Screenroom or Canopy ??

[sewfancy]

I'd like to buy a separate screenroom to use when we camp. Most of our camping is for the weekend at local Corps of Engineer parks and I'd like to have a screenroom to enclose the picnic table area. Since we've downsized from a triple slide fifth wheel with dinette to our T-2499, if we have more than just the two of us eating we'll need to eat outside. We've also considered buying a canopy instead of a screenroom. Does anyone have a favorite brand that is easy to put up/take down?

Patricia

[Sunline Fan]

Patricia,

I've personally never used a screenroom, but I hear that they are all really a pain to assemble, especially for short weekend trips. I've always taken along a Quik-Shade canopy (no sides) to put over the picnic table. In later years, we bought some Caravan Canopies from Costco and they have sides. I've only used the sides in cold weather, but I think they have other screen sides available. In the really early years, we borrowed my grandpa's screen room/gazebo and it worked great, except the frame took a really long time to put together. The Quik-Shade allowed the canopy to stay on and fold up into its bag in one piece. The top needs to be removed on the Caravan's, but they are bigger than the Quik-Shade.

Jon

[Richard]

I use a six sided screen room that pops open into a 10 foot wide structure. the only assembly required is to stake each corner to the ground. when it's time to move on, it folds into a package that is about 30" in diameter and stores in the trailer storage compartment. I purchased it at QVC a couple of years ago.

[rich2500]

we use a pop up canopy with the screen enclosure,it's 10x10 and total cost for everything was $105.00 at Dicks Sporting Goods,we use the canopy for our picnic table so we have the entire awning area for sitting around under.

[sewfancy]

Thanks, I'll check those out. Coleman makes a screenroom that's called insta-clip or something like that. I also saw one carried by Eddie Bauer. We had a screenroom years ago that was such a pain to put up and take down that we never used it. I certainly don't want another one like that. A canopy would probably be much easier to assemble, but mosquitoes and other biting critters can make being outside after dark really uncomfortable and I think a screenhouse would make it much more enjoyable to sit or eat in, especially at night.

Patricia

[JohnB]

Patricia

Here see if this helps any. There are pro’s and con’s to the “bug huts”

We kept looking at everyone else having one and then started comparing styles, brands and features. The options/brands are endless.

Here is a pic of ours at the camp site. Daughter and little cutie pie Samatha (Granddaughter) in the back ground too.


And here is the model off Wenzels web site: Ontario model They have the actual instructions posted so you can see how it set’s up.

And 1 place to buy on line Wenzel store You can expand the pic and really see it up close. Iust click on the pic. I bought our at a local Meijer store.

Now to why I close it:

Has a 10 year warranty.
Has the lower 6” flap of material to go around the edging to keep bugs out better on uneven ground.
Has 2 full zipper doors
Has a nice cross nit tight screen mesh to keep the little bugs out.
Has a top edge around the dome that deflects rain water further off the edges of the mesh area to not soak the inside as bad.
Does not have a 100 parts like some.
Poles are shock corded together to make setup easier.
Cost was in line.

Now what is not so great:

I added the better hold down cords and bungie cords and better stakes. Added some more cost. They put the quality in the tent, not the rope and stakes.

The first time putting it up was pure frustration….. Just plain accept it. The 2nd time not so bad and the 3rd time I figured out a manageable method. Now it’s not so much a problem. Takes me a good 10 to 15 minutes to put up. About 5 to 10 to take down. A lot easier with 2 people.

It is not the 100% perfect one, but better than anyone I found so far as far as features. If I wanted less features you can get a simpler big fiberglass flex pole set like a dome tent to pop up quicker, but in rain, you get wet as the roof barley covers the picnic table.

I use it on 3 or more days stays.

On a summer day of about 80 degree, if it’s in the sun, well it’s 106 inside. The green house effect works well. Yes, I measured the temp. it was so hot in there. So you will not use these much during a hot sunny day if it is in the sun. Later in the day and at night, not problem.

Good luck and hope this helps.

John

[sewfancy]

Thanks so much for the info, John. My husband and I were at Wal-Mart yesterday and picked up an Ozark Trail screenroom for less than $50. We're going to try it out this weekend.

Patricia

[tinybluetj]

I saw those last night and thought of you! We have the Ozark Trail "shower tent" left over from our camping days, we used it for a long time with no issues! (and it was cheap, too!)

[sewfancy]

Originally Posted by tinybluetj

I saw those last night and thought of you!

That's so sweet!

We tried the Ozark Trail screenhouse on our camping trip this weekend and it worked just fine. It took my husband and me about 15 minutes to set it up, but will be much quicker next time. It sets up just like a dome tent. And, believe it or not, when we took it down we were able to put it all back in the bag! One benefit we hadn't anticipated is that it also gives us a little more privacy by acting as a buffer between us and the next campsite.

Patricia