easy-up canopy as cheap wall-tent?

[twoSevenO]

Just saw the easy-up canopies at costco that were 10x10, with walls for $279.
Curious if anyone ever tried using one as a cheap-o wall tent option.

Actually seemed pretty sturdy so if you added some guy lines i think it'd be decent for a short stay in a drier cilmate. Wondering if anyone had ever attempted to camp under one and what they thought.

3-4 nights with a small generator and an electric heater ought to make for a fairly comfy stay? Thoughts?

http://www.asyfreedomwalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/10x10-canopy-costco-image-instant-canopy-10-x-10-by-asyfreedomwalk-com.jpg

[Squamch]

Same unit is $100 at Wal-Mart. All my camping crew has one. Looks like a damn craft fair when we have a dozen people out camping. I wouldn't want to sleep in one, but they're good for a cook tent at the back of truck or camper.

[RackStar]

I’ve seen the car port ones used as a wall tent. A guy from work uses one and piped out a stove. Seems like he’s happy with it. I want to add a wood stove option to my longer / late season hunts. Beats the wet rat feeling

[New Bow Hunter]

Picked up one of the Coleman ones. Will let you know how it works

[twoSevenO]

Same unit is $100 at Wal-Mart. All my camping crew has one. Looks like a damn craft fair when we have a dozen people out camping. I wouldn't want to sleep in one, but they're good for a cook tent at the back of truck or camper.

Do they come with sides and aluminum frame?
Cause all the Walmart ones I've seen were crappier construction and no sides

[MOUNTAIN MICKEY]

I have helped set a few of these up. The new Coleman ones (2018) seem to be the "best" ones out there. Sturdier construction and a fair bit easier to erect.

[David]

Amusingly enough I just bought one of those off Amazon.com and have used it for two outings so far this year...

The Wal-mart ones are Wal-mart quality.

The Coleman ones are a step up, but not "industrial" quality.

I bought a brand called Eurmax off of Amazon.com (after converting USD to CAN it was a bit more than the Costco model). "Quality" brands are EurMax, EZ-up, and one other I forget. There are also a number of local aluminum tent companies that make them.

If walls are not an issue - or if you are willing to buy 8X10 tarps to use as walls, I would also consider this one (or something like it) - that has venting at the peak of the tent... explanation on why venting is good below:
www.amazon.com/CORE-Instant-Shelter-Pop-Up-Wheeled/dp/B01E45EYJY/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1528080071&sr=8-7&keywords=pop-up+tent (http://www.amazon.com/CORE-Instant-Shelter-Pop-Up-Wheeled/dp/B01E45EYJY/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1528080071&sr=8-7&keywords=pop-up+tent)

They go up pretty easy (set up at home for the first time to stretch the roof out). Two people is preferable, if you only have one person then spike on of the legs into the ground before pulling it out to set it up.

They WILL move in the wind (despite what people) say - especially with the walls up. Get spikes for the legs. Mine has the ability to spike the walls down too - with a loop for a spike in the middle of the wall - you will need this as the walls will blow in our out even when they are velcro-d and zippered. I prefer spikes to stakes and guidelines since you need to do the walls anyway if you have a good wind (think camped by a river or side of lake).

The walls are a very light nylon (hence why they blow more than canvas). The good part is this make them easy to clean (a bird pooped on ours first day out).

With the walls up, the tent does hold heat/humidity. Even with the low 20's last weekend it was easy to fall asleep once inside due to that warmth (think being inside a not-too-hot sauna). Mine has one wall with a door and mesh window - will definately have the window open in the summer (maybe even roll up the wall until it is time to sleep).

We used cots on the inside (yay for not sleeping on the floor), a 12X12 tarp as a floor (use rope to attach to the frame so the tarp came 1-2 feet up the side of the tent), and had hangers with coats etc. on the frame no problem.

As mentioned by a post above I use a portable carport as a wall tent - these are not the same. Much lighter material - I would NEVER have a wood stove inside.

Edit: Can't seem to attach file larger than 64KB???

[twoSevenO]

So you use the ez-up to sleep in or just for gear? Cent tell from your post if you sleep in both car port and ez-up or just car port.

And does it move even if you stake down the frame ?!? Cause I would have expected it to be pretty sturdy when staked down well.

[boxhitch]

Those plastic shells can build up condensation unless they are vented some. Easy to do in warm weather, not so dry in the late season
But for the price they work if you manage the issues
Current unit at Costco is a little larger, 13x13 looks like the roof overhangs the 12x12? walls, the extra space would be nice

Saw two being used in a camp and when the wind came up strong the family just dropped the legs down to the lower height. Not so comfy but smart idea

[Squamch]

Do they come with sides and aluminum frame?
Cause all the Walmart ones I've seen were crappier construction and no sides

Yes they do. One guy has a costco one, it's heavier, harder to set up, and blows over just as easily if you are lazy about tieing it down. I have an additional 6x10 tarp I use for a second side on mine.
I spike tents and the ez up down with 10" spikes if I'm truck camping. They don't blow over that way.

