Canopy disasters

 I just bought an 8x12 tarp to run off the back of my camper shell for an awning.  I found some adjustable aluminum tent poles at Walmart, as well as the screw in tent stakes (like you mentioned, for a dog.) and some rope ratches for easy hook-up and tightening.  It only ran me about 30 dollars for the whole set-up, and should work really well.  I got a heavy duty tarp to hold up to the wind better. 

I got the idea and picture off this site:

http://www.swaygogear.com/articles/truckcamping/default.html

Matt

 Thats a great idea!

I have a little 8 by 8 quick shade I picked up at orchard supply hardware about 5 years ago.  Every winter it goes up over my grill on the back deck, and stays up until I figure rain is not an issue.  So say Dec to May.  I bolt it down and its been fine, though the red canopy is starting to fade.  This year I kept it off due to BLOTY.

So I think all the failures are due to lack of proper pork grease holding all the joints together

I picked up a nice 12x12 tarp (Quik Canopy brand) at Sports Authority in 2007.  It's a breeze to set up/tear down with just two people & it's held up pretty well.  At the game pictured below (at the Ft. Ord barracks in Marina) we had wind blowing hard enough to turn over one of our tents, but the tarp was tied down and held up fine.  I used to use an EZ-Up that I borrowed from school, and while it was built like a tank it was a biatch to put up.

Perchy
RIP
2005-2009

UPDATE!

It was just a shot in the dark but I called the rod manufacturer, Bimini Outfitters, and asked if they had replacement sections for their Tsunami surf rods. They did! For the cost of shipping ($10) they sent a new tip section for FREE!

Perchy lives!