Link To Share, helpful for Display Tents

[Amber]

Hey folks, just wanted to share a web page I came across when looking for ways to hold down display tents :). I ended up buying dumbbells from Walmart but I'm sure there are folks who'd like something a little nicer and this tutorial shows how to make your own weights using pvc piping, some cement and a few long eye hooks. I was incredibly close to going down this route myself, I'm going to try out the dumbbells to start and if I don't like those then I'll pawn them off on the hubby and go the extra heavier pipes.

I had looked at those tent weight plates online but most, that I found anyways, where only 5lbs each and I didn't know if that would be enough to hold the portable tent in a strong gusty day. The dumbbells I bought were 15lbs each, (except for one that's 20lbs but that's only because they didn't have a fourth 15lbs dumbbell *lol.) When I was picking them up I thought they felt heavy enough but I won't know until I try, and this tutorial is going to be my next step if I need something more.

   http://homedeconomics.blogspot.com/2009/05/pvc-tent-weight-tutorial.html 

[PiscesGlass]

Great find Amber! 

Cheap materials and a fairly easy process for making your own weights.  LOL, I had a friend that used buckets filled with sand to hold her tent down with, but imagine carrying four large buckets full of sand with you every where you go, the space they'd take up, plus lugging them to where ever your setup site is. Ugh.

De

[Amber]

That's exactly what I was thing De, no matter what I used it was going to be heavy but when I saw sand bags and even the fancy ones that velcro upright around the poles it just seemed bulky. That and water jugs, a lot of home remedies were all bulky an awkward, but these were clean and very travel friendly!

[PiscesGlass]

I'll remember this site, for when (If) I ever get to set up a tent display someplace!!  I know that the big show that happens via the Maine Craftsman Association around the corner from me usually has either really wonderful weather, or really drastic winds and torrential rain. LOL.  So if I ever show there this advice will come in handy!

De

[Lou Ann]

I had looked at those tent weight plates online but most, that I found anyways, where only 5lbs each and I didn't know if that would be enough to hold the portable tent in a strong gusty day.

I have the weight plates and they work better than you would think; a few years back, I actually had to leave my canopy up on our deck into the fall months when it can get pretty windy around Nashville (hurricane residual weather) and they held it in place just fine...

Also, I have to say on a day that is too windy for these plates, I personally would not want to be outside displaying my inventory anyway (too much risk for breakage).

Lou Ann

[Amber]

I'm relieved to hear they work! I was a bit worried that even the 15lbs weights I just got might not be enough but if the 5 pounder plates work great then I should be safe *phew*. I'm about to try my tent for the very first time at a small event downtown and other then a couple test runs in my driveway to see how it all goes together I've not put the tent to good use yet. It's supposed to be up to 33*C with the humidex on Saturday and I'll be out for 8 hours, I need the shade *lol.

[meaco]

I use these same weights.  Got my dad to make them for me for my last show.  They worked great.  The day of the show was an extremely windy day and I saw several displays get knocked over and a tent did blow away.  Mine, thankfully, did not go anywhere.  I had the weights strapped to the legs with some zip line and stakes in the ground at the bottom of the tent.  My glass was blowing in the wind, but nothing fell...thank goodness!  

[Kev]

I've seen people use small handled bags like bowling ball bags filled with gravel with cords wrapped around the poles. Looked like a pretty easy thing to make and easy to move about.

[Lou Ann]

I'm relieved to hear they work! I was a bit worried that even the 15lbs weights I just got might not be enough but if the 5 pounder plates work great then I should be safe *phew*.

how are you planning to attach dumbbells? I think the success of any of the weights is all in how they are attached...

[Amber]

I was thinking of just using the ropes that came with the tent, they're supposed to be for the ground stakes but this weekend I'm on pavement and another show I want to do doesn't allow vendors to drive the stakes into the ground. I may switch to bungee cords later, but we'll see how it goes this Saturday first :).

[Amber]

Well, it's been a couple weeks since I used the tent with the dumbbells................ lousy. I had my tent up for the first few hours but the wind picked up in gusts by the afternoon and the tent had to come down and fast! When I got home I checked the wind speeds and the gusts were up as high as 20km with an average of about 15km .............. and average here is 10km but with the location being so close to the river on a slightly gusty day was too much.

