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Is there really such a thing as an Easy Up canopy?

Posted by Donna Jadis on April 29, 2015 at 7:09pm in Art Show Information and Discussions

So... I'm suddenly finding that my husband, partner and the Moose in "Mooseworks" may not be able to be with me for set up on some shows this year (and these shows start on May 10th).

I CANNOT get the bleeping "EZUp" canopy UP by myself... just don't have the upper body strength to push those corners into the locking position. I get ONE once in a while, but mostly, Gerry's the one that gets the canopy up. (Of course, he's the general all around schlepper and helper, too, but I can manage if he's not there).

SO... IS there actually a canopy made (standard 10'x10') that can be put up solo?

Looking for all info and suggestions. Thanks!

Donna

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Replies

  • Greg Little May 9, 2015 at 10:13pm
    Donna.......Once you pull the pop up apart to open it you can prop one end up so you can pull both legs out. Then prop up the other side and extend their legs. I recently saw someone do this with a ez up tent and it she put it up with very little effort. That is the same method i use to extend and install the legs on my Trimline ...Trimline sells a kit to use on their tents and the lady with the EZ up used a piece of common PVC pipe with a PVC "Y" connector on the end.
    I'm surprised more people don't use this simple method when setting up by themselves
  • Diane Wright May 9, 2015 at 9:10pm
    Donna, I agree that the ez up is not so easy to get up. About 2 years ago I bought a light dome which I put up myself (I'm 66) as my husband does not attend shows. I know they are expensive but worth it. I prefer to do shows inside, under a large tent or where I can rent a tent but they are few and far between. Another possibility would be to hire someone to set you up and load you out. I have seen that at shows.
  • Robert Wallis May 7, 2015 at 12:29am
    Just make sure that the parts move okay if you use a clamp or ratchet, otherwise you could break a strut if things refuse to move.
  • Donna Jadis May 6, 2015 at 6:12pm

    Well... the weekend of my first show this year is almost here... This Sunday. Thanks for all the comments and suggestions. I don't want to spend the kind of $$$ the Flourish and Craft Hut canopies cost... they also look like a lot of work to set up (not that one not quite deal-breaker of the EZUp frames.) Silicon spray sounds like a good idea to try (though I think I did many years ago.) And a clamp or ratcheting strap arrangement also sound like good options. Sunday I'm just going to ask for help with that one part and suck it up for the rest of what is normally a two person setup. I expect it to take me at least 3x longer than the two of us doing it together. Slow and steady... wish me luck and thanks all,

    Donna

  • Judy Goodwin May 6, 2015 at 5:24pm

    I've been doing shows by myself for quite a few years and I still use a Flourish and Craft Hut Canopy.  Now that we're older my husband uses the Flourish Canopy as it's heavier and I use the Craft Hut when we double up on shows. As I've aged (I'm 64) I've found that exercising is the best thing for me to do before show season.  I'm partially disabled by an old ankle & knee injury so I do a regime of upper body exercises all year round.  This (hopefully) keeps me in shape so I can wrestle with my canopy.   I worry that a storm or some other unexpected event (which HAS happened!) will force me to lower my canopy quickly for my safety as well as my neighbor's safety.   I guess I would say that if exercising doesn't help you might consider attending indoor shows. Keep in mind that pop up tents may be easy to set up and tear down but they are also vulnerable during bad weather (some shows don't even allow them).  Otherwise you can always go to Craigs List.  There is a section of local temporary for hire folks that will love to have a quick temporary job.   

  • Jeff DeVore May 5, 2015 at 8:28pm

    Don't know if you are already doing it this way but I normally spread the EZ up out as far as I can and then get underneath and lift from the center to get the corners out as far as possible.  Then I lock the bottom on the legs up a hole or two then lift up from the center again to get the corners out again. Then I stand on the foot that is attached to the leg and push the locking corner up with both hands.

  • Karole Bowlds May 3, 2015 at 8:57pm

    I have the same issue, can usually get three done, but the fourth one is always difficult...and usually find a neighbor is willing to help...that is the only part I need help with... the rest I just do. I did however discover that Wd -40 can help with that!! I spray all the scissor parts at the cross points, and this helps get them move easier. I also had a tough time once with the leg height adjustments sticking...WD-40 got them unstuck and they worked easier.... so now I just periodically spray the moving parts with it. And keep a can in my emergency kit.....Good luck! There are ALWAYS gentlemen willing to help a fellow vendor out... so if it comes right down to it... ask for help!!

    • Greg Little > Karole Bowlds May 3, 2015 at 9:40pm
      Silicone spray will work better than WD40 and will not be oily. The WD40 could stain yout tent cloth.
      Today I saw a person with a pop up tent using a piece of pvc pipe with a "Y" connector on the end. she propped up one of the sides in the center with it...similar to an EZ riser bar used with the Trimlines. It seemed to be Much easier for one person using it. Amazing what a little imagination and creative thinking will come up with for a solution
  • Donna Jadis April 30, 2015 at 12:40am

    Thanks for the replies and suggestions. I guess I feel like people will give me the hairy eyeball if I have to ask for help, but logically I know that all the people I've met at shows over the years are wonderful and help whenever they can. 

    I like the idea of the Harbor Freight clamp, though! Got one nearby that I can check out. 

    Still open to any additional ideas/suggestions. Keep 'em coming, thanks all!

    • Carol Bradley > Donna Jadis May 9, 2015 at 3:23pm

      I've never had anyone deny my request for help.  I am sure to make it specific, so no one thinks I'm asking for 15 or more minutes of their time.  I just say "can I borrow you for a minute to help me pop the first leg?"  (I can get the other three after the first one.)

      I watch out for people who are having a hard time with a tent and go offer them my help.  I think being able to help others makes others more willing to help me.  Often I'll get into a routine with another vendor where we both help each other automatically. 

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