ez-ups re-educations and poll

[alffink]

EZ-ups and other shades do love to sail off in the wind, with disastrous results. I live in the southern Calif, Inland Empire, home of the Santa Ana winds....it's not windy until it's over 60mph

First line of defence, don't use straight stakes, go with lag bolts, at least 6" long, use a socket and speed wrench to twist into the ground.

If the winds do spring up and threaten to take off with your shade, lower the legs on the windword side, the resulting wedge shape, will go a long way in keeping the shade on the ground. trying to take a shade down once the wind has found you, can be dangerous.

If high winds are forecasted, don't put a shade up in the first place.

Oh, I like the ratchet strap idea, could be a life-saver if winds come up in the middle of the night.

[bobhenry]

To those that leave the canopy on when folded up.........

Next time you have occasion to erect it look up on a sunny
day and please report as to whether or not you see the little
white dots of sunshine "leaking" thru. We will need brand
name for the comparision of pinched vs not pinched roof
canopies.

With over 130 trailers at the Crossroads of America
gathering next month I will try and do I very unscientific
survey of the pop up shelters of them that do, and them
that don't, and the results of the inspections.

[absolutsnwbrdr]

I aquired a "Classic" style canopy by Caravan Canopy. Its extremely heavy duty (71 lbs), and can be a little difficult to handle sometimes, but damn is it sturdy! I have the "weight bags" that you fill with sand and velcro around the legs to keep it down in moderate winds. If the weather looks like its going to get too severe, then I tie it down.

[CAJUN LADY]

To those that leave the canopy on when folded up.........

Next time you have occasion to erect it look up on a sunny
day and please report as to whether or not you see the little
white dots of sunshine "leaking" thru. We will need brand
name for the comparision of pinched vs not pinched roof
canopies.

With over 130 trailers at the Crossroads of America
gathering next month I will try and do I very unscientific
survey of the pop up shelters of them that do, and them
that don't, and the results of the inspections.

Have had mine for several years and not one single teeny tiny pinhole has been made from leaving it on when folded up. I also take care when I do fold it up to make sure that doesn't happen. One is a Wal-Mart first-up and the other 14x14 is from K-Mart. Can't remember the name brand on that one.

[Dusty82]

We don't have an EZ-Up or anything like it, but I do plan on getting one. I've been keeping my eye on others who do use this type of shade shelter, and talking to folks about what they like or don't like about their shelter.

I can say that we're going with the splayed legged variety over the straight legged type - now I'm just trying to figure out which brand I want to go with. We're in an area similar to alffink, where 20 mph sustained winds with 40 mph gusts are the rule, rather than the exception. It's common to get 60 mph gusts out here as well. The occasional dust devil can whip up to over 70 mph. You learn to live with it, and you learn to secure things. Anecdotally, it's been my observation that the splayed legged shelters hold up better in the wind than the straight legged varieties.

We do 2 large organized campouts with 2 different groups every year, and I've watched shelters (as well as tents) get flipped over and carried away by the wind. It seems to us that the straight legged models are usually the first ones to be effected. Both types have problems with the wind getting under the canvas and pulling it off - in one corner at least - but the splayed legged models seem to ride the wind out a lot better. That's just my observation though.

Thanks to those who posted about taking the canvas off before folding up the frame. I would have never thought of it getting pinched and pinholes forming.

Folks out here have figured out that the stakes/pegs that come with just about all of this type of canopy are basically useless. Most folks in our groups use an 18 inch long piece of 1/2 inch rebar, bent into a hook at one end in place of those stakes. Most have forsaken any kind of weights to help hold things down, as they can turn into flying projectiles if the wind starts to carry the canopy away.

I'm really interested in hearing folks talk about their experiences with their canopies as well. Particularly whether or not you'd buy that particular brand again. I'm mainly interested in durability - I really don't like buying the same thing every other year.

Thanks to all who have posted their experiences so far. It's giving me a lot of food for thought.

[the other side]

I have an ez-up (commercial grade one from BJ's approx. $200). I take a bungie cord on the front middle of the ez-up and hook it to my tears tongue. I take a bungie cord to the back middle of the ez-up and hook it to the back of my tear. I also use those disc type weights that are notched for the tent legs. Nothing has tried to fly away yet or twist and break. A camp site I had one time got flooded up to the bottom of the floor of the tear. I woke up and stepped into a "lake" of water. I was alone and tried to move the ez-up out from around my tear and I bent the leg and snapped one of the brace bars (probably because I was dragging it through the water). I duck taped the bar that snapped and bent the leg back with my hands (not perfectly straight, but it works).

I think the ez-up is very hard to put up alone (hard to take down too, but easier than putting it up). It is even hard to put up with 2 people (my arms don't span far enough to open it). Four people would be better cuz you can have one person on each leg, but when do we have 4 people setting our tents up?

