Tarp or Gazebo for camping

Hey Lazy

I have been using gazebos for my tour business for about ten years now and I reckon they are far better than tarps. BUT - once you put walls on the problems start when it gets windy ! With a tarp only, the wind blows straight through and apart from the flapping and noise you still have your tarp in the morning. The pressure on the side walls of a gazebo when it gets really windy is incredible and that's when the whole gazebo wants to be 2 k's from your campsite in the morning !

The original 4.5 mtr x 3.0 mtr "Quickshade" I have been using has lasted 10 years and I have also gone through about 6 of the cheaper brands in that time. I paid about $1600 for the original quickshade and about 3 to 400 each for the cheaper imports - you work it out.

Tip 1) Tie the gazebo down properly around the frame of the corners - not the material and if need be tie the pivot point of the scissor section down as well. Tip 2) If it gets really really windy - take off the sides and let the wind through !

Pegging the gazebo down through the holes on the legs is ok if there is absolutely NO WIND !

Hope this was helpful !

Cheers

Gazz

Hi Lazybugger,
We've just had this discussion with the 'young'uns'. We set up a Coleman Geosport Screenhouse in about 10 mins max. It's a geodesic dome so very strong and if you peg it down properly that sucker is going nowhere, no matter what. Packs down into a small bag, is screened and costs about $200. We can pull it down in 5 mins. If you're after easy, have a look at it.
Louise