EZ up shade structures...how do they do on the playa?

haolegolucky · Post by **haolegolucky** » Thu Aug 10, 2006 8:39 pm

My work is loaning me one of their shade structures...its either an EZ up 12x12 shade structure with four poles or a Coleman structure with six poles.

Its really nice of my work to loan me a shade structure, but I want to make sure I can keep it attached to the ground. I am picking up 2' rebar and bending it at the shop tomorrow so I can anchor things to the ground, but I am curious as to if anyone has used these type of shade structures on the playa before.

Thoughts, suggestions, insults?

Mahalo,
~Forrest~

ibdave · Post by **ibdave** » Thu Aug 10, 2006 10:15 pm

I use the costco car ports. I don't use guy lines I drive the rebar right next to the leg of the shade then use good duct tape the 2 together. I have never had a problem. Now the e-z ups might not be a sturdy it's your call... But the guy wires need to be seen by people so as to not trip them up.. Welcome home

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 5:16 am

I suggest running guylines with the EZ Up canopies, because of their sliding mechanical parts. Anchoring just the feet will allow the top to sway and shear, bending these parts enough to make folding them back up a heartbreak if not an impossibility. And if you plan a long relationship with the company lending you the shelter, you had probably better clean it thoroughly and let air dry before returning it- The playa dust loves to snack on the steel parts, and even the latterday powdercoated models get jammed up with it.
You should also keep the canopy "hunkered down" when possible, meaning keeping the legs short to reduce lift from below. These things can REALLY take off! And bring secondary shade materials like sheets or the like, to supplement the canopy material. It lets a lot of light through, which is nice for doing art fairs but not enough shelter from playa sun. (Assuming you'd have one with the stock white nylon canopy.) Also inspect the fittings where the cover meets the frame, to prevent wind/friction damage. AND...If it suddenly starts to pour down rain, be prepared to either bail out the top or just take it down at the corners. These things can hold an astonishing quantity of water, but then fail catastrophically.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 7:11 am

I used one (10×10) for five years. Last year the wind started to break the plastic joints.

Stake it at each leg then run a line from the stake to the top of the corners.
Then run a line from top to next leg on the unused sides.
Forming an X on each side. The X's help hold side tarps. Cheap 1/4 inch plastic rope will work fine.

nocturnal_steve · Post by **nocturnal_steve** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 7:54 am

I used one last year, ditto stake it down and not just at the feet ... I prefer going out from each of the four corners at least eight feet in two directions with two ropes, like a "V" coming from each top of corner ( attach from where the roof begins), this will give you decent leverage.

And bring secondary shade materials like sheets or the like, to supplement the canopy material.

I didn't have a problem with the top on mine... my goal being just to break the cruel midday sun. What I did have to do was bring extra material for the sides ( unless yours comes with the side flaps).

The sun is almost never directly overhead, and without side flaps it just
streams in , you have to move around as the sun orbits around the earth and the angle changes. I used shadescreen material . or you could use cameo net ... it broke the wind but did not put too much stress on sides of the structure.