Truck Toppers are Good but You Need a Tarp

[ppine]

Lately my camping buddy and I mostly sleep in our trucks with a canopy on the back. We have no tents to retire to, so we now set up a large tarp for shade and get out of the rain. I start with a frame from a canopy like vendors use. Then I put a 16x20 tarp over it. I secure the ends with poles and lines to the ground. It fits over a standard sized picnic table. It is tall enough to walk around under. Had it out this week in a horrendous storm. I bought some side panels for it on the way home at Cabela's. Anyone else use a tarp to hang out under when truck camping?

 

[teledork]

I have an "Easy Up" (used to sell my paintings at fairs) but I am unable to put it up by myself. I have brought it when I was with other people but had to say no when they wanted to place it right over the fire. I remember one extremely wet bluegrass festival where we did the waterproof tarp over the entire thing. It worked quite well but there was no wind to deal with.

 

[ppine]

Setting up the easy up solo takes a little practice. Not that hard.

 

[teledork]

Setting up the easy up solo takes a little practice. Not that hard.

It is not hard for me - it is impossible. And I have had a lot of "practice" but usually had to ask another vendor for help. Where I have the problem is initially walking out the corners. Is there some technique you know of? Stake a corner down and work from there?

 

[ppine]

Two things. Push up on the "elbows" near the center hub. That lifts the frame off the ground and allows the legs to extent out. The other thing that works is to pick up the frame and get 3 legs off the ground and push the legs out. Good luck.

 

[teledork]

So instead of trying to pull the legs out you get into the center and push? I'll give it a try next time. Thanks!