Do you use a screen room?

[Bird's Nest]

Am I crazy or is a screen room/tent a great addition to an RV/camping lifestyle?

I just purchased my dream screen room and my husband thinks it will be useless for camping. I have been envious of other campers in their bug protection shelters for some time. It seems that he has been oblivious to these structures.

I got a fantastic deal on a $199 Kelty Veil House for $49 at Marshall's. I couldn't believe it when I found it on the clearance rack in a pristine box. It sets up quick and easy and is compact enough to fit under the bench seat in the Westy.

I can't believe I was seriously considering ordering one last spring for full price. I put it off since I knew we would not be able to camp during the summer bug season this year due to other obligations. Now I'll be ready for the bugs next spring.

[NevadaGeo]

1) Good for having lunch out doors in bug country.
2) Good for keeping the bees off the tri-tip or aging game.
3) Good for keeping the wee ones rounded up until you put the leash and hobbles on them.
4) Good for putting the old ones in to keep them out of the bugs and bees.
5) Good for keeping the bugs off your oil paintings till the paint dries.

[Silver Goose]

We've carried a similar screen house with us for many years. If you've found a suitable place to stow it when not being used you've covered it's only drawback in my opinion. We set up ours over the picnic table whenever we will be in the campground for a few days and flying insects are a problem. One of the reasons we go to state and national parks is to enjoy the outdoors. The screen house permits us to spend more time outdoors despite bugs or rain.

[Bird's Nest]

My husband seems to be warming to the tent idea.
Since we have a B-Class and drive it off our campsite for excursions our site often looks vacant and the few things we leave out can look abandoned. He decided the tent would be nice for avoiding that vacant look and good for camouflaging our belongings.
We seldom fill up the under-sofa area so I don't think it will be a problem to tuck it in there. It is awkward to access that area for things we use a lot. Stowing something we remove once and restow once per trip is the perfect type of item for that.
Thanks for your stories.

[gsmithii]

We have just finished our first full season using our screen room and our second full season camping with our Airstream.

The screen room is great for all the reasons above. We don't set it up for shorter stays but if we have three or four days or more at the same site we really enjoy the added living space. We are also finding more uses for our screen room the more we carry it. For one example, we use it as a bicycle garage during inclement weather.

This summer we had a windy lakeside storm that blew pretty hard. With the supports lowered and guy lines tightened we were amazed at how solidly it held. Through the window it looked like it would blow away any moment. That it didn't was a testiment to great design.

[2Tex4Fun]

Great thread & helpful comments. We are wanting to purchase a screen room and wondered about the type that has 'side curtains' that can be lowered. Any suggestions to brands or websites to explore? TAI

[UAPachyderm]

We have one that's made to fit our Airstream. It attaches to our ZipDee awning and includes a skirt for the Airstream. We only use it about 10% of the time, but really enjoy in certain situations. It's especially nice if there are bugs. We also like it when we are in crowded campgrounds for multiple nights like Disney Ft. Wilderness ... it adds a little extra privacy and space.

[Tin Trekkers]

We always had a screen house when we were tent camping - for all the reasons stated in the previous posts.
Now that we are Airstreamers, we were wondering whether AS has "screen walls" to attach to the awning. We've seen this in various rv catalogs but haven't done any serious shopping yet.
Does anyone out there have something like this? If so, how do you feel this rates compared to a free-standing screen room/house?

[Tin Trekkers]

Looks like "UAPachyderm" answered my question with a simultaneous post.
Thanks - you must be psychic!
Did you purchase from the AS store?

Any other comments/opinions always welcome.

Happy Traveling...

[UAPachyderm]

Originally Posted by Tin Trekkers

Looks like "UAPachyderm" answered my question with a simultaneous post.
Thanks - you must be psychic!
Did you purchase from the AS store?

Any other comments/opinions always welcome.

Happy Traveling...

It's been a few years but I ordered it through an Airstream dealer. I think the dealer referred to it as a "tropical screen room" ... I also think it was made by ZipDee but not 100% certain. The dealer coordinated with Airstream to confirm what to order, measured a few times, and, upon arrival, installed snaps to the awning and Airstream. My only regret is that I didn't get screen room material to match my awnings. My screen room is a light green ... dealer said this is the only color the "tropical screen room" comes in. Other than color, we love it. Also, it takes just 5-10 minutes to put up or down.

