OK, OK, I know gazebos are considered a bit 'soft' AND many sites don't allow them BUT on the 2 sites we used ours it was a godsend- one as a night time windbreak when we only had smaller tents (for alcohol consumption!), and the second time this last washout of a summer when it served as a kitchen tent for 5 adults and 4 kids- and saved the day in TORRENTIAL rain! BUT the reason it worked was because we slung a waterproof tarp over (most of!) the roof and guy roped that! The actual gazebo is a reasonably serious bit of kit complete with peg holes and 2x guy ropes per corner, + 3 moveable walls. The fabric is reasonably windproof but only the lightest shower proof.
Should we take it to a sail maker and get them to make a proper fitted waterproof roof instead of the existing one? Will that cost a fortune? (it's 2.5 m 2). It needs to remain light weight enough and small enough as the thing is already big enough to consider Not Taking with a full estate car!
Is the roof something I could do myself? Where would I get the fabric? I know there are people who will install the ring-hole things for you.
I don't think we need to replace the walls.
Any ideas (apart from Buy A Caravan...) happily received!
We had a small fishing type shelter that was barely showerprof. We used some spray on waterproofing (in an aerosol) that we got from our local campign shop. It cost about £6 and worked a treat.
You could try waterproofing with Fabsil or as it's a Gazebo using Aquaseal would be cheaper, as far as "getting someone to fit rings" it's cheaper to do your own using one of these kits
One of these will be much better. This one is smaller than what you have 2msquare, but the packed size will be amazingly small compared to a gazebo. Its only 4.5kg.
I have the smaller double outhouse and packed its smaller than a kids play tent. its bag is about 18 inches long and about 6 inches round.
I had a nasty experience with a flying gazebo in the middle of the night when an unexpected storm blew up. We , and the people next to us were fighting to keep it from going through their tent . it was mangled, the poles were snapping as we fought to get it down.They were razor sharp. leave the gazebo at home and get a proper utility tent.
------------- Think this year is to follow old meet friends for 2014.
If you cant do someone a good turn,don`t do them a bad one,its nice to be nice you know,and little things mean much more later in life.
Pete.
Why go to that sort of trouble and expense just to buffer up something that more and more campsites won't allow you to put up? There are plenty of robust, waterproof, fit for purpose Day Tents around that weigh less, take up less pack space, are easier to put up and which will withstand the same weather as your main tent.
I agree day tents are a good option. I am sure that it would certainly be cheaper than replacing the roof. Day tents allow you to use them like a gazebo by rolling up the sides. We had one and it worked really well. Obviously like gazebos they should only be used when the weather is not too windy.
Thanks everyone- some good ideas there! Will investigate further though am erring towards the day tent idea. The gazebo IS quite 'safe' in that it guys with as many points as a tent and we delta-peg it but it does take up a lot of space in the car and is very heavy.
We had a cheap pvc waterproof gazebo (the white sort, think we paid £20 for it), and after the plastic clips got damaged, we upgraded to a pop up one with sides, only to find showerproof is not waterproof! Fortuantley we had not thrown out the old one, and as they are similar sizles, we use the pvc old cover over the new one. works a treat!