This may be obsessive tent-tinkering. But would this work?

[Cappster]

So we bought our Quechua Family 4.2 after you lot said it would be fine and went to a festival this weekend and it was GORGEOUS, and much easier to deal with than our usual monster 8-man Khyam which is like an aircraft hanger.

But I realised that the only problem that I have with camping is clambering over piles of boxes and kettles and and cups and coolbags that are stacked in the living area, no matter how big or small a tent we're in.

I don't want to get one of those camping cupboards because that strays too far into my memories of caravanning holidays when I was a kid, when everyone had furniture and ovens and sherry glasses (no offence to people with camping cupboards). Also I would knock it over, since I am often drunk accident prone.

So I wondered whether a £20 pop-up tent next to the main tent would be somewhere I could shove all the pans and gas stoves etc when they're not being used. Is this insane? And would this mean I would have to pay for 2 pitches on sites?

Or is there some simple trick that you are all keeping from me, such as hanging things off sky-hooks or getting fairies to look after your Trangias and bring them back when they're needed?

Of course it would work. Of course you are not insane. This thing is called a Utility Tent and is the beacon on a campsite for fellow members of House Utilitarian Camper.

Sadly and utterly infuriatingly yes some campsites do charge extra for an extra tent which makes me rage internally as
a)it's much safety to cook and store gas/fuel related stuff somewhere other than the tent your family are in and
b) the combined footprint of my tent + utility tent is much less than some of the mo-fo tents you see about and both easily fit on a standard pitch.

But some campsites charge [no comment] and that is why I do not camp there.

Yy brilliant idea and so pleasing to have boxes of crap all out of the main tent.

Or you could get a groundsheet, stick all your shite on that, and fold it over / wrap it up to protect it when not in use.we did that this weekend using bricks (which were lying around our pitch - I didn't take then!) To hold it in place. Presume they wouldn't charge extra for that?

I do have lots of tarp-like fabric due to attempts to cut up boot-sale tent and make failed tarp structure. However am crap at wrapping presents, so would prob not manage to wrap gas stove to any reasonable standard

I covet an outside tent in which to store my crap equipment but had never realised it had such a splendid name slubber A "utility tent" indeed, well that's another one for the thigh rubbing list :o
And cappster I think it is a splendid idea and you should definitely go for it. I like you am terribly "accident prone" (particularly in hot weather!!) and the very idea of meandering tipsily round my tent without stubbing my toe on the bastard kettle gladdens the cockles of my heart :o