Tents for craft shows

I too have an EZ-Up It is the Express II model. I have had it for
over 6 years and with proper weights I have never had a problem. I
have the 40 pound sandbag weights attached to each leg. I just did a
show with wind gusts as high as 40mph and my EZ-Up stayed in
position. I will be upgrading my top as the original is showing some
wear and tear after about 30plus shows in the crazy Midwest weather
(tornado winds, torrential downpours, etc.). I decided to go with a
500 denier top which should last me much longer than the original
top. When I bought it, it was around $350 and came with wheeled
cover, sandbag weights (minus the sand) and all 4 sidewalls. I don’t
regret it! I will also be investing in the mesh sidewalls that come
with the sta-bars which will add an additional 40 lbs to the frame as
well as added stability. The most important thing to consider is the
weighting. Yes the frame must be solid but even with a solid frame
you need to keep it properly weighted. Go ahead let the debate begin!

Monica
deliasdelightjewelry.com

REMEMBER: weights go at BOTTOM of legs - NOT halfway up - you want
the center of gravity as low as possible for best security - so
’e.r.o.g.’ it: ends resting on ground! don’t let your tent become a
’galloping gertie’ (look it up on google).

After having done outdoor shows for 18 years in Colorado winds, I
must disagree with you about weight placement.

If you rest your weights on the ground, you are not holding the tent
down as much as you could. If you were to fasten your weights with a
chain or something that doesn’t stretch to the top of the tent on all
four corners, you have weighted your tent thru the legs to the
ground. I believe that the galloping gertie (yes I know what that is)
effect happens when you fasten weights with a stretching cord, like a
bungie and don’t tie the weights to the legs. It also happens when
you don’t have enough weight. It could also happen when you have a
flexing tent frame - that’s what caused galloping gertie - resonance
in a flexing bridge.

Some artists tie their weights to stabilizer bars that span the
legs. Stabilizer bars really help to make a tent rigid.

I suppose it doesn’t matter whether you tie your weights to the top
of the tent. What does matter is that they do not rest on the ground.
FWIW, I made my weights of solid 2 inch square steel with a loop on
top. They are tidy and very heavy. I use a length of chain with "S"
hooks to attach the weights. I don’t want to waste space with PVC
pipe or other large weights. The last thing you need is something to
trip or distract clients. My dome tent has openings in the joint at
the top of the leg specifically to attach weights.

Judy Hoch

I think the issue more than anything is what you feel comfortable
with, I have always used a crafthut. They are very sturdy but I feel
their quality has slipped a bit over the years. I have friends who
have used easy ups for 20 years and never lost a tent. The trick is
to know how to properly weight or stake whatever you get. Probably
equally important is to know when to zip it up you get a strong wind
inside an ezup and they dont take the strain get it closed and your
probably ok the crafthut-light dome style tents are much bettert in
that regard.

I have done out door shows for almost 20 years and the wrecked
easyups are 10 fold that of the others. I do think that many of those
could have been avoided by learning what to do when a storm comes.

Dave Owen

it's been blown around a bit and i still haven't bothered to make
weights for it. 

Richard, it sounds like your EZ-UP is a missile waiting to be
launched into a neighbor’s booth. Make the weights! Or use what I’ve
been using. Google “Sand Caddy” and you’ll see a solution that has
worked well for me the past 3 seasons.

Allan

I can also vouch for Light Dome, plus weights (mine from Sports
Authority) to keep the tent on the ground and wheeled canvas duffles
(from LL Bean) for storage and transporting.

Re EZ-UP, you’re all correct according to my research. In
researching EZ-UP I spoke with a seller who did NOT recommend his own
product. Said that while the older tents were excellent, the newer
ones were not. I don’t know what the cutoff year is, but would be
wary of the newer ones.

As far as usability, I’m 5 foot 3 inches and a 64 year old weakling,
and can put up my 10 x 10 Light Dome by myself, if needed. Must admit
a short footstool or ladder helps, but it can be done without.

