I'm looking into ordering a canopy this week and wanted some feedback from those of you who have shelters...

I'm looking in getting a 10x20 canopy which would give me enough room for the car and a sitting/eating/post-race drinking area.

I'm looking at the silver tarp & bungie ball set that Racer Wholesale offers for $90. (EMT conduit not suplied...)

Is this the best deal out there? I would like, but can't afford, a $900 EZ-UP

Any other sources to look into? TIA

Greg



[Modified by bulldog_RS20, 6:54 PM 7/29/2002]

 

Are the bigger EZups that much more? Our 12x12' was $150'ish. My 8x8' was $100. You can buy two EZups one for the car and one for you. The Conduit/silve tarp type canopies are a pain to put together by yourself. I can take down my EZUp by myself (little longer).

 

Looking at the EZ website, yep. I agree about the hastle with the poles, etc. but the $ to square footage is not that bad...plus I saw a EZup bent all to hell in a medium wind...

I know COSTCO has deals on them, but I think they are the cheaper beach/BBQ versions...

 

having went cheap and bought a $40 10'x10' canopy that you separate and build, i've never used it... its just too much of a hassle most of the time to put it together, anchor it and think about breaking down at the end of the day. i can only imagine the bigger hassle a bigger canopy is going to be. but if you are dead set on it, always have friends you can count on to help break it down at the end of the day, then go for it. just my experience that the ezups are worth it if you really want to provide shade, and dont have those big campers with awnings.

 

i have had the tarp/bungee setup and although it was awesome it takes a small army to erect..hehehe

i prefer the ezups because of the ease in putting up and down..

i have had them in a pretty decent wind and had no problems

so if you dont mind the setting up part, i would rec. the silver tarp because you get more shade for the money

 

I agree, I've put up both kinds and the EZ UP canopies are great. I bought my 10x10 for $130.

Nothern Tool also has the 8x12 for $169
http://www.northerntool.com/cgi-bin/...6&cgmenbr=6970


Even though that are a little more, I think you'll really appreciate the eaze at which yoou can set up the EZUP style tents. Especially if its already raining. Time=$$




[Modified by StageOne, 1:54 PM 7/29/2002]

 

The EZ-Up brand is very expensive. I've seen the ones Greg is talking about, but haven't been involved in setting one up or seeing how big it packs down to. I bought a 10x10 "Caravan" canopy at Costco for $200. It's a true one-person operation andl only takes me maybe 90 seconds to set it up. It kicks a$$ over my other 8x8 EZ-Up Dome style. That one has four posts that you have to connect in the center under the top cover. The plastic center connector thing busted, so now I have to use duct tape to hold the little posts together. One of the leg supports at the top busted in a wind storm also, so there's more duct tape there.

The Caravan one I bought is nice. It's stout, fits together tight, comes with walls, and the legs have 5 height adjustments. The carrying case bag has handles and even two big wheels on it like a suit case. I'll probably buy another one for next season and put 'em side by side. I also have one of the $30 tents that you'd put over a picnic table.

I found a shot of my Caravan in the background.
http://a5.cpimg.com/image/D3/51/1079...-02000180-.jpg

Here's a picture of my two other shelters in the background from last year. We used all three side-by-side this weekend at the Tour. The blue EZ-Up on the right sucks a$$.
http://a2.cpimg.com/image/F4/7B/7931...-028001E0-.jpg



[Modified by johng, 10:57 AM 7/29/2002]

 

Thanks for the input and links.

Greg - who's trying to rationalize his spending (but then again, this is racing - so why try).




[Modified by bulldog_RS20, 7:07 PM 7/29/2002]

 

Our region has the conduit pipes for our autocross tables. You need a couple of people to put them up, and sometimes I travel to autocrosses by myself and don't have extra hands to help me. At least with the EZUp I can do it myself.

My last EZUp I bought 4 years ago collapse during a good rain storm which I left out during our picnic in the backyard. My newer one has better bars. Never had a problem with wind. My air tank, tool box, and spares hold the canopy down.

I am looking at those larger ones, cause our posse is getting bigger

 

anyway, achoring tip is to put your spare or street wheels at the foot of each canopy leg and get a bungee from the top of the leg to the wheel. may not be enough weight during a huge windstorm, but enough for the day. overnight, just collapse the canopy halfway and bungee it to your car at each corner.


[Modified by Tyson, 11:26 AM 7/29/2002]

 

John, I saw one of those at Costco with side curtains - is that the one you got? Looked nice but I hesitated due to the price.

I'm liking the old-school car number "circles" BTW.

 

Some of the guys also use four 5 gallon buckets w/lids and fill them at the track then secure them using those ratchet straps. Useful if you don't have a second set of wheels...or don't haul weights to the track.

 

Yes. It's a 10x10 white Caravan canopy with 4 full size walls that velcro in place. It's VERY easy to set up, and compaired to the EZ-UP brand, you can't beat the price. I don't think the EZ-UP comes with walls.

 

I use 2 Caravan Tents... Real easy to put up. I reccomend them.

 

All-righty then. Off to Costco I go for one of my own.

 

I have the same canopies that JohnG has. I started with the EZ-up Dome. It is really easy to put up. I wanted to get something bigger & better. I just bought the Caravan @ Costco. There is a website for the Caravan canopies. I can't remember the address. If you check out the list prices, they are actually pretty expensive. I put up the Caravan in my driveway yesterday. It is quite a bit stronger in construction than the EZ-up (Dome). If I had a ton of money to spend, I would get a commercial model EZ-up. The problem is that they cost about 3X more than I paid for the Caravan. I will be testing the Caravan out @ Thunderhill on August 4th.

 

Sam's Club now carries a 10x20 for around $400.

The conduit tents are nice, but take up a lot of room in transport.

mtg