Need easier way to erect canopy

HI Folks

I have a 10x10 canopy with all steel tubing and solid steel braces on all corners its a very solid built canopy ,but very heavy.

It's also tall at the corners and it makes it very difficult for my wife and I to erect, trying to lift one end of the tent while she puts the almost 7' leg under it is near impossible for this old couple. I think it would go up a lot easier if I could cut the legs in half and raise it in sections, but I need a way to reconnect the two pieces of each leg back together to maintain the integrity and strength.

Any ideas out there or am I making any sense at all. All I need is a sleeve or connector that fits over the diameter of the leg , or with maybe a bolt or pin to keep it in place. I'll include an image of the tent for more clarity. Will this make it easier to erect this, or am I just whistling Dixie?

I think what would work really well is a set of 2' legs with adjustable holes for uneven ground. This way I wouldn't have to lift the whole thing up over my head. Where can I get such a thing that would fit my legs of " 1 1/2 inch outside diameter tubing " ?

Thanks Randall

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Replies

Robert Wallis September 2, 2011 at 11:51pm

Check to see if the tubing used for the legs is the same size as EMT tubing used for electrical conduit. An old tent I had back about 18 years ago used what was called snap joint connections. It was 3/4 inch tubing cut in 5 foot sections and some shorter pieces to make a 10x10 canopy with a 2 foot awning. The pipes, or rather some of them, had a inner pipe whose O.D. matched the I.D. of the outer pipe. Find some concentric tubing that fits like that and install about 8 inches inside one of the ends, leaving half sticking out. you could drill a hole into both sections and either pop rivet the two together or use sheet metal screws dipped in Loctite to keep the bushing in place. Assemble the two long pieces together and drill all the way through pipes so you can install a retaining pin to keep them together.

Another solution is to bring along a sturdy painter pole with a bracket on the end to hold the top in place, and use it to raise the end of the tent high enough to insert the legs. Trimline carries a special tool like this to raise their tents. Either gets theirs or modify something like I've described to do the same thing.

Again getting back to the concentric tubing, that has the possibility of making a set of sliding legs that could even out a lot of crap. If you can find a set of tubing such as the EMT tubing that is close nough to slide easily without undue slop, I'd make a set of legs from 4 1/2 foot sections, and drill matching holes about every inch toward the mutual ends for retaining pins, That would give you an extra foot or so of adjustment room., noot to mention having the tent only four and a half foot tall during assembly,
- randall branham > Robert Wallis September 3, 2011 at 5:09am
  
  Thanks folks for responding- "Robert" thats the way my corner connections work the leg tubing is 1 1/4 " O.D.and slips up into the 1 1/2 " I.D. corner piece. I'm waiting to get to Lowes now to try and find out if I an fit something together.
  
  I really would like to keep this tent it's very solid and works well except hard for us older folks especially after two major surgery's.
  
  Thanks Randall
  - Robert Wallis > randall branham September 3, 2011 at 7:48am
    
    If all else fails, make yourself a "tree" that will fit onto the horizontal bars up in the peak of the tent and use that to lift the tent up so you can slide the legs into place.
    - randall branham > Robert Wallis September 3, 2011 at 8:52am
      
      Good Idea thats the way we used to lift up a gable wall on the end of a framed house.
      
      I might just do that also - along with the leg extensions.
      - steve appel > randall branham September 3, 2011 at 9:45am
        
        The only thing wrong with the new light domes is the corners. instead of steel they are now some sort of plastic and after awhile the holes expand. get a used one with steel corners
randall branham September 2, 2011 at 6:47pm

Thanks Larry This may be what I will do I have thought about it a lot , but when you are limited it's hard to do.

thanks randall
- Marty Reed > randall branham September 2, 2011 at 10:38pm
  
  I would not go lighter, I was in Houghton Lake MI today and the lighter tents were flying everywhere. I have 2 EZ ups, and I lost my tops, got the sides down in time. 2 lighter tents just folded, I would (if it was me) really try and find a way to keep using what you have.......
- Larry Berman > randall branham September 2, 2011 at 7:00pm
  
  I had a Craft Hut for about twelve years and had no problem setting it up or breaking it down. But two years after I sold it after not setting it up for a few years, I decided to get a used Trimline, which is very similar to a Craft Hut. After setting it up twice, I realized that it was now too much for the few shows I'm now doing so I sold it and purchased a new Light Dome. Even the first show I used it at, set up was under an hour and break down was under a half hour. I now carry a small folding step stool to make putting the top on and off easier. Also helps putting the mesh walls on the sides.
  
  Larry Berman
  http://BermanGraphics.com
  412-401-8100
Larry Berman September 2, 2011 at 6:22pm

Sell it and try and find a used or new Light Dome. It's the lightest of the sturdy canopies. I sold my used Trimline and purchased a Light Dome earlier this year and wouldn't use anything heavier or more complicated.

Larry Berman