Taming the Beast: Wheels on a Sun Shade

[Frank S]

Rick the first one of those sun shades I had the displeasure of deploying sans any available assistance was pure and simply a nightmare. being accustomed to full frame or pole tents such as the old military command or maintenance tents I knew there were 2 methods to erecting them the maintenance style were fully erected prior to tarp age
the command units started out with the canvas deployed around a single or possibly as many as 4 center poles depending on size each being stood one by one then the ropes and stakes would be set until finally the side poles
these sun shades were a new duck to me with their concertina lattice frames. the first time I set one up was without the fabric. The frame went up zippy snap, now the fabric. trying to stretch a brand new first time unfolded nylon fabric over a fully erect framework is not only arduous it is neigh on the border of impossibility. I quickly found it best to pull the center down and allow the legs to partially retract towards each other then secure the fabric at each corner Legs retracted in height of course. then pop up the center secure all of the remaining ties then extend the legs. later I fund that I could use something for a center pole. With fabric secured and folded in the framework. Place the center on top of an umbrella pole then start pulling outward and spreading 2 of the legs until eventually you can only hold on to one of them at this point the sunshade will almost finish erecting itself. Once the center pops up you merely have to extend the legs one by one to desired height.