The artist next to me gave me a tip on weighting down my tent (EZUP)
if pitched on grass. For $2 each go to Walmart and buy the large
screw in stakes often found in the pet department to tie up your dog.
Use a rope from the top corner of each side and tie with one of those
fancy knots that tighten or loosen. He says they hold down much
better than even a couple of cement blocks at each corner. They screw
in the ground at least 18" down. Put your hammer handle in the loop
at the top for ease in twisting it in or out. I’m going to throw 4 in
the van for my next show and give them a try instead of lugging
weights, although I’ll have some weights on hand just in case.
NET
For $2 each go to Walmart and buy the large screw in stakes often
found in the pet department to tie up your dog. Use a rope from the
top corner of each side and tie with one of those fancy knots that
tighten or loosen.
That is a GREAT idea, except when the show site is a street. One
cannot screw stakes, nor pound them into concrete, asphalt, or brick.
We use large buckets filled with water.
Yes, screw in stakes are great, but before using them, check with the
show promoter to see if they are allowed. There are many shows I do
that they won’t work (pavement) or are not allowed (parks) , because
they tear the grass up. One show I do fines you X number of dollars
per stake!! I use the pvc pipe filled with concrete with a screw eye
embedded on top. I bring along the stakes just in case I’m allowed to
use them. Wendy Newman
! I use the pvc pipe filled with concrete with a screw eye embedded
on top. I bring along the stakes just in case I'm allowed to use
them. Wendy Newman
Yes, we made those a few yrs ago and used them but they are very
bulky and heavy. Now we use something just as heavy but takes up less
space. We have 4 pieces of steel, ea about the size of a linoleum
tile 12"x12". There’s a screw/bolt of the corner that allows you to
attach it to your canopy leg. We bought them 2nd hand and I think
they were specially made. They are just as heavy as concrete but
take up so much less room in your vehicle.
Carol
On the subject of weighing down canopies–free weights are nice and
heavy, and have a hole in the middle which will fit around many tent
legs. But here’s one more idea. I take one or more marine batteries
with me to most shows, and a power inverter. The batteries are plenty
heavy to hold down an elephant, let alone a tent, and have a handle to
attach a bungee or whatever. Meanwhile, I can run lights, if needed,
and a fan, which is most welcome at most summer shows. Obviously, you
could run a sales terminal, or whatever, if you have enough battery
and inverter power. You would also need a battery charger for between
shows (or when you leave the lights on in the car), but my kids were
very impressed when we could still have a lamp–and tv–last time we
had a power outage. --Noel
Forgive me if this has already been suggested, I may have missed it:
Weights are no fun to lug around, so why not save some 1 gallon milk
jugs and fill them with water just the day you set up the display.
Surely you can find water almost anywhere you travel, gas stations,
rest stops, etc. Then when you knock down at the end of the show,
empty the water on some grateful plants and carry the light weight
empties home. Actually, keep one filled in case you need engine
cooling water. Alan Heugh