Car Shelter: Worthwhile brands (other than costco)

B_Spice · Post by **B_Spice** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 3:52 pm

Before you delete this, I just spent about an hour and a half looking through the forums trying to find answers to my question.

I have searched high and low for the fabled costco carport. I think they had a few last January at the costco in Eureka, CA, but since then they're nowhere to be seen. The south San Francisco location was carrying a few carports up until a week or two ago, but they were the Shelter Logic brand and really didn't seem all that sturdy, so I passed on purchasing it.

Now I'm almost regretting not buying it. Ordering one online seems sketchy, since there's no way to look and judge the sturdiness. People have briefly mentioned other brands (shelter logic, king canopy), but I have yet to find a clear answer on whether they held up or not. I know all about securing them as best as possible, but hearing stories of legs being bent by strong winds is always worrisome.

So what brands have you all had luck with? Also; Does Costco provide shipping from actual locations? (the closest structure I can find is in Sparks, NV). We all know that the carports don't actually exist on the site, so I'm wondering if there are alternate ways of obtaining them.

Thanks!

oneeyeddick · Post by **oneeyeddick** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 5:24 pm

All carports are playa worthy, some just need more rope or wire attached to help them out.

Anyone who has had a carport bend on them didn't take precaution enough.

White ones make less heat than the brown ones.

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 5:26 pm

I got mine, on line, from Sam's club. Worked great, good price, UPS to my door.

just a thought.

Post by **AntiM** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 5:28 pm

Ours bent one tube while the guys were putting the roof on, they had it in their hands setting up and the wind grabbed the tarp and torqued the roof tube. It wasn't even that windy, just a sudden strong gust at the wrong angle. And we have the old, heavy brand Sam's Club used to sell! It wasn't major, but enough to be a warning.

StevenGoodman · Post by **StevenGoodman** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 8:41 pm

Make sure to get the carports with 8 legs, not 6. Also, you want at least 1.25" legs.

You can buy various versions online from http://www.Sportsmansguide.com

But their prices don't seem very good. Especially the extra costs for shipping. We bought one for work a couple of years ago, I think it was ShelterLogic, was fine.

The big advantage of getting them at Costco or Sam's is no shipping costs.

Martini Steve

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 9:47 pm

Carport or car shelter?
For a car, try hemmings.
I seem to recall a carcoon too.

oneeyeddick · Post by **oneeyeddick** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 11:02 pm

what is a hemming ?

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 11:13 pm

An ancient bird from Arcadia.

Also a car magazine.

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Tue Jun 09, 2009 9:30 am

Gyre means to say herring.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Tue Jun 09, 2009 6:30 pm

oneeyeddick wrote:what is a hemming ?

A Hemming is an unacknowledged descendant of Thomas Jefferson.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Tue Jun 09, 2009 8:07 pm

A herring is a fish.
Or a misspelled bird.

http://www.hemmings.com/

Post by **Sham** » Tue Jun 09, 2009 8:20 pm

oneeyeddick wrote:what is a hemming ?

I'm pretty sure a hemming is the same thing as a henway!

By the way OED, were you able to open and see my e-mail?

oneeyeddick · Post by **oneeyeddick** » Tue Jun 09, 2009 8:32 pm

I got nuthin', this happens someetimes, especially from people on this board for some reason.

Try squirtbigload2@yahoo, it should work.

bdeywoo · Post by **bdeywoo** » Wed Jun 10, 2009 9:07 am

With the 4th of july comming up you can almost bet to find a Carport at an auto parts store on the cheap right after. Thats usually when they sell whats left a a discount, not the best quality but 1/3 the price sometimes.

If you are in Reno, hot august nights always produces multiple places for cheap carports.

Homiesinheaven · Post by **Homiesinheaven** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 11:26 am

i've been researching these 10X20 canopies a lot the past few days.

i dont think the brand matters as much as the size of the poles/frame. i would go with at least 1.5 inch diameter steel poles, the Costco ones are 2 inches. anything smaller is like a tent pole that is not sturdy enough for a structure of this size and i think would definitely bend in the high playa winds. i just called and there's a bunch of carports available in the bay area Costcos for under $200 (item #405094). Gilroy has 8, San Jose has 10, South SF has 12, Fremont 14. they dont ship to other locations so you would have to buy them there.

also, this is the best price i found online ($260 with shipping) for the 1.5 inch frame version:

http://www.golfoutletsusa.com/10-x-20-h ... o-002.aspx

you might also try craigslist where i found a new one for $190.

good luck!

Token · Post by **Token** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 11:49 am

Pep Boys carries the beefy Shelter Logic 8 leg car port.

Homiesinheaven · Post by **Homiesinheaven** » Fri Jul 24, 2009 12:22 pm

confirmed! thanks for the tip Token.

Pep Boys also currently has a deal on a huge 12X26 10 leg Shelterlogic for $229 after mail-in rebate. picked one up this morning!

it doesnt have sidewalls but as AntiM pointed out you can set them up at an angle so they're not as tall and therefore more wind resistant:

http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic.php?t=28801

oneeyeddick · Post by **oneeyeddick** » Fri Jul 24, 2009 2:37 pm

Homiesinheaven wrote:

it doesnt have sidewalls but as AntiM pointed out you can set them up at an angle so they're not as tall and therefore more wind resistant:

Hopefully you are only about 5'9" tall also, that doesnt work too well for those of us who are 6 feet tall.

Homiesinheaven · Post by **Homiesinheaven** » Fri Jul 24, 2009 5:06 pm

yeah, we're all around 5'10" in my camp. plus we'll mostly be sitting or sleeping under the shade.

dude, your animated GIF is SO distracting. i always have to avoid looking at it on all your posts.

gidget · Post by **gidget** » Fri Jul 24, 2009 8:42 pm

Hey B Spice, are you in Eureka (or NorCal in general)? This week the Costco in Medford, OR had carports. About $180 and sales-tax free! Although the gas to get there might even it out....

Timezone LaFontaine · Post by **Timezone LaFontaine** » Sat Jul 25, 2009 12:58 pm

Question about disassembling the carport. I'm beginning to test assembling mine, which is a ShelterLogic with 1.5" tubes that nest together. They nest so tightly as to inspire some confidence in their strength, but some worries about disassembling them. I was thinking of applying soap or some similar waxy material to the points where they nest together but obviously don't want to make them so slippery as to completely undermine their strength. I will be reinforcing the joints by wrapping them with gaffers tape. So perhaps there's a good balance between making them strong, but still able to come apart by hand when it's time to go, so they can lay flat in the payload of my small pickup. Any advice?

ibdave · Post by **ibdave** » Sat Jul 25, 2009 7:29 pm

Timezone LaFontaine wrote:Question about disassembling the carport. I'm beginning to test assembling mine, which is a ShelterLogic with 1.5" tubes that nest together. They nest so tightly as to inspire some confidence in their strength, but some worries about disassembling them. I was thinking of applying soap or some similar waxy material to the points where they nest together but obviously don't want to make them so slippery as to completely undermine their strength. I will be reinforcing the joints by wrapping them with gaffers tape. So perhaps there's a good balance between making them strong, but still able to come apart by hand when it's time to go, so they can lay flat in the payload of my small pickup. Any advice?

Just bring a 3# rubber mallet. Tap here, tap there...If that don't work, switch to a real hammer and beat the shit out of it...

I Know, I Know...