So I'll be using the tutorial above to bump my total weight from 60lbs (15 each corner) up to 160lbs (40 each corner) to keep the canopy in place. When it comes to the 3 day show at the end of summer I think I'll be taking apart the tent at the end of each day to play it safe, I would feel awful if my tent blew on someone else's display overnight and it's just a big risk I'll opt not to take *L.

[Lou Ann]

sorry to hear it didn't go well, you might consider adding the slotted weights like I have because they fit right around the legs and keep them from moving...

[Anne]

that's a drag Amber!  Are you going to take your whole display down every night at the 3 day show?  Man, that's a lot of work! Do you think maybe if you have the heavier weights it might be ok? Is the set up on pavement or on grass? Can you stake it down as well as use the weights?  The canopy's that you and I have are really heavy - I've done a lot of outside shows and left it up - even when it's been windy and we've been ok.  The show I did this week was REALLY windy and we ended up putting 2 walls up mid day and it was ok. For overnight shows we've put up all four walls and enclosed the booth completely - it gave us no problems with stability! Hope that info helps.

[Amber]

It was an experience that's for sure *L. I'm going to use the tutorial above, no sense in buying anything less then the 15lbs per post since and to get the 40lbs mark for each corner I think pvc pipe and concrete fill will be my most cost effective and long term option. I think I'll try bungee cords as well, Lou Anne you mentioned how the weight is applied being just as important as the amount and the cords will give a better weight placement I think.

As for leaving it up overnight Anne, I'm glad to hear you haven't had any issues....... I think I'll play that one close to the ground when it comes time.  After spending the working day in the tent and seeing the weather and new weights I may feel o.k. with packing the glass in bins but leaving the tent up. I can't stake it into the grounds unfortunately since it's in violation of that location's rules, and it's close to the river which means that the winds are always a few km faster down there.

I might be being a little over cautious though, last year I volunteered at this 3 day show to scope it out and plan for this year as a participant, anyways TONS of EZ up tents were used and everyone left them up overnight. And every morning I showed up with everything looking the same, so no horror stories *lol. It's so hard to tell from year to year though, that and I read on another glass forum the entire topic history for EZ -ups............... I think I would have been better off not having done that *L. Not many good things were said about them, it seems lots of vendors prefer higher end models but those are way out of my budget. That and I don't do a lot of big outdoor shows so I don't know what I'd do with an outdoor booth worth $1000+, just not really that practical for where I am location wise and as a little crafter.

[Glassic]

I'm out on a limb here, never put one of these things together.
Is the wind a problem because ventilation is indaquate?
If so, would drapery eyelets/grommets help enable an airflow through the tent?
Tent flaps left open would do the same thing.
The concrete idea is something like what I have on my pvc greenhouse frame, I used rebar instead, less messy!

[Anne]

Amber, you bought the same canopy as I did. EZ up is another brand and I don't think they're nearly as stable as what we have. Just thought I'd mention that.  I've seen lots of EZ ups go over but never one of ours if they're weighted properly. The show I did this week was beside a really wide river and the winds were pretty strong and two years ago I did a show beside the Pacific ocean - windy there too, and all the canopy's (like ours) were fine. Anyway, not to "beat a dead horse", just trying to help put your mind at ease a bit.

[Amber]

Not beating a dead horse at all Anne, to be honest I thought ours was just another brand but essentially the same materials... kinda like I call all facial tissues Kleenex *lol. The clarification is really appreciated :), since of course you're telling me we got something better *grin*. My issue may well be fixed with a better weight system then what I tried last time, goodness knows I'm up for trying other options rather then buying a new tent, $$$ or paying to be under the big tent provided on site which is $$.

As for grommets and eyelets Glassic, unfortunately that prevents me from using it reliably in rain. I though the same as you that if it was windy then by taking down the two walls I had on at the time would allow for the wind to flow through but it only got worse........ not sure if it's because it got caught in the lid and was more pressure, or if the wind picked up even more but either way it didn't work. I've seen some pictures of canopies that had a separate pyramid on top and that may be for ventilation like you said, but I don't know if that makes it unreliable in rain..... someone else here may have one like that though?

[Glassic]

Seems you have a 'fairweather' tent. Lack of a top vent can pose a problem, opening the two walls indicates that. If you know someone that can sew canvas, a couple of shadecloth panels and velcro cover flaps might help. My experience is with boat canvas, the cover flaps worked well on boom tents but they were open fore and mostly aft.