Mary Partlan
White Branch Designs

If the full weight of your weights is supported by the tent frame, is
it to heavy for the frame? It makes sense to me that the tent should
support the weight to get the full value. If the ground supports the
weight what good would it do? I am a little confused.

Jean Menden

If the full weight of your weights is supported by the tent frame,
is it to heavy for the frame? It makes sense to me that the tent
should support the weight to get the full value. If the ground
supports the weight what good would it do? I am a little confused. 

Jean - your question deserves a better answer. Sorry I didn’t do it
very well the first time.

Whatever tent you use should be sturdy enough to support the corner
weights. That is one very good reason to use a dome tent. They all
have some kind of place to attach heavy weights at the top level. The
ez-up types have their tops (even the expensive ones) sliding up the
leg pole. While it may work for a while, this kind of mechanical
sliding support probably isn’t the best to support weights.
Incidentally, different tents weights vary greatly. Some are steel,
some have pvc components, and some are aluminum.

Let me try a bit of basic physics on the issue. If you place a
weight on the ground - say the weight is 30 inches long and 4 inches
square and weighs 100 pounds, and you set it vertically on the earth,
you will have about 5.5 pounds per square inch of weight. Whatever
benefit you have from setting a weight on the ground would be
determined by how securely you tie the weight to the tent.

If you have the identical weight supported only by the tent leg,
which measures one inch square, you have 100 pounds of weight per
square inch.

As to where you attach the weights, if you can absolutely attach the
weight to the tent, even one inch from the earth, you have the same
holding power because all of the weight is transferred to the earth
thru the bottom of the leg.

If your tent is stable, that is it does not flex, the issue of where
you locate the weight doesn’t matter. Since all tents flex somewhat,
if you attach the weight to the top on a non-elastic chain, then
allow the weight to hang close to the earth, and tie the weight to
the tent leg with duct tape, you will reduce the moment of the
weight. That would reduce the galloping gertie effect of a resonant
moment.

And if you would tie your weight to the top of the tent with a
bungee cord, you maximize the moment of the weight and greatly
increase the chance of resonant moment in a wind.

Let’s get back to jewelry, please
Judy Hoch

Hello Judy,

You could set that analysis to music, in a spare moment.

Marty

I want to thank everyone for the great suggestions for tents and
weights. You have a wealth of to offer, and it is much
appreciated.

Lorraine

I also want to thank everyone for the advice on using weights. The
technical aspect of where the weight shall rest is interesting and
makes perfect sense. So, when I cannot tether using screw in stakes I
will hang the weights from the top of the tent and zip tie them to
the verticals, off the ground of course!

Jean Menden

jean, and other people -

before you actually hang weights at the top of canopy legs please
read the random online advice below, some from canopy makers, and use
a little logic, i.e.: a tree with a tree house (weight at top) will
blow over long before a tree with a structure at the bottom.

  • “Never hang weights from the top of the canopy, such as water [see
    bottom] - or sand-filled milk jugs. They will fall and injure
    somebody. Always anchor weights to the bottom of the legs of the
    canopy.”

  • “The higher the weight the higher the center of gravity and the
    likelihood of the canopy blowing over increases.”

  • “Weigh down the legs of the canopy. Purchase ring weights that are
    specially designed to snap onto the bottom of each canopy leg.”

this site seemed to be the best of the random sites i found:

where it advises you that…

... the best way to attach them [weights] to your tent, I do not
recommend suspending them directly from your tent [top]! The
little button that telescopes the leg on most canopies was not
meant to hold 30 extra pounds! Rest them on the ground and use
something with a little give like rope, or something adjustable,
like strapping for a car. I have also seen heavy duty bungees.

so people, either use logic or at some show you might hear “take
down those weights and slowly step away from the tent. you have the
right to be illogical but you do not have the right to endanger your
neighbors.”

ive

  • a reminder that water weighs only about 8 pounds a gallon and, logic
    tells me, you can’t get more than a gallon of water into a gallon jug.