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EZ up Canopy

carter422
carter422 Posts: 58
edited October 2012 in EggHead Forum
I got my Egg about 3 weeks ago and can't cook enough.  But sometimes the weather doesn't cooperate so I am thinking about something like an EZ up for shelter while cooking.  Anyone got any recommendations?

Comments

  • Go get one, but try to get a heavy duty one, the ones with the cheap nylon will rip easily. I have a couple of them and the ones with the higher quality metal and top really are worth the extra money.



    "Entrepreneurs are simply those who understand that there is little difference between obstacle and opportunity, and are able to turn both to their advantage."

  • Lit
    Lit Posts: 9,053
    I have a Coleman 12' * 12' that is very well made. I got one of the cheap ez ups and it lasted about a year and the Coleman is easier to put up.
  • HDmstng
    HDmstng Posts: 192
    Look for ones that have drainage holes in the canopy.  If it happens to get caught in a rain storm the weight of the water can bring it down.
  • nolaegghead
    nolaegghead Posts: 42,102
    HDmstng said:
    Look for ones that have drainage holes in the canopy.  If it happens to get caught in a rain storm the weight of the water can bring it down.
    Doesn't that kinda defeat the purpose?
    ______________________________________________
    I love lamp..
  • Little Steven
    Little Steven Posts: 28,817
    They are great for eggfests

    Steve 

    Caledon, ON

     

  • Mickey
    Mickey Posts: 19,669
    I buy commercial ones for the dealership and they last years. The $99 at SAMs, not so long.
    Salado TX & 30A  FL: Egg Family: 3 Large and a very well used Mini, added a Mini Max when they came out (I'm good for now). Plus a couple Pit Boss Pellet Smokers.   

  • Skiddymarker
    Skiddymarker Posts: 8,522
    edited October 2012
    I gave up on the easy-up, too much wind and rain in the Pacific northwest - so I bit the bullet and retired the table, and gave my egg a house. The side benefit is I stay dry. 
    Delta B.C. - Whiskey and steak, because no good story ever started with someone having a salad!
  • Mickey
    Mickey Posts: 19,669
    Skiddymarker where are you in the Pacific Northwest?
    Salado TX & 30A  FL: Egg Family: 3 Large and a very well used Mini, added a Mini Max when they came out (I'm good for now). Plus a couple Pit Boss Pellet Smokers.   

  • henapple
    henapple Posts: 16,025
    Nice set up skid
    Green egg, dead animal and alcohol. The "Boro".. TN 
  • GreenhawK
    GreenhawK Posts: 398
    I have an EZup that we use in competitions.  It has held up well. It has some grease stains on the canopy though.  Battle wounds.
    Large BGE Decatur, AL
  • Skiddymarker,  Nice rig!  But what is the black square thing with the white bottle under it???  LOL  :-0
  • Does it kill mosquitoes?
    Flint, Michigan
  • Eggdam
    Eggdam Posts: 223
    STANGOJE said:

    Skiddymarker,  Nice rig!  But what is the black square thing with the white bottle under it???  LOL  :-0

    That is the shelf to hold his plate setter when not in use!

  • Skiddymarker
    Skiddymarker Posts: 8,522
    Eggdam said:
    Skiddymarker,  Nice rig!  But what is the black square thing with the white bottle under it???  LOL  :-0
    That is the shelf to hold his plate setter when not in use!
    Thanks, Yep, it is good storage shelf for anything hot and as you can see it is doing just that. It is also a great warming oven and when the four grandkids show up, it still does hot dog duty, 5 year olds want it all want it now. 
    @Fred19Flintstone, no need to kill mosquitoes, we really don't get many, when we first moved into this house, there were no screens. 
    @Mickey, Delta BC is home. 
    Delta B.C. - Whiskey and steak, because no good story ever started with someone having a salad!
  • Mickey
    Mickey Posts: 19,669
    Skiddymarker what a great part of the world. We were in Bellingham a couple of years ago and going to come back to the area this summer. You have those things called trees.
    Salado TX & 30A  FL: Egg Family: 3 Large and a very well used Mini, added a Mini Max when they came out (I'm good for now). Plus a couple Pit Boss Pellet Smokers.   

  • Lit
    Lit Posts: 9,053

    This is my 12'*12' Coleman about 2 years ago. I use it alot and it still looks brand new. Its not good in strong winds though I would say over 10 mph I would take it down. The thing is huge its like a wind sail. Its under $150 at Wal Mart.

    image

  • HDmstng
    HDmstng Posts: 192
    edited October 2012
    HDmstng said:
    Look for ones that have drainage holes in the canopy.  If it happens to get caught in a rain storm the weight of the water can bring it down.
    Doesn't that kinda defeat the purpose?


    Water will pool in the canopy and if you don't get rid of it, the weight of the water will collapse the tent.  Happened to ours last summer.  My wife left it up and out and we had a rain storm during the night.  The weight of the water broke about 25 of the various plastic brackets that hold it together.  Luckily I was able to get the parts and repair it for about $20.  
    This isn't ours, but that is basically what happened.

    image
  • I gave up on the easy-up, too much wind and rain in the Pacific northwest - so I bit the bullet and retired the table, and gave my egg a house. The side benefit is I stay dry. 
    nice, but how does it travel? lol



    "Entrepreneurs are simply those who understand that there is little difference between obstacle and opportunity, and are able to turn both to their advantage."

