zipping up old caravan tent

we thank our wonderful pottery friend for giving us her caravan tent.  today we took it outside and put it together.  our problem -- by the time we zipped all the sides together, we lost inches so that we couldn't close the 'door' zipper (kinda like a pair of jeans 2 sizes too small - LOL).  there must be a methodology on putting up velcro sides, zipping so that the old product of having the front door zipped close would also work.


please guide us!  thanks! 


deborah:)

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  • My Caravan is about 8 years old.  What I have found is that I have to have it perfectly square and can't velcro to the legs or top until all sides are zipped.  I also don't add the sta-bars until after the zippers are connected in case i need to pull in the legs to make the final connection.  It's tight but doable. 
    • kathy - we took your suggestion -- and it worked -- the pieces fit!  thanks so much!
      • I glad it worked for you, Deborah!
        • we will do another 'practice' ==

           

          do you velcro the top of the bars or the bottom?  and what do you do about the front doors during the show?  thanks for the information --

           

          • I place the velcro so that the bottom of the sides brush the ground.  I haven't experienced a problem with the wind coming in from the bottom when zipped up.....yet....  re: the front, I just roll up the front into a neat roll while open for business and clip it to the frame.  but once that puppy is zipped, I never unzip it all the way unless I absolutely need to do so.

             

            • Hey all, sorry so late in responding to this thread, but I have an ez up type of tent and I too had problems with the sides being short.  I am personally a little vertically challenged and fastening the velcro along to top became a pain in the neck (literally).  I went to Harbor Freight or any hardware store should work.  But I purchased some grommets and a grommet tool.  I placed grommets in 1' intervals along the top and use metal shower curtain hooks to fasten the top of the panels to the frame.  I before my next show, I am going to do the same along each side and then use either zip ties or shoelaces to tie the sides in place.  Otherwise, I spend so much time going back and forth loosening and re strapping the velcro.
  • I have an EZ up.  Sometimes it seems to fit and other times I can't zip it all the way closed.  I think that if I don't get everything perfectly square it doesn't work.  I have clamps to keep it closed at the bottom when I need them.
  • I bought a new caravan tent and since the first day, have not been able to make the fourth side fit.  So I bought an extra white tarp (12 x 12' online at Tarpaflex) and clamp it to the frame.  You can buy inexpensive clamps (about $1.00 apiece) at Home Depot. Quick and easy, however its a shame that I have to do this at all.

  • I also have an old Caravan and I love it. The sides are just made too small. I always need about 3 more inches on all sides. I envy sides that actually zip all the way around! I use an old side and piece it together , and then clap it..

    I try to get the front to line up with the sides and then piece together the back. Wish I knew where I could just buy the zippered sides but by the time you buy the sides, you might as well buy the new tent that comes with them at about the same price. Good luck.

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