailer was 3'3" x 4' and was designed for smaller cars.

He built a wooden box for the trailer. He had posted some pictures, but when I went looking for the thread, the links to the pictures were no longer any good.

I have an Explorer Sport Trac and I ended up having to pull a trailer for my last Ft. Wilderness trip. There were two of us this trip.

It was kind of funny actually. The night before we were supposed to leave, I went over to my friends house and we were trying to load the truck. I had it figured out all in my mind how everying was supposed to fit, but it just didn't work. Well, we then decided on a couple of things to leave behind. The next morning, (we were starting our drive that night) my hubby called me and said he found a small trailer and can get a hitch put on that day, so he swapped cars with me and took care of it.

I had never pulled a trailer before and was a bit apprehensive, but I didn't even know it was back there! It drove great and gave us the extra room we needed.

Carol

 

[gardendame]

I would be very interested in a trailer like this! Don't laugh, but our Expedition does not have enough room! We need all three seats up to fit everyone comfortably (the kids will usually have at least 1 or 2 friends along). There is hardly any storage area behind the 3rd seat and little or no room between the 2nd and 3rd seat. The only cooler that will fit is the Slim-line one that Rubbermaid came out with last year, and it sure doesn't hold very much. I also tried the Sterlite containers for the tents, etc., but the trunk won't close!
We need to bring 2 tents or sometimes 3, a Coleman stove, a small grill, sleeping bags, etc., etc. Would also like to find a dining canopy to bring. Now Hubby is talking about bringing fishing gear!
We have the standard Ford luggage rack on top (comes on all Expeditions I have seen). Could possibly store things up there, but haven't tried that yet.
Any idea on where to look at small trailers? Would a hardware store or a boat shop have these??
Dear Santa: I need a camper!!

 

[clkelley]

Our local Home Depot and Lowes carries trailers. Not sure where hubby found ours, probably from a friend, it was used.

I've also seen several independant dealers around town. You know those places on the side of the highway.

"Bob's Storage Buildings, Spas, Used Cars, and Trailers"

I would just look in your local yellow pages under utility trailers to see what you can find.

Carol

 

[gardendame]

Carol, I found the post you were talking about. The original pics did not load for me either, but further down there was a post from someone who met this person and took his picture. Here is the link (hope it works).

http://www.wdwinfo.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=2672

 

[clkelley]

Yep, that's him!!

Since you have an Expedition, you can haul just about anything. Our little trailer is a 5x6 flatbed with wooden sides about a foot high. I am eventually going to build a custom box with shelving and slide out drawers, etc.

Carol

 

[Mic]

gardendame-
I don't think anyone has suggested a roof-top carrier, yet, so I will. We took 3 extra teenage girls 2 years ago for oldest daughter's 14th birthday, and had almost decided to drive an extra car to carry all the luggage. While browsing the going-out-of-business sale at our local K-mart, I found a roof-top carrier for our GMC Safari for less than $20. It's a soft carrier that folds up very compactly in a small box, and was very easy to use. We were able to pack all 6 of our suitcases into this carrier, leaving the room behind the 3rd seat open for the suitcases of my daughter's friends(and girls don't pack light). Since that trip, I have purchased another carrier at Wal-mart for $30 that is identical to the first one, since our van's luggage rack can accomodate 2. Our son is a boy scout now, so I thought the second carrier would be good to carry the multiple tents, screen house, folding chair, air mattresses, etc. that camping requires. The carriers are "water-resistant", not waterproof like the hard roof-top carriers, but we went through heavy rains in GA and SC, and all of our luggage was bone-dry when we got home(it was a 10-hour drive). Expeditions have large luggage racks that will accomodate 2 carriers, so this may be a less expensive option than a trailer. The brand name of the carrier is "Axius"(roof-top cargo bag)and is found in the automotive section of Wal-mart.

 

[gardendame]

Thanks for the info on the roof top carrier! I had thought of one, but haven't read of anyone using them for camping, so thought there must be some reason for not using it. Glad to hear that you like the soft sided ones! I am in our local Walmart AT LEAST every other day, so I will check it out to see!
Thanks for the advice.
This board is great!