I'm sure there are better ones available, but mine was $100, and is used 8-10 times a year, year round. I've gotten 3 years out of it so far, and it shows no signs of breaking down.

[twoSevenO]

Cool. Thanks for he feedback guys .... sounds like it would be a doable cheap alternative.

[twoSevenO]

Yes they do. One guy has a costco one, it's heavier, harder to set up, and blows over just as easily if you are lazy about tieing it down. I have an additional 6x10 tarp I use for a second side on mine.
I spike tents and the ez up down with 10" spikes if I'm truck camping. They don't blow over that way.

I'm sure there are better ones available, but mine was $100, and is used 8-10 times a year, year round. I've gotten 3 years out of it so far, and it shows no signs of breaking down.

You sleep in yours? What do you do for heat and how do you manage condensation?

[westcoaster]

Just saw the easy-up canopies at costco that were 10x10, with walls for $279.
Curious if anyone ever tried using one as a cheap-o wall tent option.

Actually seemed pretty sturdy so if you added some guy lines i think it'd be decent for a short stay in a drier cilmate. Wondering if anyone had ever attempted to camp under one and what they thought.

3-4 nights with a small generator and an electric heater ought to make for a fairly comfy stay? Thoughts?

http://www.asyfreedomwalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/10x10-canopy-costco-image-instant-canopy-10-x-10-by-asyfreedomwalk-com.jpg


http://www.midlandcanopies.com/deluxe-canopies/
for about the same money, you can buy all four sides, have an even sturdier frame and more room.

I bought the 10X14 and stuck a wood stove out the side.
It's no wall tent and I don't sleep in it, but for a warm shelter for a group of people it can't be beat.
In the wind it can be drafty if a bit of care isn't taken to close up the leaks. (one tarp per side attached by ball bungies)

Break/bend something? no problem, Midland has parts....

[David]

So you use the ez-up to sleep in or just for gear? Cent tell from your post if you sleep in both car port and ez-up or just car port.

And does it move even if you stake down the frame ?!? Cause I would have expected it to be pretty sturdy when staked down well.

I sleep in the EZ-up as my summer tent. I use the carport thing as a wall tent later in season. (The EZup also fits over a standard BC campground picnic table if you didn't want to sleep in it)

It's sturdy if you stake down the frame, BUT the walls can still "bow" in our out by about a foot if the wind is really blowing, so I recommend staking down BOTH the frame posts and the wall.

[twoSevenO]

Got pics of the carport set up? That seems very interesting and cheaper alternative as well. But it sounds like it takes a while to set up.

[David]

Got pics of the carport set up? That seems very interesting and cheaper alternative as well. But it sounds like it takes a while to set up.

Direct message me your email and I will send you a couple of photos.

[S.W.A.T.]

Same unit is $100 at Wal-Mart. All my camping crew has one. Looks like a damn craft fair when we have a dozen people out camping. I wouldn't want to sleep in one, but they're good for a cook tent at the back of truck or camper.

I have the Costco one and trust me it's not the same as the wallmart one. They are a good sturdy tent for a pop up/fold away. Been using it for cooking under while camping. We have the walls too and would think in a pinch it could be a good wall tent but obviously you don't have the stove option

[TexasWalker]

Same unit is $100 at Wal-Mart. All my camping crew has one. Looks like a damn craft fair when we have a dozen people out camping. I wouldn't want to sleep in one, but they're good for a cook tent at the back of truck or camper.

Not the same unit at all, not even close.

[westcoaster]

Got pics of the carport set up? That seems very interesting and cheaper alternative as well. But it sounds like it takes a while to set up.

Correct, it's no easy-up....:p

It also takes up quite a bit more room than an easy up to transport (10x14)

Takes me about an hour and a half to set up the carport.
If I think it's going to snow, adding twine to the frame under the canopy can take a bit more time.
I haven't had it out in any sort of a snow load, but the frame is substantial enough. Tying the frame together with twine to keep the peak from flattening out should allow for some weight.

[Squamch]

You sleep in yours? What do you do for heat and how do you manage condensation?

No, I sleep either under the canopy in the back of my Ford, in the backseat of the Ford on the floor, or in the back of my 4runner. Easy up is only for cooking in.

[twoSevenO]

No, I sleep either under the canopy in the back of my Ford, in the backseat of the Ford on the floor, or in the back of my 4runner. Easy up is only for cooking in.

You keep the ford running at night on those late November overnighters with the rear seat heaters on? lol :D