Tips on purchasing portable shade?

XJEEPER

XJEEPER

NAXJA Member # 13
NAXJA Member
Location
Wasatch Range
I've been looking at EZ UP and QuickShade units in the 10x10 and 12x12 flavor and wondered if folks here had first hand knowledge of which product is better. Seems to be a broad price swing on both brands, and from what I gather, the EZ units have a little thicker canopy material which should equate to longer lifespan. Also, is the added coverage of a 12x12 unit worth the extra $40-50 over the 10x10?
Educated feedback appreciated, TIA.
 
Personal preference is the EZ UP 12x12 version. No experience with the Quickshade unit to compare.

Try to get a light colored top, blue seems to be the standard option but the white tops are definitely cooler underneath. But white gets dirty easily - something to consider when you have greasy mechanics putting up and taking down the canopy.

The most recent EZ UP I used in Wendover a couple of weeks ago, had really awkward fasteners for the canopy - needed three hands to operate. But that's the first time I have seen those - kinda like a large Dzuz fastener.

without a doubt the biggest problem with canopy's is keeping them on the ground. Any sort of wind and they often resemble kites. Quick and easy release of the canopy part is the easiest way to reduce them from taking off. I've seen velcro used succesfully.

I've seen a 12x12 become airborne WITH 3 wheels and tires at each corner, granted in a pretty strong pre-thunderstorm gust at Firebird raceway in AZ.

HTH
Grant
 
Sounds like a good rule of thumb is that if the wind comes up, the canopy should come down, before the wind does it for you.....thanks Grant. What were you doing at Wendover?
 
we have always used ez ups..... the ones we have now have velcro at the corners to hold it all together..... as for wind the best thing we have found is to lower the legs.... then it looks like a pyramid on the ground..... if thats not possible (like a racecar beneath it) then taking the top off. i would say go with 12x12 the extra 2 ft is a big help, alot more then it sounds
 
We were in the exciting metropolis of Wendover for two days of Evolution Driving School, and then the SCCA ProSolo event. Our Utah hosts did a great job, plying us with free UT microbrews on Friday night.

Best results of the year so far - win in Ladies, win in Ladies Challenge, Carol placed third in Ladies - her first trophy at a Pro event. my codriver was 2nd in class. A very good weekend for the 4 drivers.
 
Your racing career has cut much too far into your other pasttimes.

Oh the horror of having to choose between road racing, big game hunting and four wheeling......how DO you manage? :rolleyes:

CRASH

Grant said:
We were in the exciting metropolis of Wendover for two days of Evolution Driving School, and then the SCCA ProSolo event. Our Utah hosts did a great job, plying us with free UT microbrews on Friday night.

Best results of the year so far - win in Ladies, win in Ladies Challenge, Carol placed third in Ladies - her first trophy at a Pro event. my codriver was 2nd in class. A very good weekend for the 4 drivers.
Click to expand...
 
Grant said:
We were in the exciting metropolis of Wendover for two days of Evolution Driving School, and then the SCCA ProSolo event. Our Utah hosts did a great job, plying us with free UT microbrews on Friday night.

Best results of the year so far - win in Ladies, win in Ladies Challenge, Carol placed third in Ladies - her first trophy at a Pro event. my codriver was 2nd in class. A very good weekend for the 4 drivers.
Click to expand...

Do they run the PSolo on the salt? Only runs I've been to out there is Oct Speedweek.
 
XJEEPER said:
Do they run the PSolo on the salt? Only runs I've been to out there is Oct Speedweek.
Click to expand...

Nope, we run at the airport. Large unclutered expanse of WW2 concrete. For the history buffs, this was the airport where the crew for the Enola Gay trained for dropping the bombs on Japan.

I worked speedweeks at the salt flats in 97 and 98. Small block chevy in a streamliner, at the time it was the "Fastest small block in the world", don't know if the record still stands or not. Owner was Jeff Nish who used to (maybe still does) own Suntana Speedway near Provo.
 
CRASH said:
Your racing career has cut much too far into your other pasttimes.

Oh the horror of having to choose between road racing, big game hunting and four wheeling......how DO you manage? :rolleyes:

CRASH
Click to expand...

By blowing off four wheelin - unfortunately. Have not had the Jeep on a trail in a year. Now if only I could figure out how to go racing without having to work - I'd be golden.

Being team owner/driver is not as easy as being a member of the crew or crew chief. Paying for your own bills sucks. I think a serious cocaine habit might have been cheaper.

Tire bill since March 2005 is over $5K and does not include the 4 sets of tires we will be taking to Nationals in Sept(another $3200). Diesel bill for May was almost $1500. not to mention - new Mini in 2005, new trailer in 2005, 4 sets of racing wheels at $1350/set. Factor in flights, accomodation, meals and the like, it gets pricey real quick, and we are running a stock class in the lowest of the Pro ranks.

