Side Tent Opinions?

We love ours, like having an extra room. We can set up a queen size blow up mattress for the Grandkids and the dogs and still have plenty of room for a couple of chairs and small table.

You will need a portable step as the tent skirting covers the pull out step.  

Just a thought.  We plan to purchase the tent as well, but Tabbers report that it can get a little stuffy.  If you have electric - no biggy.  Keep the door/window open and blast the AC and fans.  We saw someone who had Pahaque customize their tent so that the entire front was screening and I believe you can have flaps added in case of rain.  All this so you get better air circulation.  

Up in the Northwest you will be fine.

Very clever.

If you order one, set it up at home to make sure it fits, ours didn't. Sent it back to Pahaque, still waiting for it's return.

We have the side tent and love it.  It is a bit warm in the summer but in the spring and fall this works to your advantage and the space is very comfortable all day.  We have a small pop up dresser we now leave in the tent for clothes storage.  We feed our dog out there and in the warmer weather we leave his bed out there at least for the day.  It is a great way to get him out of the way when cooking or cleaning in the T@B.  We have removed the folding table from our T@B and have a small pop up table that we set up with our chairs in the tent for dining when it is raining or is too buggy to eat at a picnic table.  Our pop up table will work inside as well when it is necessary to eat inside.  Being 6'1" I use the tent as a changing room so I don't have to dress bent over.  Being a backpacker and use to tents that set up taught and look bomb proof I was a bit skeptical of the side tent when I got it.  We have camped on very windy beaches and had it stand up very well.  We just angled the guy lines into the wind.  It has also done well in the rain but you have to be diligent about pushing the puddles off of it from time to time.  The biggest issue might be in the fall when it gets cold at night and water will condense or freeze inside.  We have had an issue with buying the ground cloth for it.  The first one was way to big.  We sent it back and got one that was just a little too big.  My wife has a canvas machine and has decided to just fix this one.  I would recommend using a poly tarp rather then ordering the factory ground cloth.  Over all we are happy with it.

@Wil, if you have skeeters, the side tent will help a lot! At Assateague, the mosquitos were absolutely terrible, especially for the dog's nose, and we had to retreat to the side-tent to preserve his blood supply. The pooch is medium sized, and it's great for needed extra space. 

We have the Thermarest add-a-room and we love it, it's amazingly designed, discontinued a long time ago, but if you're lucky it's worth waiting for someone who's selling one.

It's got great options for ventilation, will convert to a large open or screened awning, etc.
We also have been known to prop the center with a pole to help snow or rain run off. 

Highly recommended. We'll put it up if we plan to be in one place for more than a day.

Regarding the factory installed step and dogs:

I recommend using a step carpet cover of some kind when traveling with dogs.  My large dog (72lb shelter mix) caught one of her toe nails in one of the holes in the metal step.  She was able to stop forward momentum on the way down and only slightly tugged the nail.  It did not break or pull out, but she had a tender toe for a few hours.

Either a home made cover or store bought cover should work equally well.  I'm trying a home made cover first, and then will buy one if it doesn't work good enough on my next trip.

The tent is great but set up/tear down times are a consideration.  For us, we use the XL awning for 2-3 day set ups and the tent for longer ones.  If you buy one, try it early for fit.  We didn't use ours for almost a year and found that the left side was about 12 inches short from the ground.  We took pictures and waited for our next usage to confirm that it wasn't because of the site leveling, but then it was beyond 12 months.  We never did talk to the factory about it so we are stuck with a ill fitting tent.  Like any tent, it gets really hot in the sunlight, so we try to use it in the shade.  It's awesome in the cooler months.  Everything considered, we love it.  We use a small micro fiber rug inside at the entrance to reduce dirt tracking.

Used our new side tent this week.  A great option.  Also had rain and used a collapsible tent pole with PVC to eliminate roof sagging.  Inspired by PopTab.  Thanks PopTab!  

Not sure what you are referring to Wil.  Our tent came with only the long fiberglass pole used on the front wall.  We created the above system because the tent does collect water on the roof.  Even if you have the front guy lines taut.