E-Z Up Vista Sport canopy June 25, 2015, 12:53:20 pm Yahoo Message Number: 153569Does anyone carry an E-Z Up Vista Sport canopy in their LD? If so, can it be set up by one person? Additional comments or tips on product quality, ease of set up, additional equipment, e.g., stakes, are welcome; thanks.http://www.ezupdirect.com/product/vista-sport/Joan
Re: E-Z Up Vista Sport canopy Reply #1 – June 25, 2015, 03:46:57 pm Yahoo Message Number: 153575"Does anyone carry an E-Z Up Vista Sport canopy in their LD?"JoanOnce or twice a year, we take a E-Z Up canopy with us, lugging the heavy thing into the rig. We only use it when camping in groups and wet weather is expected. It takes up a lot of room and is cumbersome to deal with. Unless this canopy has something different about it, setting it up is absolutely a two person job. Have tried to set ours up alone several times and darn near broken it, trying to force it to open. It needs to be pulled apart, doing so allows the hinged framework to smoothly unfold. Two can do it, it is much easier with four people.The other downside is that they, like the awning, are vulnerable to big winds. Destroyed one a few years ago when a big wind gust caught ours, popped the stakes out on one side, flipped it and bent the frame. The legs do have height adjustments that allow the awning to be lowered to near ground level, helping it survive heavy winds.High end canopy can handle high winds if staked and guy ropes are used, but they are very heavy. The LD Caravan Club has had theirs up many times in very high winds, usually with the fabric walls removed. Of course, it takes two just to carry it, when bagged up. The lighter the canopy, the less it can handle wind, like everything else, it's a trade offBought a triangular shade canopy at Costco a few weeks ago. Going to try attaching it to the end of the awning, when more shade coverage is wanted. http://costcocouple.com/coolaroo-triangle-shade-sail-canopy/ Larry
Re: E-Z Up Vista Sport canopy Reply #2 – June 25, 2015, 03:51:43 pm Yahoo Message Number: 153576Our experience is exactly as described by Larry. In fact, even though I loaded ours into the rear underside storage of our 2013 30' TB, we've never used it because it's a bit of a pain to put up, I'm now considering removing it.Bill
Re: E-Z Up Vista Sport canopy Reply #3 – June 26, 2015, 09:41:41 am Yahoo Message Number: 153586I keep thinking of something like one an MSR Zing to cover a picnic table or just a spot out of the sun this is nice. On the plus side they stand up to winds and are easy to set up. The down side are the things that come with staked down items and the cost (~$400@REI). Some people complain about the center ground clearance. There are not many people rating this shelter on the REI and Amazon sites but most of those are good. http://www.cascadedesigns.com/msr/tents/essential-series/zing/product
Re: E-Z Up Vista Sport canopy Reply #4 – June 26, 2015, 11:03:04 am Yahoo Message Number: 153587We fulltime and recently bought the Clam screen room (no see um fabric). Super easy for one person to set up and take down, sides pops in or out. Weighs about 35 lbs. the negative is that type screen cuts more air flow than would have thought. We got the pack of three rain/wind guards that can fold up or down as needed on any five of the non door sides. We love it.http://smile.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00E3LF7FK/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1435330690&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX200_QL40&keywords=clam+screen+tent+1660&dpPl=1&dpID=41w0e%2BOSlYL&ref=plSrch
Re: E-Z Up Vista Sport canopy Reply #5 – June 26, 2015, 11:09:51 am Yahoo Message Number: 153588My LD came with an "Add a Room" canvas unit that attaches to side with these swivel like buttons. I have never used it. Maybe if I was in a full hook-up park for a long time I would bother setting it up. Kind of involved with a metal frame to connect together and figure out. Maybe someday I will check it out but it seems a lot of trouble for a short duration stay.bobmoore14
Re: E-Z Up Vista Sport canopy Reply #6 – June 26, 2015, 12:34:00 pm Yahoo Message Number: 153589one comment on ezeup type of shades-we all know that they must be staked-but the slant leg ones cannt be lowered in wind while staked-the straight leg ones can be. marta 26rb
