Anyone use a shade sail at camp?

[Alleged User]

We're thinking of using a triangular shade sail as an alternative to an ez up. We've had two 'good' ez ups fail us in three seasons of light use, and only have one healthy back between us, so need an alternative solution that is easy for one of us to set up. Our TV's are an XTerra and a Crosstrek, and we'd want to save on weight when we take the Crosstrek, so ditching the ez up would be optimal.

Figuring the sail will save weight, take up very little space, actually be attractive, and do the job for us. We'll bungee one corner to the roof rails on our TV, the second corner to the TD hatch area somewhere, and the third to an obliging tree or lantern post. Wondering if anyone uses these at camp or has experience with them in general. We'd get a 16-foot size that is water resistant.

[Socal Tom]

consider the Smittybilt trail shade. Its designed to hook to a spare tire, but can also be hooked to a rack etc.
https://www.google.com/search?q=trailshade&espv=2&biw=1600&bih=775&tbm=isch&imgil=dmd2LxPtJKs2DM%253A%253BkCQmcGo5WeiEhM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.jkowners.com%25252Fforum%25252Fshowthread.php%25253Ft%2525253D36776&source=iu&pf=m&fir=dmd2LxPtJKs2DM%253A%252CkCQmcGo5WeiEhM%252C_&usg=__eM0_HcP90-kLKMdpnZwOVdsyXEk%3D&ved=0CDoQyjc&ei=lcg_VafaO5K0yASCt4G4Cw#imgrc=dmd2LxPtJKs2DM%253A%3BkCQmcGo5WeiEhM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fi37.photobucket.com%252Falbums%252Fe52%252FTrainwreck06%252FDSC01670.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.jkowners.com%252Fforum%252Fshowthread.php%253Ft%253D36776%3B800%3B600

For $60 includes the poles etc.
Tom

[jstrubberg]

I've never seen one used in a portable mode before. The ones I've seen installed had a LOT of tension on them (as in steel brake cable and turnbuckles). Are you going to be able to handle water and wind load with just bungee cords for tension?

[OP827]

My friend uses his old and early yea design hanglider sail, it is like a delta shape and it looks and works great. He usually uses the trees to find four points around the sitting area of the camping site. Unfortunately I do not have a photo of that setup. Any good piece of material should work, but need to have good corner reinforcements where the rope is attached for those windy or rainy days.

[Shadow Catcher]

We have a Kelty Noah's Tarp, our second in 20+ years. The ability to slope, drop sides... make it very versatile.

[Jim.Johnson]

Interesting you asked that question. I just acquired a smaller triangle that I plan to use for just a spot of shade when needed. I've got 2 light weight adjustable poles to use when needed. A 3rd anchor point should be easy enough. But I still haven't tried it out in camp. Hope it's helpful.

[GPW]

We’ve used this kind of setup for years ...

[Alleged User]

Some good food for thought here ... just what I was looking for.

Tom: The Smittybilt shade looks a little smaller than I had in mind. A cool setup, however, and a good option for folks like me who don't want to install an awning rail on their TD's.
Jstrubberg: Good point. I have only seen sails in commercial use, and I think they may be heavier duty than I'm bargaining for. Need to get my hands on one to better gauge. Rain and wind aren't of much concern, as it's easy enough to angle the shade to avoid pooling and reduce wind trouble when necessary. And unlike an ez up, I could take it down in about 10 seconds by myself if the need arose.
OP827: How cool is a hanglider sail for this purpose. Would love to see that one set up.
ShadowCatcher: The Kelty is an excellent option. It's the same idea as the sail, but is suited to camp use. Good range of sizes. This just may be the ticket. Kelty has a great reputation. Also about the same price as the sails I am looking at, which is a pleasant surprise.
Jim.Johnson: If I go with the sail, it may have to be smaller than I want, as the sail is probably heavier duty than I need, and a smaller one would be easier to deal with.
GPW: That is like the Kelty setup, which is looking like a really good option for us. I like the idea of covering the TD door area ... just not sure how to attach it there, but I can figure it out.

Thanks, guys! This is extremely helpful. Will be testing out our theories in a couple weeks.

[GPW]

Attach it on the other side !!! Only one pole, less to carry along .

[OP827]

Attach it on the other side !!! Only one pole, less to carry along .

Did you sleep like that with the wind blowing during the night and was it ok or you would take the tent down?

[GPW]

WE set up shades like that long before we had a trailer ... Shade tied off to the top of a Van or the old Country Squire...
Naturally if it was too windy , we took it down ...

[jstrubberg]

Let us know how it goes, Alleged. It's a heck of a versatile idea.

[JaggedEdges]

Offset umbrellas seem to have gotten more widespread and cheaper this year. So I would be pondering a couple of U clamps installed to side of trailer to sit one of those in. However, they'll be as heavy as the ez-up. Not as large a shade area, but you can chase the sun with them by swivel and angle.

Personally, I bring poles and rig tarps with enough guy lines to hold in a small hurricane, I don't really find it to be "back" work, as in not heavy, unless just the bending and stretching gets you.

[Socal Tom]

Personally, I'd like to leave the Ezup at home, and use something that isn't as bulky, and is easier for 1 person to set up. I've got a texsport Spinaker shade
That works great over the galley hatch. The last few times I brought the EZ up I used it over the TD to provide shade for it. Something like the Kelty canopy could be a good fit for what I'm after.
Tom

[Alleged User]

An advantage of the Kelty is that it has more attachment points, as opposed to just the three corners of the sail. Lots of configuration options.
The Kelty 16 footer is about $100, and includes stakes and guylines. Does not include poles, which run about 25 bucks apiece if you choose to purchase the Kelty poles.

Weight of the sail is about 2.5 pounds for the 16 footer, so it's not heavy, but I don't know if I can get the tension right as discussed above. May not work for my purposes.
16' sail I'm looking at is $58, and I would also need some fixed end bungees for another $15 bucks or so. Some reflective cord (for us clumsy folk) would be another few bucks.
Tons of colors available with the sail option. Can even match the shade color to your bungees, which I would do because I'm annoying like that.

Sail...
Bungees...

And Tom, I like the Spinnaker. Perfect for one person, and looks slick against a teardrop.