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In preparation for winter I purchased a tarp style temporary shed to keep the elements off the tractor. Menard’s had a sale on them and I special ordered the Shelter Logic, Round Top version, in the 12’ wide x 10’ high x 24’ long. It took four days to arrive at the local store and was in two boxes which was easier to handle than 1 larger box.
This tent is barely large enough length wise but I did not want to jump up in price to the larger version. The reason for the tight fit is the backhoe. I need to drop the backhoe down to fit it in the tent and this lengthens the overall foot print of the vehicle
It has powder coated steel supports and a heavy duty tarp cover. The kit included both the solid rear panel and the front door panel with 3 zippers for access.
This was all to be had for the princely sum of $399.
Assembly:
The assembly went fairly smoothly. I did a quick count of the parts, reviewed the instructions and got to work. The instructions called for 3 or more persons to partake in the assembly process and that the anticipated assembly time was 4 hours. I was going to do it by myself with only occasional assistance from my wife. It was immediately apparent that who ever wrote the instructions did not really think things through and I made adjustments as I went.
The original instructions called for assembling complete rib sections and then attaching those together. According to the instructions the first rib was to be assembled and leaned against a structure or other non movable object while you assembled the second rib and prepared to connect the two together. Say What?
This would mean that the top rail would need to be assembled while up on a ladder as it is 10’ off the ground and you would of course need additional people to hand you cross pieces and to lean up the next large rib section. Ummm…. Not going to happen.
What would make more sense would be to assemble the top half of the structure completely at ground level where everything you worked on was easily accessible and your feet are planted firmly on the ground. This is what I proceeded to do. By using this method I anticipated the only time I was going to need assistance would be once the top section was complete and I would need to tilt it up on one side to insert the lower leg sections of the ribs.
My assessment was accurate and my wife and I were able to tilt up one side of the completed top frame and insert the legs. She could not lift it as high as needed and at the same time insert a leg segment. What she was really doing was just getting the frame somewhat off the ground in line with the half I was lifting to prevent the various pieces from twisting. Then I just worked my way along and put in the other legs. We switched to the other side and repeated the process without a problem.
This way was much safer and I believe much faster than using the ladder method and multiple people. Using the instruction method you would be up and down that ladder several times while also having to move it along to reposition as you worked on the various cross pieces and rib segments. Not to mention the fact that the full sized rib sections would not be the easiest things to maneuver around to get into position to drop a bolt through while perched on top of a ladder.
I did use the ladder for getting the tarps on. The end panel and the door panel go on first. To attach them properly you need to disconnect various things you just put together, what a pain. The door loops over the front and rear frame rib and you stick the various cross pieces through the panels. I must admit that this will keep them from falling off and I could not think of a way to do this easier than what was described. Doing each piece individually allows the frame to hold the trap up rather than you.
I was also able to put on the large tarp cover by myself. My technique for this was to unfold the trap and then re-roll it. The reason for this is the tarp was folded to fit in the packaging and not for ease of install. I re-rolled it so I could lift it up to the top of one end and then simply unroll it along the top rib. Once that was done I alternated pulling on each side until the material was stretched over the frame.
One caveat: I did this on a day with no wind. I would not have attempted this without additional assistance if there was any type of significant breeze. That tarp is huge, would make a great sail and would make putting it up in the wind a real pain.
The end panels are tightened down using a simple rope threaded through the edge. The main tarp is tightened down with a strap and mini ratchet. The ratchet strap allows you to get the main tarp nice and tight. Of course one of the ratchets on mine decide to crap out and I’ll need to call the manufacturer to have them send me a new one. This was the only thing that really malfunctioned.
One final step is to place the lower level cross pieces on the frame. The instructions call for these pieces to be installed on the frame prior to putting on the large tarp cover. Then you are supposed to undo every single one, individually, to attach the tarp using preformed pockets on the large tarp. This adds up to 12 cross piece segments, 28 clamp pieces and 44 nuts and bolts that they say should be put on and then immediately undone one at a time. Ummmm… don’t think so.
It is much faster to put the tarp on and then thread all the cross pieces though the pockets at the bottom of the tarp all at once. Then you can loosely attach the clamp pieces and adjust the tarp from side to side so it is properly balanced. Then alternating sides you can push down on the cross pieces to ensure the tarp is taunt prior to tightening the clamps. Doing it this way you could quickly get a few of the pieces on so that if a wind did come up you would at least be able to keep the tarp from flipping off. Doing it their way would have you needlessly taking off the bolts, clamps and cross pieces that you just finished putting on.
My final step was to place each of the feet up on a piece of pressure treated wood. This got the metal feet up off the rocky ground and gave me a place to fasten the feet. I then placed some hefty rocks on those boards to temporarily hold it against light breezes. This is because there were no included anchors with this kit. I will need to purchase some and get them put in. I would not want it taking flight.