Re: E-Z Up Vista Sport canopy Reply #7 – June 26, 2015, 01:23:59 pm Yahoo Message Number: 153590That's a good point, Marta; the "physics" makes sense!Joan
Re: E-Z Up Vista Sport canopy Reply #8 – June 26, 2015, 03:48:33 pm Yahoo Message Number: 153596I've been mostly a "no outdoor furniture" camper for many years, but this year while working on some projects with friends, I tried several folding shelters, and I can confirm many of the comments here.First the pluses: with a 10' x 10' shelter from Walmart or Lowe's and a couple of plastic folding sawhorses topped with a half sheet (2' x 8') of plywood, you have a workplace that makes any project go much more smoothly. Alternatively, the shelter makes for comfortable outdoor socializing even on hot days. In either case, it's much better than the rig's awning--more spacious and more versatile.On the minus side, over the course of six months I lost two of these shelters to windstorms that broke their metal frames. Yes, if you buy the type with vertical rather than splayed legs, as Marta recommends, you can lower the shelter's height when you know a windy spell is coming. (Better still, leave the frame in place and just remove the cover altogether.) But a hundred square feet of fabric is a huge sail area, so unless you do a really thorough job of guying and staking the shelter--not always possible, if you're camping on rocky or sandy ground--the chances are thatsooner or later it will be damaged by a gust of wind.Second, the common steel-framed shelters sold by Walmart and others are quite heavy and bulky. When the aforementioned projects were done, I thought about carrying shelter number three with me, but there just was no place--in my midbath or my car--to fit an 8" x 8" x 48" package weighing forty or fifty pounds. I ended up giving it away. If and when the need arises, I'll buy another one. (A friend of mine calls this "Letting Walmart store it for you.")My friends and I also tried a more expensive shelter with screened sides. Not only was it even bulkier and heavier to carry, but as Marcia pointed out, the screened sides block airflow a lot more than you'd expect. They also make an even larger area to catch the wind om gusty days. We ended up deciding that the cheap, open-sided shelters were better for our needs.By the way, we ran into a problem that may or may not have been unique: one of the shelters had a blue canopy, and it seems a large blue area overhead attracts insects. (I guess they think it's the sky.) Within an hour of our setting it up, every fly in the neighborhood--dozens of them--was crawling on the ceiling, buzzing angrily. It was truly disgusting. Given my druthers, I'll go with tan. We never had an insect problem with tan shelters.The Zing tarp shelter looks attractive; certainly it's far lighter and more compact than the steel-framed ones I've used. It does seem overpriced for what you get... and like any shelter, it will need to be staked down really well.By the way, the stakes that came with all three shelters I tried were nearly useless: flimsy metal rods that bent easily when hammered, and had little ground-gripping power. I ended up buying better stakes from REI. And I've found this Estwing sledgehammer perfect for hammering in stakes and many other jobs. I carry one in my rig and one in my car.Andy Baird As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
Re: E-Z Up Vista Sport canopy Reply #9 – June 26, 2015, 05:06:44 pm Yahoo Message Number: 153601Joan,Setting up an EZ Up as a solo can be done, but it's extremely difficult and requires lots of moving around it multiple times to get a little more expansion/extension on each 4 point circuit.Most of the solo women in my RVW chapter use the REI alcove. Much easier for a solo to set up, weighs less, and is much smaller bagged. Walls are available. 2 tips: 1. Once you set it up the first time, mark the corner joints so you know which side the legs go in. 2. Have 2 weights to hang off the tabs on the side edges in the rain. I find 1 liter full water bottles with small carabiners work great...prevents water pooling.Hope that helps.Lori Y 2011 24FL
