Canopy weights

[swamprb]

What do you guys use to hold down your pop-up canopies at comps? It's something I never really considered in planning for last weekend. Twice a big wind blast roared through the lot and canopies were flying and WSM's and kettles were toppled as a result. I only lost my timeline/journal and was hanging on to to the frame for dear life! I packed it away for the day,the organizers bought some cinder blocks, but I walked around and looked at what the pros were using, saw some sand bags, and some PVC pipes filled with cement on the legs and someone else mentioned using a Remington impact concrete nailer!

Anything else to consider?

Brian

 

[Bigmista]

Gallon jugs of water. Bags of Kingsford Charcoal. Children who tend to wander off. Any of these with a roll of duct tape and your problem is solved!

 

[ZBQ]

What do you guys use to hold down your pop-up canopies at comps? It's something I never really considered in planning for last weekend. Twice a big wind blast roared through the lot and canopies were flying and WSM's and kettles were toppled as a result. I only lost my timeline/journal and was hanging on to to the frame for dear life! I packed it away for the day,the organizers bought some cinder blocks, but I walked around and looked at what the pros were using, saw some sand bags, and some PVC pipes filled with cement on the legs and someone else mentioned using a Remington impact concrete nailer

Can you discribe how the PVC pipe was made and how they were attached?

This sounds interesting because it would store flat for transport and take up very little space around the leg.

I have seen 5 gal. buckets filled with water/sand/cement and the handles tied to the upper frame of the EZ-UP with ropes. A buddy of mine uses 45 lb weights from a wieght bench. He takes the bottom section of the leg completely out and then slides the weight down over it to the triangular "foot" and then reinserts the bottom section of the leg back into the upper section. The hole is just small enough that the triangle part wont come through. The only draw back to the 45 lb. weights I see is big oafs like me stub their toes on them and drop perfectly made bowls of Gumbo on the ground.:roll:

 

[BowtieBill]

We have used buckets, with snap on lids, filled with water. Or we use barbell weights. Both of these are attached by using racheting staps attached to the upper braces of the canopy at each corner.
One of these days I might break down a buy some of the weight bags made for ez-ups. But these seem to work well, as long as I use them. Had a sudden gust come up at the last event, hadn't put any weights on yet. Luckily we were right there and able to grab the canopy before it took off.

 

[The Giggler]

We usually carry at least two 54 quart coolers for meats, lettuce, and uhh consumables to competition. Smaller hardside coolers work well too. They are always filled with ice and melt water. For our ez-up, we run either ratchet straps through the handles and up over the frame, or use the simple tension straps that are used to secure things to our pit during travel. The coolers are positioned windward and set with straps. Hasn't failed us yet, and we have endured some rather inclimate weather - especially here in WNY.

Recently, we acquired a 10' x 20' galvanized tube frame shelter. Our Klose Mobile provides the ballast on one end, and we use the coolers for the long side. Works pretty good too.

I have found that by using items that are already going, eliminates the need from more items to pack and transport.

Good luck. Mike.

 

[ZBQ]

Exellent ideas!!
Thanks!:-D

I have found that by using items that are already going, eliminates the need from more items to pack and transport.

 

[tony76248]

Just get some 5 gallon plastic buckets and fill one with concrete and tie down the middle of the canopy if possible. Use tiedowns and make it as tight as possible. If you cant tie down the middle, then put one at each corner, but you wont need to use as much concrete.

 

[parrothead]

We usually carry at least two 54 quart coolers for meats, lettuce, and uhh consumables to competition. Smaller hardside coolers work well too. They are always filled with ice and melt water. For our ez-up, we run either ratchet straps through the handles and up over the frame, or use the simple tension straps that are used to secure things to our pit during travel. The coolers are positioned windward and set with straps. Hasn't failed us yet, and we have endured some rather inclimate weather - especially here in WNY.

Recently, we acquired a 10' x 20' galvanized tube frame shelter. Our Klose Mobile provides the ballast on one end, and we use the coolers for the long side. Works pretty good too.

I have found that by using items that are already going, eliminates the need from more items to pack and transport.

Good luck. Mike.

That is exactly what we do. We have a wide array of bungees and straps with us all the time. We also already have a good amount of heavy things with us. Coolers, 5 gallon jugs of water, the cooker, the truck, etc. We make use of those. I'm not going to lug along anything extra that I don't have to.

 

[butts a fire]

One of the posts a few weeks back was talking about using collapsible water jugs bring them empty then fill them up at the event.

 

[KC_Bobby]

We have cinder blocks for the 10x20, then just tie coolers, water jugs or even some wood if I need to all corners. I figure I bring plenty of stuff already.

 

[Chris Nickelson]

we use custom sewn sandbags and tie down straps that can be cinched up around the legs. never had a problem yet. Even at a couple of North K.C. comp. storms.

 

[JD McGee]

Depending on the post sizes and if they have removeable feet...you can use barbell weights. Scrap metal plates work well too...and you can gussie them up with a little paint.:biggrin:

JD

 

[Jorge]

Collapsible 5 gal. water containers sure are nice, since you aren't paying to haul the weight to and from the contest. At about 8 1/3 lbs. per gallon a few go a long way.

 

[Greendriver]

One of the posts a few weeks back was talking about using collapsible water jugs bring them empty then fill them up at the event.

I use these and like em purdy good with one draw back...they are hard to fold and make stay folded so I just quit trying to do that and tie all four together with a rope and throw em in the truck or trailer. We compete on grass as often as not and so far the long stakes that came with my 10 x 10 nailed in the ground at an angle has held real good so far.

 

[Norcoredneck]

Water jugs and tent stakes get my vote.

 

[swamprb]

Like I said, I was hanging on to the frame for dear life and was amazed at the force of the wind and at one time 3 people were holding it down! Right now hauling extra stuff is is not something I have the luxury of, so I'll take in all the suggestions!

ZBQ- The PVC pipes I've seen are 3 or 4" dia. and 4 or 5' long filled w/cement and capped on the ends with an eye bolt for a tiedown strap around the top frame and straps or bungees on the legs. Saw some others at a car show that had a plug in one of the caps that could be filled with water. I like that one!

Brian

 

[jacob]

Good info here

 

[mds2]

My old teammate made this after our first really windy contest. They have an insert in the center that the bolt screws into. I guarantee that your canopy will not blow away if you make some of these. They weigh around 90 pounds apiece and a huge pain in the ass to move around

 

[Bbq Bubba]

Damn boy, that would hold down a small house!!

 

[jtfisher63]

Like others here we use our largest cooler and tie down to the very middle of the easy up. It surprisingly doesn't get in our way. The only problem I have noticed is that towards the end of the comp and after consuming most of the beer inside the cooler it becomes fairly light. We have a comp this Friday in a town that is known for constant winds due to it being near the bay. We'll see how our cooler hold down works.

Jason