The EZ-UP is good but I think the next time I will buy a cheap one and when it breaks replace it. But I will always use my bungie cords to secure it (even when it isn't windy cuz you never know when the wind will kick up). Now that I have a shower tent too I don't really have a need for the side walls like I did (cuz the potty was behind the wall and we changed there, but the walls would stick to us while we were changing and using the potty) so I would have more choices of tents.

My new motto: "STRESS FREE CAMPING".
To me that means make sure all of my stuff is easy to replace from Wally World so if it breaks just replace it when it breaks rather than going without it. (I have that AC/heat unit for tear and when that breaks I'm going to buy a cheap window unit AC from Wally World and make it work. When it goes I can cheaply replace it too). That, to me, is stress free! Financially it should even out in the end because I am not buying the most expensive stuff. If I get lucky and keep something for a long time, then I am just that... LUCKY!

[alffink]

Hi all, one quick lesson on putting up and taking down an EZ-Up
(I have used EZ-Ups for over 25 years) Only TWO people needed even for the larger shades

going up,
do not extend (raise) the legs,
open up about arms width
with two people - look at the acordian bars, there will be a set of V's in the middle one pointing up and one set pointing down
When putting UP grab the lower V pointing DOWN, one hand each side
the second person does the same on the opposite side
Now, each person lightly lift, and walk away from each other and all four legs will spread evenly
When coming down, either push the locking button or pull the pins First
then grab the V pointing UP, lift lightly, and walk towards each other, be careful not to get pinched when everything comes together.

Think you will find this a whole lot easier than having some one on each leg.

With a bit of practice, one person can do this, working it out in stages from opposite sides. Some find staking one leg will assist in one person set-up, I do not find this method any easier, but you may want to try it.

Remember do not force it, if something isn't moving when coming down, there is probably a leg that is not un-pined

[bobhenry]

I think the CRA needs an eazy up rodeo !

A timed exercise in putting up a shelter

single and pairs timed competition !!!

[parnold]

I find putting up my First Up to be fairly easy by myself. The one thing I discovered.. I spread it out most of the way, then put on the top, before locking the legs in. It's easier than trying to stretch the top on once it's completely open.

I would guess it's only a two or three minute process to set up that way, alone.

I haven't tried staking down a leg, but I do usually try to find something convenient to hook a leg onto while stretching it out, such as a picnic table, or fire pit.

[the other side]

Thanks allfink! I'm looking forward to giving that a try on my next camping trip July 8th!!!

parnold- I actually do put the canvas on the way you explained. I guess my issues are with the legs and spreading them (gosh that sounds really bad). Sorry, but if I didn't pre-appologize someone would say something about it. They actually probably still will but there was no better way to say it.

[Ratkity]

The stake one leg method always works for opening my slant-leg Coleman 10x10. I also lift the lower V sections and lift to unfold it all nicely. I then walk it inch-by-inch to where I want it over my rear door (I have the LG RT).

Never have had a problem putting up or taking it down. I never leave the top on either when folding it up.

Hugs,
Ratkity

[pete42]

Al Fink said "I live in the southern Calif, Inland Empire, home of the Santa Ana winds....it's not windy until it's over 60mph"
Al I left Indio one night headed to my Uncles in Redlands I ran into a sand storm going through San Gorgonio pass according to your rule that night was windy.
Spent 1962-64 Long Beach naval base aboard the USS Hornet.
one uncle lived in Riverside another uncle and grandmother in Redlands.
for the longest time I could remember the fragrance from the orange groves that stretched from Redlands to Longbeach
years later when we returned they were all were gone, so sad.

pete

[the other side]

Hey Ratkity,
If you go camping with the tearjerkers July 8th, will you help me figure it out? The info. on the camping trip is listed under "Northeast" where they talk about all of the camping trips! Hope we see you there!

[doitright]

I have the ez-up brand from Sam`s have had it for several years it cost around $200. It has sides and a banner spot on the top. It is great for shade but it is not waterproof or even water resistant. The first up from wally world is water resistant. I like them(first up) but the frame is just not as stout as the ez-up. So I have good shade in a wind storm and a puddling roof with leaks in a rain storm. Not all ez-ups have the same type roof mine is heavy materal with no waterproofing They do have some with the vinyl coated roofs that work well but at a cost. funny thing about mine is the walls are waterproof and the roof is not.

[bobhenry]

My first up, as I said earlier, has never leaked and it has seen a couple real worm drownding rain storms. My question is ....

"has anyone used "campDry" or other waterproofing spray on the nylon canopy ?"

I had it standing and was gonna spray mine ( as a proactive , protective measure) and never got it done last gathering.

Bob