[sempi2]

Anyone have pictures?

[Silver Goose]

Originally Posted by Tin Trekkers

We always had a screen house when we were tent camping - for all the reasons stated in the previous posts.
Now that we are Airstreamers, we were wondering whether AS has "screen walls" to attach to the awning. We've seen this in various rv catalogs but haven't done any serious shopping yet.
Does anyone out there have something like this? If so, how do you feel this rates compared to a free-standing screen room/house?

I've not had much concern about leaving the screen house set up in the wind and rain. Not so with the awning.

[Silver Goose]

Originally Posted by sempi2

Anyone have pictures?

This is from the ZipDee website

[Tin Trekkers]

Originally Posted by YankeeDoodle

I've not had much concern about leaving the screen house set up in the wind and rain. Not so with the awning.

Thanks "Yankee" for the photo from the ZipDee website.

And that's a good point about the advantages of a screen house. Heck, when we tent camped, our screen house was much bigger than the tent. A real God-send in the rain with two active young boys!

We still have our old screen house but it's not exactly compact and the canvas has about breathed it's last. Guess it's time to shop around!

Happy traveling...

[Silver Goose]

Originally Posted by Tin Trekkers

...We still have our old screen house but it's not exactly compact and the canvas has about breathed it's last. Guess it's time to shop around!...

We finally retired our 1st one also. The new one with fiber poles fits In a bag the size the old one needed for the poles alone! The OP on this thread got a really good deal on hers. Gander Mountain shows one on their site that is 12x12 and weighs about 20#.

[adore]

Originally Posted by UAPachyderm

I ordered it through an Airstream dealer. I think the dealer referred to it as a "tropical screen room" ... I also think it was made by ZipDee but not 100% certain. The dealer coordinated with Airstream to confirm what to order, measured a few times, and, upon arrival, installed snaps to the awning and Airstream. Other than color, we love it. Also, it takes just 5-10 minutes to put up or down.

I was in Chicago, a couple years ago, to have my ZipDee awning installed on my 1977 Argosy Minuet. I have taken the advantage of being there to take all the measurements for a future purchase of a tropical screen room. I have not yet decided though on the utility of it. Considering the size (small) of my unit, I had thought that such a screen room could be advantageous for long stays. I am still considering purchasing it, but I am glad to read all the comments on the pros and cons of having such equipment...

[Bird's Nest]

The Kelty Veil House is very compact. It has 2 anodized aluminum poles and is lightweight nylon.
It stows in a bag that is 26x8x8. It weighs less than 13lbs. It is limited on head space as it is a dome but is 6-4 in the center. It is waterproof and has roll up flaps to close off the screen openings. This is a good fit for our 18.5' Sprinter Van Westy.
The awning screen room sounds tempting and I have seen pics of other Westies with them. Our awning is a Fiamma and I think I have seen them on the German Westfalia site. But it takes months to get things.

We plan to upgrade to a short TT again when we our second son goes to college next year. Right now we love the agile-ness of the Westy for following his rowing team. We are the team cooks and the van has been wonderful for boondocking at the venues. I can't justify the expense of the specialized awning screen room since we may be selling in less than a year. though the thought of bug-free square footage just outside our sliding door is tempting!


Here is the Kelty Veil House


This is our van at Nationals last summer.

[Tin Trekkers]

Bird's Nest -
You got an awesome deal on that screenhouse!
We shopped around on the web last night, hoping we might find it on clearance somewhere since it's the end of the traditional camping season. We're still doing some research but from what we can see - you really had a stroke of luck. Enjoy!

BTW...kudos to you for being such supportive parents. I'm sure your son and his team truly appreciate your efforts.

Happy traveling...

[urnmor]

I am looking at buying a screen room however I would like one more versatile then the zip dee and was wondering if anyone had experience with the ones made by PahaQue's

Thanks

John

[wahoonc]

Originally Posted by urnmor

I am looking at buying a screen room however I would like one more versatile then the zip dee and was wondering if anyone had experience with the ones made by PahaQue's

Thanks

John

PahaQue makes decent products. When we were pop up and tent camping we used to use there potty teepee. Never had a problem with it. I currently have an EZ UP popup canopy with screen panels 10x10 and have been happy with it. A bit on the heavy side but decent head room and not too hard to set up.

Aaron