Discussion
Firstly, I'm not sure whether gazebos are allowed on the PH site in Bleu Nord so please say if this is the case.
Last year I brought a cheapo Homebase gazebo which was great until the wind reached more than 3mph. We were camped near the main gate on Houx so not the most sheltered spot, nor the most windswept but after returning on Friday evening to find buckled poles and waterlogged canopy I figured that you probably do get what you pay for.
Not to be deterred, we fashioned splints out of barbeque utensils and duck tape and we raided a nearby skip for the remains of other less fortunate gazebos and we managed to fashion a sort of field repair which saw us through until Monday (unless it rained, in which case we went next door as they had a waterproof one!)Needless to say, it wont be returning this year.
Anyway, the point of my rambling is to find out which models are recommended to endure the rigors of a week at Le Mans, sturdiness and waterproof-ness are essential!
Last year I brought a cheapo Homebase gazebo which was great until the wind reached more than 3mph. We were camped near the main gate on Houx so not the most sheltered spot, nor the most windswept but after returning on Friday evening to find buckled poles and waterlogged canopy I figured that you probably do get what you pay for.
Not to be deterred, we fashioned splints out of barbeque utensils and duck tape and we raided a nearby skip for the remains of other less fortunate gazebos and we managed to fashion a sort of field repair which saw us through until Monday (unless it rained, in which case we went next door as they had a waterproof one!)Needless to say, it wont be returning this year.
Anyway, the point of my rambling is to find out which models are recommended to endure the rigors of a week at Le Mans, sturdiness and waterproof-ness are essential!
What is your budget?
Last year my 100 quid gazebo and its 120 euro Carrefour replacement both got wrecked due to the wind. A friend of mine's gazebo didn't suffer at all and was
waterproof, a thing I couldn't say of the 2 'cheapish' gazebo's.
For this (and hopefully many more to come) year I've bought the same one as him:
http://www.kartstore.co.uk/shop.cfm?cat=1710&n...
It might be rather expensive, but buying a new gazebo every year is much more expensive!
Last year my 100 quid gazebo and its 120 euro Carrefour replacement both got wrecked due to the wind. A friend of mine's gazebo didn't suffer at all and was
waterproof, a thing I couldn't say of the 2 'cheapish' gazebo's.
For this (and hopefully many more to come) year I've bought the same one as him:
http://www.kartstore.co.uk/shop.cfm?cat=1710&n...
It might be rather expensive, but buying a new gazebo every year is much more expensive!
Edited by vincegail on Friday 3rd May 18:10
We went for a 15 x 15 Coleman Event Shelter, it's huge. We also bought the side walls and a door too in case of bad weather.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Coleman-Event-Shelter-15/d...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Coleman-Event-Shelter-15/d...
Edited by gman2207 on Friday 3rd May 18:18
£14.99 (in the sale) 7ft x 7ft four sides Robert Dyos. It lasts us 3 years in the wind and rain. Totally waterproof.
The problem is not necessarily the cheap product. The one we have has thin poles and small Velcro tabs and plastic side rings but it lasts.
The problem is wind gets in through the sides and from underneath and blows it up like a balloon. Couple this with no decent straps holding it down and you get problems.
Buy some good ground pegs and canvas straps. Put them over the roof and secure them. If you put a wind-breaker round it as well, it stops much of the wind. Rain just falls off these things so its not a problem.
The problem is not necessarily the cheap product. The one we have has thin poles and small Velcro tabs and plastic side rings but it lasts.
The problem is wind gets in through the sides and from underneath and blows it up like a balloon. Couple this with no decent straps holding it down and you get problems.
Buy some good ground pegs and canvas straps. Put them over the roof and secure them. If you put a wind-breaker round it as well, it stops much of the wind. Rain just falls off these things so its not a problem.
as far as im aware gazebos are allowed on 1st tickets/pistoneheads site
the gazebo if you dont have a massive tent is a must have item
in the past ive just used the cheap and nasty plain white 3x3
no sides just a roof
its waterproof and does the job just grand and at £10-15 you dont care if it gets ruined and you can leave it behind
gone for a argos hexagonal gazebo with sides this year, dont know if its waterproof, but it looks the part
as long as you use the guy ropes and put it together right it should last the week without any problems
the gazebo if you dont have a massive tent is a must have item
in the past ive just used the cheap and nasty plain white 3x3
no sides just a roof
its waterproof and does the job just grand and at £10-15 you dont care if it gets ruined and you can leave it behind
gone for a argos hexagonal gazebo with sides this year, dont know if its waterproof, but it looks the part
as long as you use the guy ropes and put it together right it should last the week without any problems
24lemons said:
I've been considering a Coleman event shelter. I see they do a 12x12 now. They look like they will stand up to a bit more wind. Also are they waterproof?
Some leaking along the seams on our 15 x 15 coleman shelter, cured with waterproofing agent. Cracking bit of kit, easy to remove the sides if you need to - winds weren't a problem.gman2207 said:
We went for a 15 x 15 Coleman Event Shelter, it's huge. We also bought the side walls and a door too in case of bad weather.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Coleman-Event-Shelter-15/d...
We've used one of these in our group for a couple of years. It's VERY useful to have. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Coleman-Event-Shelter-15/d...
Which ever Gazebo you choose to buy, make sure you use ALL the guy ropes and peg it securely 
The amount of these which have upended themselves through not being secured is unbelievable! The wind can pick up at Le mans and I have seen many Gazebos upside down on peoples cars!
The cotton type material ones are only water resistant, Not Water proof!
The cheap white plastic gazebos are fine, but if you can get one with a couple of sides even better
The amount of these which have upended themselves through not being secured is unbelievable! The wind can pick up at Le mans and I have seen many Gazebos upside down on peoples cars!The cotton type material ones are only water resistant, Not Water proof!
The cheap white plastic gazebos are fine, but if you can get one with a couple of sides even better
The key seems to be the way you peg it down not the quality of the gazebo. I bought a cheap £15 argo gazebo 3 years ago that did 3 lemans and 2 spa grandprix trips.
The 4 uprights have a flanged plastic foot with 4 holes in them to peg them down. If you go to go outdoors and get the tent pegs/nails suitable for hard ground and put 2 in each of the feet and use the same pegs for the guys it'll be secure. Ours didnt move or leak at lemans in the torrential rain and wind on friday, or in a windy wet campsite at Spa for 2 years. The cheap ones are plastic not cloth so the water just runs of them, i put it in the bag wet each time and never dried it out before using it again. The only reason it needed replacing for this year is because we ripped one corner of the cover taking it down. 15 quid for 5 events, a bargain i reckon !!
The 4 uprights have a flanged plastic foot with 4 holes in them to peg them down. If you go to go outdoors and get the tent pegs/nails suitable for hard ground and put 2 in each of the feet and use the same pegs for the guys it'll be secure. Ours didnt move or leak at lemans in the torrential rain and wind on friday, or in a windy wet campsite at Spa for 2 years. The cheap ones are plastic not cloth so the water just runs of them, i put it in the bag wet each time and never dried it out before using it again. The only reason it needed replacing for this year is because we ripped one corner of the cover taking it down. 15 quid for 5 events, a bargain i reckon !!
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