My final total on assembly time was just under 5 hours. Not too shabby.
Review & comments:
The shelter overall is fairly nice quality and I anticipate it should last a few seasons if properly cared for. I would recommend it to others.
The instructions were of mediocre quality. They liked to use a couple paragraphs filled with part numbers and the usual do this before that and use this part here when a picture could have said it all quicker and more clearly. While looking this gobbly-**** over I envisioned a nice one page diagram that was color coded and numbered to the various parts, maybe next time.
There were some little diagrams but the complaint I had with that was the parts identified in the diagrams were given an item code on the inventory list (Example: 23010 and this number is printed right on the part) then in the diagrams that part was given a completely different number and referred to as number 6. You had to refer to another completely separate table to cross reference the inventory number with the assembly number. Why not simply label the part as number “6” in the first place??? It would make both the inventory easier to do and the assembly instructions easier read.
When first reading the instructions it seemed odd that they talked about installing the end panels and the top rail before they discussed the frame assembly. I just thought it was par for the course. But later I noticed that the instruction booklet had the page numbers in the order 1,2,4,3,5,6. The center page flipped so that page 3 & 4 were reversed. These pages are glued together so it is not a simple sorting error on my part. This did not affect assembly for me but I am sure it makes some people scratch their heads for a while before they figure it out.
I would have preferred that both the door and the end panel have ratchet strap tie downs rather that just the rope. I can understand they don’t want people to over tighten these panels but trying to tie a knot in a stiff nylon rope while trying to maintain tension on that rope is a pain.
In the pictures they show the door nicely rolled up and held out of the way of the vehicle inside. There are however none of the expected straps to make this possible. This must be one of those owner supplied features.
I would have preferred Galvanized frame material over the powder coated steel for longer life but every shelter with galvanized material was more than twice the price for the same size tent. Oh Well. This will get me by until I can get the real shed built.
The 30 day Guarantee & 1 year Warranty has some pretty stiff requirements. You are required to cover all the shipping and handling costs if you want to return the item for your money back. I would guess the freight bill would eat up a significant amount of any refund. You must also retain and use the original packaging material for shipping it. Like that is going to happen. In my opinion there really isn’t a warranty with hoops to jump through like that.
Shown below are:
1. Photo of assembly site w/various tractors & ickup with tent inside
2. Top Frame assembly - partial
3. Top Frame assembly - partial
4. Top Frame complete
Additional photos and comments to follow.
This tent is barely large enough length wise but I did not want to jump up in price to the larger version. The reason for the tight fit is the backhoe. I need to drop the backhoe down to fit it in the tent and this lengthens the overall foot print of the vehicle
It has powder coated steel supports and a heavy duty tarp cover. The kit included both the solid rear panel and the front door panel with 3 zippers for access.
This was all to be had for the princely sum of $399.
Assembly:
The assembly went fairly smoothly. I did a quick count of the parts, reviewed the instructions and got to work. The instructions called for 3 or more persons to partake in the assembly process and that the anticipated assembly time was 4 hours. I was going to do it by myself with only occasional assistance from my wife. It was immediately apparent that who ever wrote the instructions did not really think things through and I made adjustments as I went.
The original instructions called for assembling complete rib sections and then attaching those together. According to the instructions the first rib was to be assembled and leaned against a structure or other non movable object while you assembled the second rib and prepared to connect the two together. Say What?
This would mean that the top rail would need to be assembled while up on a ladder as it is 10’ off the ground and you would of course need additional people to hand you cross pieces and to lean up the next large rib section. Ummm…. Not going to happen.
What would make more sense would be to assemble the top half of the structure completely at ground level where everything you worked on was easily accessible and your feet are planted firmly on the ground. This is what I proceeded to do. By using this method I anticipated the only time I was going to need assistance would be once the top section was complete and I would need to tilt it up on one side to insert the lower leg sections of the ribs.
My assessment was accurate and my wife and I were able to tilt up one side of the completed top frame and insert the legs. She could not lift it as high as needed and at the same time insert a leg segment. What she was really doing was just getting the frame somewhat off the ground in line with the half I was lifting to prevent the various pieces from twisting. Then I just worked my way along and put in the other legs. We switched to the other side and repeated the process without a problem.
This way was much safer and I believe much faster than using the ladder method and multiple people. Using the instruction method you would be up and down that ladder several times while also having to move it along to reposition as you worked on the various cross pieces and rib segments. Not to mention the fact that the full sized rib sections would not be the easiest things to maneuver around to get into position to drop a bolt through while perched on top of a ladder.
