Anyone have any recommendations on a good portable tent to set up in the paddock to cover the car and a couple of people? It's going to be hot this summer.

Froogle for an EZ UP. they come in various sizes and have proven to be very sturdy and portable. they run around $200 a tent for a 10'x10', you'll either want to double it or get one of their larger setups.

Froogle for an EZ UP. they come in various sizes and have proven to be very sturdy and portable. they run around $200 a tent for a 10'x10', you'll either want to double it or get one of their larger setups.

I believe krisko is selling his 12x12 for $100?

My EZ up wasn't such a good buy as the Caravan I got from Cosco for $150 12x12.

The cheap $100 setups will last you one season and then need to be tossed; at least that's my experience. I now have a 10x20 that is pieced together, it's a pain to set up and is heavy, but I know that it will last me quite some time.

Academy Sports had E-Z Ups in 12X12 for around $150 in the sale paper last Sunday, and another cheaper brand for less. Take a fool's advice (mine) and don't leave it up overnight. I did at Barber last year and the wind/rain storm that blew through trashed mine. Just drop it down before you leave the track. BTW, there is an Academy Sports on US 11 just north of the I-459/I-59 interchange just up the road from Barber. Also bring some bungee cords and use them to anchor the tent to spare tires, jacks, etc. so the wind doesn't blow it around during the day.

Big 5 sporting goods in California has 12x12's on sale for $90 for time to time. I picked one up last year. Can't beat that price with a stick.....

What's better in quality the e-z up or caravan? Or are they too similar. I am looking at their 10x10 entry level ones...

I picked up 2 10x10 EZ-UP's at BJ's last year for ~$120/each. No quality issues.

The cheap $100 setups will last you one season and then need to be tossed; at least that's my experience. I now have a 10x20 that is pieced together, it's a pain to set up and is heavy, but I know that it will last me quite some time.

+1

Out here, it is nothing for the winds to treat the entry level tents like cheap umbrellas.

So we went up to the Eclipse model as well, but we did something a little different. The 10x20 is a monster to carry and setup, and has a post in the middle of the long side. Instead, I got 2 10x15s. Each one is easier to carry and setup than a 10x20, and side by side, I essentially have a 15x20. Long enough and wider for car work.
http://www.bimmerfest.com/photos/data/3146/medium/Picture_127.jpg

+1

Out here, it is nothing for the winds to treat the entry level tents like cheap umbrellas.

So we went up to the Eclipse model as well, but we did something a little different. The 10x20 is a monster to carry and setup, and has a post in the middle of the long side. Instead, I got 2 10x15s. Each one is easier to carry and setup than a 10x20, and side by side, I essentially have a 15x20. Long enough and wider for car work.
http://www.bimmerfest.com/photos/data/3146/medium/Picture_127.jpg
That's a nice setup, ...but in the rain you still only have two 10x15s..:(

What's better in quality the e-z up or caravan? Or are they too similar. I am looking at their 10x10 entry level ones...
From my experience, Caravan. Granted I got the cheap EZ up model, but even tied down to spare wheels, the Caravan endured the winds better than the EZ up.

That's a nice setup, ...but in the rain you still only have two 10x15s..:(

That's why they have rain gutters for these canopys.:redspot

Mike

That's why they have rain gutters for these canopys.:redspot

Mike

:thumbup:

Ditto the Caravan - they often have specials on their website and I picked up a 10x10 aluminum one with the heavy top for well under the Costo price. It's incredibly durable and has effortlessly survived wet and windy race weekends. I also have a sub $100 Kragen special and it becomes a little more bent and impossible to fold down each time I take it out of the bag - I'd consider the 'el cheapos' a very temporary solution.

Also bring some bungee cords and use them to anchor the tent to spare tires, jacks, etc. so the wind doesn't blow it around during the day.

I wouldn't trust a bungee cord, I tie mine down with tie-down straps (one side to my trailer, the other to tires). A few years ago at the Redbud National Motocross championships a nasty storm hit the campground at daybreak. I watched in horror as 4 or 5 EZ-up went flying by hitting cars and campers as they went. Needless to say there were some pi$$ed off people:eek: