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zipping up old caravan tent

Posted by deborah potash brodie on May 30, 2011 at 1:31am

we thank our wonderful pottery friend for giving us her caravan tent. today we took it outside and put it together. our problem -- by the time we zipped all the sides together, we lost inches so that we couldn't close the 'door' zipper (kinda like a pair of jeans 2 sizes too small - LOL). there must be a methodology on putting up velcro sides, zipping so that the old product of having the front door zipped close would also work.

please guide us! thanks!

deborah:)

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caravan, older, putting, sides, up, zipping

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Replies

Kathy Oda May 30, 2011 at 8:00pm

My Caravan is about 8 years old. What I have found is that I have to have it perfectly square and can't velcro to the legs or top until all sides are zipped. I also don't add the sta-bars until after the zippers are connected in case i need to pull in the legs to make the final connection. It's tight but doable.
- deborah potash brodie > Kathy Oda May 31, 2011 at 10:40am
  
  kathy - we took your suggestion -- and it worked -- the pieces fit! thanks so much!
  - Kathy Oda > deborah potash brodie May 31, 2011 at 11:24am
    
    I glad it worked for you, Deborah!
    - deborah potash brodie > Kathy Oda May 31, 2011 at 11:30am
      
      we will do another 'practice' ==
      
      do you velcro the top of the bars or the bottom? and what do you do about the front doors during the show? thanks for the information --
      - Kathy Oda > deborah potash brodie May 31, 2011 at 12:06pm
        
        I place the velcro so that the bottom of the sides brush the ground. I haven't experienced a problem with the wind coming in from the bottom when zipped up.....yet.... re: the front, I just roll up the front into a neat roll while open for business and clip it to the frame. but once that puppy is zipped, I never unzip it all the way unless I absolutely need to do so.
        
        Cyreathia Reyer > Kathy Oda June 8, 2011 at 4:19pm
        
        Hey all, sorry so late in responding to this thread, but I have an ez up type of tent and I too had problems with the sides being short. I am personally a little vertically challenged and fastening the velcro along to top became a pain in the neck (literally). I went to Harbor Freight or any hardware store should work. But I purchased some grommets and a grommet tool. I placed grommets in 1' intervals along the top and use metal shower curtain hooks to fasten the top of the panels to the frame. I before my next show, I am going to do the same along each side and then use either zip ties or shoelaces to tie the sides in place. Otherwise, I spend so much time going back and forth loosening and re strapping the velcro.
Diane Wright May 30, 2011 at 4:18pm

I have an EZ up. Sometimes it seems to fit and other times I can't zip it all the way closed. I think that if I don't get everything perfectly square it doesn't work. I have clamps to keep it closed at the bottom when I need them.
Suzy Richman May 30, 2011 at 12:12pm

I bought a new caravan tent and since the first day, have not been able to make the fourth side fit. So I bought an extra white tarp (12 x 12' online at Tarpaflex) and clamp it to the frame. You can buy inexpensive clamps (about $1.00 apiece) at Home Depot. Quick and easy, however its a shame that I have to do this at all.
Linda Pirkle May 30, 2011 at 12:00pm

I also have an old Caravan and I love it. The sides are just made too small. I always need about 3 more inches on all sides. I envy sides that actually zip all the way around! I use an old side and piece it together , and then clap it..

I try to get the front to line up with the sides and then piece together the back. Wish I knew where I could just buy the zippered sides but by the time you buy the sides, you might as well buy the new tent that comes with them at about the same price. Good luck.