Paddock Canopy ?

My old 10x10 straight leg EZ-UP gave up the ghost at the last event at VIR last year.  I've had it for a number of years, and had replaced and repaired parts a few times.  The canopy fabric was also ready for replacement.  It died the trash barrel death.

What's the consensus from the GRM gang on canopies?  Buy them as cheap as possible from Walmart, Dicks, etc. and just treat them as a consumable?

Buy a "mid-line" one, such as EZ-UP or Caravan?  

Buy a pro-model?  That's not in the cards, unless I stumble upon one used.

Whatever I buy gets strapped onto my small tire trailer and towed to the track.  Stay's inside the shop when not being used.  I typically tie-it down using the street tires and ratchet straps.  

Thanks!

 I've got a Wal-Mart Ozark Trail 10x10 straight leg. It's been used frequently for the past two years, and is holding up just as well as SIL's EZ-up. They're both holding up better than MIL's off-brand canopy. 

I also have one of the OT add-on walls. It makes for extra shade. I'm sure it could be used with any 10x10 popup. It was ~$15.

Costco has some surprisingly good pop up canopies

I and several of my friends have the Undercover UC-3 Superlightweight 10x10 canopies.  Got them off of Amazon.  They really are pretty light.  The latches on the legs work well and the covers have held up for several years now.  Also, the bag that it stores in is big enough that you can actually get the thing back in the bag without a huge struggle.

In reply to wake74 :

I had the full spectrum disposable to expensive.  In the end the damage they did to the race car offset any cooling or rain protection.  

I came around to KISS keep it simple Stu—-

For the hot Lemons races (Joliet in July) we use a 20 x 30 steel frame canopy that takes two people to set up and a truck to haul.  The extra work is worth the sun and rain protection, and we pit under it.  

I use the Wallyworld brand. The one that just went in the scrap pile was 8 years old. Treat them well, tie them down, and even the cheap ones will last a long time. 

I used a 10x20 steel tube and tarp style for years. Still have it. It takes a few minutes to put up or take down, but it works well.

I've had really good luck with the one from harbor freight. 10x10x8? 

The only time I had a problem was when it got left standing in a storm. 6 inches of rain plus high winds just destroyed it. 

Thanks everyone for the answers, busy day at the office, so a bit late replying.  This gives me a few good options to explore.

Another canopy question:  

I currently usually just use 4 ratchet straps to my street tires to hold the canopy down.  Typically I push the tires out a bit from the leg, so it's pulling down (and out) at an angle.  I've wondered if that was doing more harm than good, and if pulling straight down would be better for the canopy.

Are y'all more the straight down, or off at an angle hold down people?

I have a 10x10 also, I use the wheels but have them just inside the foot print of the canopy, usually because there isn't much extra space to spread out. I would think as long as you don't suspend the tires from the frame just take up the slack it shouldn't stress things out too much. However once the wind kicks up all bets are off, damage will happen.

Yeah, I've mostly quit bringing them because it's always windy at Laguna Seca and it just destroys them.

loosecannon said:

Costco has some surprisingly good pop up canopies

This.  I love my Coleman canopy from Costco because it is a 10 x 10 frame with a 13' x 13' roof.  It has a wind-release flap in the top which helps ALOT.  At the beach, I used sand anchors at the 4 corners and it help up even in gales.  

In reply to pinchvalve :

I like that one.  It's $145 on Amazon in new condition or $105 on Amazon Warehouse with damaged packaging.  It's $140 at Costco, but don't have a membership.

See if you can find a Eurmax in your budget. They're by far the better than the normal canopies and they're very common in the karting world. 

EDT said:

See if you can find a Eurmax in your budget. They're by far the better than the normal canopies and they're very common in the karting world. 

Those really aren't that much expensive the basic cheap canopy that everyone sells, the "Basic" model is only $160. 

wake74 said:

EDT said:

See if you can find a Eurmax in your budget. They're by far the better than the normal canopies and they're very common in the karting world. 

Those really aren't that much expensive the basic cheap canopy that everyone sells, the "Basic" model is only $160. 

You're right, I didn't know they had a basic. All my experience has been with the hexagonal leg models. They look to be the "Premium" line.