  • Lit
    Lit Posts: 9,053
    The Coleman has enough supports all the way around it that they don't allow it to pool. There is a tiendown about every foot to the metal support and then every corner has a support that adjusts to the pole and also you can stake it if you want added support. I have never used the stake tie down.
  • ShedFarm
    ShedFarm Posts: 499
    edited October 2012
    Without shelling out the big bucks for a true commercial canopy, I really like the Undercover models, over the EZ-up ones. The Undercover canopies have an adjustable peak, that allows you to tighten up the roof panels, using a dial. It really helps keep the rain from pooling. The legs are also sturdier, and the release mechanism is much easier to work with. The rolling bags are made pretty tough, too. You can usually find the Undercover UC-3 at Lowe's website. More info is available at www.iundercover.com

    One other thing to keep in mind, when looking at canopies, is whether they have "straight" or "angled" legs. Some manufacturers give the dimensions, based upon where the feet get planted (versus the size of the canopy, itself), so a 12'x12' unit with angled legs, may actually only provide you with a 10'x10' canopy. The angled legs may give you a bit more bracing in a wind storm, but for Eggfests, they tend to get in the way, and you risk people tripping over them.
    BJ (Powhatan, VA)
  • I am looking at the one Sam's carriers for $200.  It says it has a commercial grade top.  I just wish I could see one before I buy it to see how well it is actually made.
  • Mickey
    Mickey Posts: 19,669

    I just went and checked. Ours are the Professional Duty line of EZ up. Some are 8 to 10 years old. Also imprinted.

    But get the credit card out.

    Salado TX & 30A  FL: Egg Family: 3 Large and a very well used Mini, added a Mini Max when they came out (I'm good for now). Plus a couple Pit Boss Pellet Smokers.   

  • Mickey said:

    I just went and checked. Ours are the Professional Duty line of EZ up. Some are 8 to 10 years old. Also imprinted.

    But get the credit card out.


    Yeah it's a little pricey


  • NibbleMeThis
    NibbleMeThis Posts: 2,295
    I leave a pop up like that up all year round and they have lasted a little over a year each.  I use the el-cheapo First-Up models from Walmart for $99.  

    This year we bought a unit from Big Lots that is a more permanent structure but we'll see how long the canopy lasts.    If it fails, I might just have a boat canvas place make a new one that will last.
    Knoxville, TN
    Nibble Me This
  • travisstrick
    travisstrick Posts: 5,002
    I had one and just like HDmstng, mine collapsed and broke. If you buy a cheap one you will end up like me. Mine broke and I tried to cook on it one last time before I threw it away. I turned the wrong way and poked my eye on a broken end. I suggest buying a pro one and be done with it. image
    Be careful, man! I've got a beverage here.
  • jfm0830
    jfm0830 Posts: 987
    I know I'm a bit late to the party here but I ran into this thread and thought there is something I should add about old vs new EZ-Ups. I had a 10'x10' EZ-Up that covered my grills for 7 years. It finally died last fall when I was taking it down. I got a new model this spring which was the 2012 equivalent of the one I had before. I notice right away that they had "value engineered" it so the roof used less trusses and in different places than the old one. This model didn't even last the summer. I took it down at 2:30 AM in a pouring rain storm because it was needing to be drained every 30 minutes and was in danger of collapsing and taking out my new Egg.

    The problem was the redesigned roof supports. The old model had sloped roof support trusses under the roof ridges. The rainwater that collected did so at the bottom of the sloped roof midway between the two corners. This resulting sag in the roof could be fixed by stretching the roof material and taping the bottom of the roof to the side trusses. The new model does not have any sloped trusses. There is a single pole that is supported by "ceiling level" horizontal trusses. This pole extends up to the peak of the roof. I was worried about this new design when I saw it in the spring. There is far less support under the roofing material. On this model the rain collects in the corners on either side of the corner post. You can't stretch and tape the roof material like you could on the old model. There are reinforced pockets at the corner that prevent the pole from tearing through the roof. These also keep you from stretching the roof material to try to eliminate sags. 

    So I could recommend the 2005 vintage EZ-Ups as a semi-permanent solution. I did take mine down from November to March.  But the new design with a single pole supporting the roof at the peak failed in 4 months for me. Granted these EZ-Up tents aren't intended to be left up all the time. I would look into the models some folks mentioned here that has a way to retension the roof material. 

    Jim
    Website: www.grillinsmokin.net
    3 LBGE & More Eggcessories than I care to think about.
  • Travis, I love that picture of you in your eyepatch.  I keep thinking of the ad on tv that says "When you wear an eyepatch, people think you're tough.  When people think you're tough, they want to see how toough you are..."  Your pink shirt makes you look tough!
    Flint, Michigan
  • travisstrick
    travisstrick Posts: 5,002

    Travis, I love that picture of you in your eyepatch.  I keep thinking of the ad on tv that says "When you wear an eyepatch, people think you're tough.  When people think you're tough, they want to see how toough you are..."  Your pink shirt makes you look tough!

    :ar!
    Be careful, man! I've got a beverage here.
  • BigWader
    BigWader Posts: 673

    For those of you using the temporary canopies - have you had any sparking issues with the cover while doing pizza or other searing?

    I guess it would be fine for low and slow but going full bore this thing shoots flames.  How much clearance is required?

    Toronto, Canada

    Large BGE, Small BGE

     

  • Mickey
    Mickey Posts: 19,669

    Grasshopper has a pink shirt (and he carries) :ar!

    I feel very safe at lunch with him <:-P

    Salado TX & 30A  FL: Egg Family: 3 Large and a very well used Mini, added a Mini Max when they came out (I'm good for now). Plus a couple Pit Boss Pellet Smokers.