I only cook outside my tent too but am looking at getting extension for my Monty so that if it rains I dont have to use the boot of my car - I have estate and it is perfect when it is raining but would not do it regularly. I cooked inside the tent once when it was bad weather but the tent was small and got all smelly from the cooking fumes etc; so upgraded tent to the Monty. A day tent is ideal as a kitchen etc but as some have said you do have to pay extra at some sites so take this into consideration.
PS - I was going to buy a Gelert Utah 4 + 4 but kids prefered the Outwell Montana 6 - GOOD LUCK!!
------------- Degsy Rowlands is my love, my life and a lunatic!!!!!!!! Louise x
We cook outside the tent but we will make the first brew of the day inside. If it's raining and we need to cook we do it from the back of the car.
Because it's a PT Cruiser theres loads of room, the huge back door swings out and up forming a roof and the rear parcel shelf has the ability to be pulled outwards towards you and it has a leg underneath that drops down to form a steady work surface.
------------- The JJ's
Don't take life too seriously, nobody gets out alive !!!.
We have the Vango Oregon TBS 800 for a family of 4 so you'd get away with the 600 and still have plenty of storage and living space. It's very stable in the wind having the Tension Band System. We won' cook in any of our tents so bought the Outdoor Revolution Outhouse today. This is a great utility tent for cooking and storage and it's already been up in the lounge today! We also have a big "tarp" that you can cook and sit under in the rain. See top pic in my gallery.
------------- SHIRLZ
I'm not a complete idiot...some bits are missing.
we have a 2005 outwell hartford L , loades of room for 2 people & very snug if chilly. have now purchased front canopy so can cook under cover- or sit & look at stars with glass of wine in hand......
It's the Coleman awning. Not the "classic" I think it's the "exponent" awning. Best price at world of camping. It's better than it looks in my gallery. Usually it's more of a higher tunnel shape. We'd pulled it further back over the tent and flattened it down a bit. It can become a huge kite in high winds!!
------------- SHIRLZ
I'm not a complete idiot...some bits are missing.
I must admit i,ve cooked in my tent for the last three years because of bad weather, i,ve read all the posts and i,m thinking of getting a utility tent,my only gripe is getting in and out of the tent when its raining is a pain in it,s self never mind shoving food through the door too!
I don,t have children to worry about just me and the OH, the cooker is safe and secure and we have ventilation in the roof am i being stupid?
I am praying for good weather this year so i can cook outside
Anyone actually set there tent on fire whilst cooking then?
The reason I asked where do you cook,is if the above was ever to happen, you could bet your bottom dollar it would happen to my OH, accident-prone, like you wouldnt beleive!!
we cook in our porch in the hartford with the door rolled up, we have one of the kitchen stands with the guard that surrounds the cooker to protect the tent. We have a rule tho that when cooker is on, anyone coming in or out uses the back door only. We also keep a bucket of water in porch at all times.
Of course whenever possible we use the barbie outside.
We have just purchased an Outwell Vermont L with a lovely huge porch area which is ideal for cooking and eating in. We used it for the first time w/e before last and it was wonderful.