So I'd just like to thank my sponsors
Mini USA, Hoosier tire, Kumho tire, Hawk brake pads, Royal Purple, Built-By-Bones, Advanced Spine & Rehab, blah-blah, blah-blah, blah-blah. :rattle: :rattle: :rattle:
 
Grant said:
So I'd just like to thank my sponsors ...
Hoosier tire, Kumho tire,
Click to expand...


How do you manage to get 2 tire sponsors ? Wouldn't they be upset that they are not the dominate sponsor in the rubber arena ?

Just curious.
 
We run both mens and ladies classes. One of our lady drivers is a previous National Champion, and stands the best chance to win the Mini USA money, so she races on Kumho's.

The guys have run on Hoosiers so far this year. The Kumho's have been very scarce in our size, so if all the male opposition is on Hoosiers we can run Hoosiers.

We do have to be careful that the correct photos go to the correct sponsors.

But "double dipping" is not uncommon. We run in the Valvoline Cup competition and there is no restriction on what lubricants we can use. So last year we got a nice check from Valvoline, and we run exclusively on Royal Purple fluids and lubricants, and got some money from RP too.

There are only really two competitive tires this year Hoosier and Kumho, most years they are really close, but in 2005 if you are not on Kumho's you are giving up as much as 1 second in a 60 second lap. But the total lack of tires in our size has meant we are having to run Hoosiers, like it or not. My co-drivers usually supply tires when they drive our car, and a lot of the tires they supply come from winning previous events, most tire companies give us "tire bucks" rather than the cash. They would not be happy if we spent the "tire bucks" on the competitors products.

Sometimes the surface makes a difference too. Some tires perform best on concrete, some on pavement.

And some results are skewed this year, Atwater and Atlanta were wet events. So some drivers used one brand of tires when it was dry, but as soon as it was wet everyone switched to Hoosier wets. Kumho does not make a great wet weather tire.

At some events we have run Kumho's on the front, and Hoosiers on the rear. But then we are not eligible to claim contingency money from the tire companies. Sometimes winning is more important, sometimes placing well and claiming contingency is more important.

Also, when we run in SCCA Pro and National events we run DOT race rubber - treadwear rating 40. Best tires are Hoosier A3S05's or Kumho V710's.
When we run in certain BMW events, and some SCCA time trial events we run a competition street tire - treadwear rating 140 or more. Best tires are Kumho Ecsta MX's or the Falken Azeni R615's.

racing is very similar to prostitution, everybody is out to screw somebody, somebody is looking to make money off somebody else, we are all looking to get our rocks off, and we all feel screwed over at the end of the season. then we start again.
 
Grant said:
We run both mens and ladies classes. One of our lady drivers is a previous National Champion, and stands the best chance to win the Mini USA money, so she races on Kumho's.

The guys have run on Hoosiers so far this year. The Kumho's have been very scarce in our size, so if all the male opposition is on Hoosiers we can run Hoosiers.

We do have to be careful that the correct photos go to the correct sponsors.

But "double dipping" is not uncommon. We run in the Valvoline Cup competition and there is no restriction on what lubricants we can use. So last year we got a nice check from Valvoline, and we run exclusively on Royal Purple fluids and lubricants, and got some money from RP too.

There are only really two competitive tires this year Hoosier and Kumho, most years they are really close, but in 2005 if you are not on Kumho's you are giving up as much as 1 second in a 60 second lap. But the total lack of tires in our size has meant we are having to run Hoosiers, like it or not. My co-drivers usually supply tires when they drive our car, and a lot of the tires they supply come from winning previous events, most tire companies give us "tire bucks" rather than the cash. They would not be happy if we spent the "tire bucks" on the competitors products.

Sometimes the surface makes a difference too. Some tires perform best on concrete, some on pavement.

And some results are skewed this year, Atwater and Atlanta were wet events. So some drivers used one brand of tires when it was dry, but as soon as it was wet everyone switched to Hoosier wets. Kumho does not make a great wet weather tire.

At some events we have run Kumho's on the front, and Hoosiers on the rear. But then we are not eligible to claim contingency money from the tire companies. Sometimes winning is more important, sometimes placing well and claiming contingency is more important.

Also, when we run in SCCA Pro and National events we run DOT race rubber - treadwear rating 40. Best tires are Hoosier A3S05's or Kumho V710's.
When we run in certain BMW events, and some SCCA time trial events we run a competition street tire - treadwear rating 140 or more. Best tires are Kumho Ecsta MX's or the Falken Azeni R615's.

racing is very similar to prostitution, everybody is out to screw somebody, somebody is looking to make money off somebody else, we are all looking to get our rocks off, and we all feel screwed over at the end of the season. then we start again.
Click to expand...


I see a brand new sig line in this :D
 
Not trying to contradict any one...but I was told at a trade show (by an EZ-up brand salesman) that the black tops are the coolest underneath...I didn't believe him of course. Then I stood under botha black and a white model side by side and the BLACK ONE WAS MUCH COOLER! It doesn't make sense, but if you ever have the chance try it and see.
 
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