Teach Me About Canopies and Tents

I need one for my kids graduation party. Something like 20x30. The cheapest price I've gotten to rent one with some tables and chairs is almost $600! I need to find a cheaper way. I thought about buying two or three smaller canopies, like the ones you would put over your car at a race or show, but am not sure. What can you guys tell me about these things? Oh, it needs to be setup on gravel also. Help!

Rent.

Rent. Or buy a couple small ones and return them later?

In reply to Woody:

That is a rental.

According to these guys, it's $375 for a 20 X 20 and $850 for a 30 X 30.

http://www.abtentrental.net/

Two of my brothers have a business on the side setting up and taking down tents almost every weekend. Big investment at first, but now it's all gravy.

Rent one; someone else does all the work, someone else is liable if a drunk trips into a stake and you'll have a better time with one less thing to worry about.

Dan

In reply to 914Driver:

If it were only that simple. I need a frame canopy, 20x30 minimum with tables and chairs. Once you add delivery and setup it's $600. A&B actually quoted me $582 plus tax for that. Given specifics and the time of year (lots of graduations and weddings) you can't go by the website prices. Some are even adding $25-50 gas surcharge.

You may be able to rent it from a self service type place that lets you do the set-up yourself and save a ton of money. For my outdoor wedding that's what we did. I do not remember how much the rental was - that was a long time ago - but it was nowhere near $600. Not even close enough to be $600 nowadays.

I think we paid close to a grand for my sisters graduation party tent/tables/chairs.....

That was also bigger than 30x30 IIRC though

I used to work for a party rental company about 14 years ago, I know you could save a ton by picking up the stuff yourself. Those tents are not hard to setup also, build the top frame, then put the vinyl top on. Use a couple winches on one side to get the legs under, then repeat for the other side.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-20-x-30-White-Pole-Tent-Party-Tents-Wedding-Event-Canopy-Vinyl-Canvas-Gazebo-/400501919708?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5d3fc64fdc

http://www.ebay.com/itm/20X30-Canopy-Tent-Kit-Car-Truck-Boat-Swimming-Pool-Picnic-Party-Read-All-Plz-/330932896470?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d0d2342d6

http://www.ebay.com/itm/20x30-Heavy-Duty-Reinforced-Med-Peak-Canopy-Kit-/380458367386?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item589515f99a

Why rent?

Then resell it, or rent it out to others who need one for a day.

In reply to bravenrace:

Having dealt with this sort of thing in the past, $600 for the tent, tables and chairs - delivered, set-up and taken down - doesn't sound bad at all.

Northern Tool and Tractor Supply sell 10x20 tents for reasonable prices, but you're still looking at tables and chairs... When you start looking at everything involved, it adds up quick.

In reply to Ian F:

After doing some more searching, I did find a place that will rent the tent, enough tables and chairs to seat 64 people, delivery, setup and tear down for $450 plus tax. I think I'm going to go with that, it makes me cringe to think of all the car parts I could buy for that!

In reply to bravenrace:

Always pays to shop around. yeah, $450 is a lot of car parts... but how many daughters do you have?

My father recently had a tree trimmed, and was surprised when their original estimate didn't include them chipping and taking what they'd trimmed.

He opted to do it himself, and after about 8 hours of moving branches and getting sap all over his truck, he wishes he would've sprung for the extra removal services.

In summary, the 450 quote sounds like its worth it to avoid the headache and cleanup.

Ian F wrote: In reply to bravenrace: Always pays to shop around. yeah, $450 is a lot of car parts... but how many daughters do you have?

I don't have any daughters.

Racer1ab wrote: My father recently had a tree trimmed, and was surprised when their original estimate didn't include them chipping and taking what they'd trimmed. He opted to do it himself, and after about 8 hours of moving branches and getting sap all over his truck, he wishes he would've sprung for the extra removal services. In summary, the 450 quote sounds like its worth it to avoid the headache and cleanup.

Yeah, I know. I fall into that cheapskate bottomless pit myself once in a while. Fortunately, the older I get the less it seems to happen, but my desire to get the intended outcome for the least amount of money still bites me once in a while.

bravenrace wrote: In reply to Woody: That is a rental.

Sorry. My speed reading is not what it used to be...

aussiesmg wrote: http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-20-x-30-White-Pole-Tent-Party-Tents-Wedding-Event-Canopy-Vinyl-Canvas-Gazebo-/400501919708?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5d3fc64fdc http://www.ebay.com/itm/20X30-Canopy-Tent-Kit-Car-Truck-Boat-Swimming-Pool-Picnic-Party-Read-All-Plz-/330932896470?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d0d2342d6 http://www.ebay.com/itm/20x30-Heavy-Duty-Reinforced-Med-Peak-Canopy-Kit-/380458367386?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item589515f99a Why rent? Then resell it, or rent it out to others who need one for a day.

I did that with a paint sprayer when I built my house. Bought a factory refurb for the cost of two days rental. Sprayed five gallons per hour for five days. Sold it for what I paid for it.

In reply to bravenrace:

The worst part is, I offered to help if he could've waited until the weekend to move the stuff. Unfortunately, his old man OCD is kicking in, and he couldn't bear to have a pile of tree branches in his yard for a couple days.

bravenrace wrote:

Ian F wrote: In reply to bravenrace: Always pays to shop around. yeah, $450 is a lot of car parts... but how many daughters do you have?

I don't have any daughters.

Ah.. .for some reason I read "graduation party" and thought "daughter" - my bad.

My uncle bought a big tent a few years ago when he hosted a Farm Progress meeting. 20' x 40' or so. Its made the rounds to all the parties in the neighborhood. He has a few of his workers come and set it up for you for the cost of beer and he is guaranteed to be invited to all the parties in the area. Not a bad investment if you have enough room to store it.

Ian F wrote:

bravenrace wrote:

Ian F wrote: In reply to bravenrace: Always pays to shop around. yeah, $450 is a lot of car parts... but how many daughters do you have?

I don't have any daughters.

Ah.. .for some reason I read "graduation party" and thought "daughter" - my bad.

Wait, I don't have to throw a grad party for my boys? Yeeeehaaaa!!!!

Try a few businesses around town. We have at least two, one a Credit Union and one a feed store that have tents with their logo on that they rent out cheap. But they don't advertise. You have to know to go and ask them. Mostly they use them for their own corporate events but they are available for rent when not in use.