Re: E-Z Up Vista Sport canopy Reply #10 – June 26, 2015, 05:15:50 pm Yahoo Message Number: 153602Thanks, Lori! Your caveats are exactly what I was concerned about with the EZ Up (or any) canopy.This is the REI "Alcove" you're referring to, right?http://www.rei.com/product/794290/rei-alcove-shelterI had forgotten about this option, but when I saw the product on the REI page, I remembered that I had seen one of these at a bluegrass festival and thought it would be a good buy. Thanks for the reminder, product endorsement, and use tips! ;-)Joan
Re: E-Z Up Vista Sport canopy Reply #11 – June 27, 2015, 10:48:39 am Yahoo Message Number: 153610My friend Sue has a Toyota camper and she says she can set this up in two minutes by herself. I'm taking her word for it as I haven't seen or done this myself.http://www.amazon.com/Coleman-Instant-Screenhouse/dp/B00EHKP9QYAndrea2007 RB As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
Re: E-Z Up Vista Sport canopy Reply #12 – June 27, 2015, 05:27:31 pm Yahoo Message Number: 153612I bought one of the Coolaroos and added two eye hooks to the driver's side of the LD and will use it there when shade is needed on that side of the LD. The odd end of the Coolaroo will be tied to whatever is available or staked.Chris https://www.flickr.com/photos/61167681@N00/shares/8vG75V
Re: E-Z Up Vista Sport canopy Reply #13 – June 27, 2015, 05:42:15 pm Yahoo Message Number: 153613I had not seen Larry's post re: EZ Up until I clicked on the "Coolaroo" response comment from Chris! I have no idea what is going on; I read the board at the website, and there have been several times in the past when I see what is obviously a response to a previous post, but the original post is *nowhere* on the list. Very odd!At any rate, thank you to all who replied to my EZ Up canopy question; I've dumped the canopy idea and am considering more compact/lightweight shade options! ;-)Joan
Re: E-Z Up Vista Sport canopy Reply #14 – June 27, 2015, 06:46:52 pm Yahoo Message Number: 153615Andy said, " The Zing tarp shelter looks attractive; certainly it's far lighter and more compact than the steel-framed ones I've used. It does seem overpriced for what you get... and like any shelter, it will need to be staked down really well."The price is what is holding me back. I will wait for one of the big member sales if I buy one. Anther similar option is to look in used camping gear for a larger Moss Parawing. Moss tents were legendary for their construction (google Bill Moss tents). The para wing was available in larger sizes and would cost less than a comparable size Zing. Though I think if one adjusted the price new to todays dollars the Moss would be as expensive if not more.Oh yes, I forgot to say the parawing is not blue.
Re: E-Z Up Vista Sport canopy Reply #15 – September 01, 2015, 06:00:35 pm Yahoo Message Number: 155309I took the plunge and purchased a MSR Zing from REI. Now was a good time to buy because of the Labor Day sale. Overall impressions.It is not to heavy.Sets up relatively easy but to get more usable space one needs punch two extra tent poles or to set the guide lines out as far as possible. Setting the lines out that far could be an issue in some campsIt is easily big enough to cover the average camp ground table.The shelter is made of quality fabric, seams well constructed. The stress points where the guide lines are anchored to the fabric is reinforced. MSR used the reinforcement to make a pocket to store the guide lines when the tent is packed. I have been looking at this type of shelter for a number of years dating back to the Moss Parawing in the mid1980s. This is the biggest shelter of this type I have seen. That is nice once it is up but setting up is another story. In the trial setup at home I tried to use the RV's ladder in the place of a pole to get extra height. That sorta worked. Because of the fence at home and some shrubs the shelter got in the way of the door. In the field I could have pitched the shelter behind the RV.I am going camping this weekend and will have a chance to play with it some. It it works out better than here at home I will take some pictures and post a link. If space does not allow at this camp (it is a commercial campground near my daughters college) in a few weeks I will be camping at the beach. I know that there will be room to setup there.Take care and have fun. John
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