I did use the ladder for getting the tarps on. The end panel and the door panel go on first. To attach them properly you need to disconnect various things you just put together, what a pain. The door loops over the front and rear frame rib and you stick the various cross pieces through the panels. I must admit that this will keep them from falling off and I could not think of a way to do this easier than what was described. Doing each piece individually allows the frame to hold the trap up rather than you.
I was also able to put on the large tarp cover by myself. My technique for this was to unfold the trap and then re-roll it. The reason for this is the tarp was folded to fit in the packaging and not for ease of install. I re-rolled it so I could lift it up to the top of one end and then simply unroll it along the top rib. Once that was done I alternated pulling on each side until the material was stretched over the frame.
One caveat: I did this on a day with no wind. I would not have attempted this without additional assistance if there was any type of significant breeze. That tarp is huge, would make a great sail and would make putting it up in the wind a real pain.
The end panels are tightened down using a simple rope threaded through the edge. The main tarp is tightened down with a strap and mini ratchet. The ratchet strap allows you to get the main tarp nice and tight. Of course one of the ratchets on mine decide to crap out and I’ll need to call the manufacturer to have them send me a new one. This was the only thing that really malfunctioned.
One final step is to place the lower level cross pieces on the frame. The instructions call for these pieces to be installed on the frame prior to putting on the large tarp cover. Then you are supposed to undo every single one, individually, to attach the tarp using preformed pockets on the large tarp. This adds up to 12 cross piece segments, 28 clamp pieces and 44 nuts and bolts that they say should be put on and then immediately undone one at a time. Ummmm… don’t think so.
It is much faster to put the tarp on and then thread all the cross pieces though the pockets at the bottom of the tarp all at once. Then you can loosely attach the clamp pieces and adjust the tarp from side to side so it is properly balanced. Then alternating sides you can push down on the cross pieces to ensure the tarp is taunt prior to tightening the clamps. Doing it this way you could quickly get a few of the pieces on so that if a wind did come up you would at least be able to keep the tarp from flipping off. Doing it their way would have you needlessly taking off the bolts, clamps and cross pieces that you just finished putting on.
My final step was to place each of the feet up on a piece of pressure treated wood. This got the metal feet up off the rocky ground and gave me a place to fasten the feet. I then placed some hefty rocks on those boards to temporarily hold it against light breezes. This is because there were no included anchors with this kit. I will need to purchase some and get them put in. I would not want it taking flight.
My final total on assembly time was just under 5 hours. Not too shabby.
Review & comments:
The shelter overall is fairly nice quality and I anticipate it should last a few seasons if properly cared for. I would recommend it to others.
The instructions were of mediocre quality. They liked to use a couple paragraphs filled with part numbers and the usual do this before that and use this part here when a picture could have said it all quicker and more clearly. While looking this gobbly-**** over I envisioned a nice one page diagram that was color coded and numbered to the various parts, maybe next time.
There were some little diagrams but the complaint I had with that was the parts identified in the diagrams were given an item code on the inventory list (Example: 23010 and this number is printed right on the part) then in the diagrams that part was given a completely different number and referred to as number 6. You had to refer to another completely separate table to cross reference the inventory number with the assembly number. Why not simply label the part as number “6” in the first place??? It would make both the inventory easier to do and the assembly instructions easier read.
When first reading the instructions it seemed odd that they talked about installing the end panels and the top rail before they discussed the frame assembly. I just thought it was par for the course. But later I noticed that the instruction booklet had the page numbers in the order 1,2,4,3,5,6. The center page flipped so that page 3 & 4 were reversed. These pages are glued together so it is not a simple sorting error on my part. This did not affect assembly for me but I am sure it makes some people scratch their heads for a while before they figure it out.
I would have preferred that both the door and the end panel have ratchet strap tie downs rather that just the rope. I can understand they don’t want people to over tighten these panels but trying to tie a knot in a stiff nylon rope while trying to maintain tension on that rope is a pain.
In the pictures they show the door nicely rolled up and held out of the way of the vehicle inside. There are however none of the expected straps to make this possible. This must be one of those owner supplied features.
I would have preferred Galvanized frame material over the powder coated steel for longer life but every shelter with galvanized material was more than twice the price for the same size tent. Oh Well. This will get me by until I can get the real shed built.
The 30 day Guarantee & 1 year Warranty has some pretty stiff requirements. You are required to cover all the shipping and handling costs if you want to return the item for your money back. I would guess the freight bill would eat up a significant amount of any refund. You must also retain and use the original packaging material for shipping it. Like that is going to happen. In my opinion there really isn’t a warranty with hoops to jump through like that.
Shown below are:
1. Photo of assembly site w/various tractors & ickup with tent inside
2. Top Frame assembly - partial
3. Top Frame assembly - partial
4. Top Frame complete
Additional photos and comments to follow.
