Toptec FutureTrac Installation Instructions Manual

Installation Instructions

15'

10'

65'

15'

10'

15'

FUTURE TRAC

50' Wide Hip End

15'

10'

15'

10'

50'

TopTec Products, LLC

7601 Highway 221
Moore, SC 29369

Ph

one: [phone]

Fa

x: [phone]

e-

mail: [e-mail]

www.

TopTecProducts.com

Form # 20090909TU - 50' HIP

50w Future Trac Hip

Thank You for Purchasing a TopTec Tent

If you have questions about installation, maintenance, or take down, please call us at [phone]. Our goal
is that you are completely satisfied with our products. Please read this installation manual carefully and follow
all instructions contained herein. Please note that the installer is responsible for the site selection, installation,
and use. Do not erect during inclement weather and follow all safety procedures during the installation and
take down process.

Please contact all utility companies for underground services. In many states, the utilities work together and
have formed a Utility Locating Service. It is your responsibility to locate all underground services, including
speaking to the owner about irrigation, pool and other special services that they may have installed. Also,
please note that special precautions should be taken such that any overhead powerlines are duly noted and
avoided during the tent erection process.

To provide the quickest possible service, please fill in the information below so that we may effectively help
you should a problem arise.

Size

TopTec Products, LLC in no way represents the estimated holding power to be true in all
cases. It is an estimate, and as such does not imply that the figures are sufficient to hold
any tent securely in windy or adverse weather conditions. The tent installer accepts sole
responsibility for the safe installation, teardown, and maintenance of any tent. TopTec does
not represent in any way that the materials provided with the purchase of the tent are
sufficient enough to hold it up in windy or adverse weather conditions. There is no way for
TopTec to know the site conditions or the weather conditions at the event to be able to
recommend the adequate amount of holding power needed to hold the tent safely in
position. Furthermore, we are not responsible for the methods which the installer uses to
erect the tent or anchor it in position. Installers MUST be empowered to deem the tent
unsafe for occupancy if/when the weather becomes unstable. For further
recommendations on determining necessary staking values, please consult the IFAI
Procedural Handbook for the Safe Installation and Maintenance of Tentage and the IFAI's
Pullout Capacity of Tent Stakes. These resources are available from the IFAI Tent Rental
Division.

Product Code

Serial Number

page 2

Form #FT50H090909

Recommended Tools and Equipment

Personal Safety
 -Gloves
 -Hard Hat
 -Safety Glasses

Site Transport
 -Hand Truck (tops)
 -Pole dolly

Frame Erection
 -Ratchet and Socket Set
 -Files for deburring sharp edges
 -Cable Ties (for rigging accessories)
 -Frame Jacks (one per section)
 -8' and 10' Step Ladders

Stake Installation and Removal
 -10 to 16lb. sledge hammer
 -Gas powered stake driving machine (optional)
 -24" Pipe wrench for loosening stakes
 -Mechanical stake puller

50w Future Trac Hip

Tent Installation
 -Ground Covers
 -Cleaning Supplies

 -Keder Guides
 -Pull Ropes

Important Notes for Pre-Installation

Note the locations of any potential obstacles or hazards, per the site survey that should have been conducted prior to
this installation. Please note that special precautions should be taken such that any overhead power lines are
duly noted and avoided during the tent erection process. Accordingly, define what will be the perimeter of the
tent. Lay out the general size of the tent by measuring and matching the ground surface with the size of tent that will
be placed there.

Establish which side of the tent is to be raised first. To have the tent located in the right position when finished, you
must start the layout about 2' away from the first side you plan to raise. This procedure will keep the installer from
having to move the tent much when it's on its legs.

Future Trac tents should be installed starting at one end and then progress through each mid section to the opposite
end. With the Future Trac system, once the roof portion of the frame is assembled and sitting on the ground, the
installer has the option of installing the fabric and then lifting the complete unit OR lifting just the roof frame and
installing the legs prior to pulling the tops into position.

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50w Future Trac Hip

TENT ERECTION

STEP 1 - LAYOUT

The layout of this tent is an important part of its installation. It will allow the installer to account for pieces of
the tent prior to it being erected and allow any missing or damaged pieces to be replaced before the tent is
erected. It also allows for the orientation of the frame to obstacles or hazards such as sidewalks or shrubs. It's
much easier to move the components of the tent than to move an entire assembled frame.

Lay out the Future Trac perimeter poles, corner brackets, and intermediate brackets first.

IMPORTANT! During the installation process, lay out all
perimeter poles to be sure they are positioned so that

Pole being pinned in the "up" position so top
straps can be wrapped around it.

the keder slots are facing the interior of the tent and a
hole is visible on the scoreline of the pole. This will
allow the perimeter poles to be rotated up so the top

Install Quick Pin
on Perimeter Pole

straps can be wrapped around the pole OR to allow the
pole to be rotated down - for sliding sidewalls. (See
illustration at right)

Cable

If the hole is not visible on the score line of the perimeter pole, the pole needs to be rotated 180

end.

Perimeter Pole

o

from end to

Continuing the layout process, lay the keder rafters with the 4" tail near the intermedite brackets along the
side of the tent, angling the top of the rafter toward the center of the tent. Lay the keder rafter extensions at
the ends of these rafters with the flat end toward the cluster. Continue this process until all rafters and
extensions are laid out.

Hip Poles will be a 14'4" and a 21'10" coupled together, with the 14'4" being on the end that connects
to the crown. There are also 16'1" poles that attach to the 6-way hip connector and the intermediate
brackets. Lay all of these poles and brackets out in their proper orientation. The swing arms on the
hip connector attach to the purlins (high side). There will be 9'4" round purlin poles that attach
between the purlin brackets and the hip connector. The end rafter consists of one non-kedered 65"
extension bolted to a 21'10" pole. The end with the extension gets connected to the cluster.

STEP 2 - PREASSEMBLY

Begin assembly by bolting all keder extensions to their
rafters. Also bolt the end rafters and their extensions.
Slide the purlin brackets in the channel on the bottom
side of the rafter and bolt them to the rafter using the
"high side" hole in the bracket. In other words, when the
rafter is installed and the tent is in the air, the tube for
the purlin will be to the "low side" of the hole that the
bolt goes through. (See Illustration)

page 4

Cluster

Bolt Here

Perimeter

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50w Future Trac Hip

TENT ERECTION CONT'D

ASSEMBLY

The tent is most easily assembled by building arches, then standing those arches to build the roof
framework, and then raising the roof framework to install the legs and brace bars.

Attach rafters to each side of the crown cluster with the 3/8" detent pins. Install the roof rafter brace
bar (103") in the function slot of the rafter and pin with 3/8" detent pins. Attach the intermediate
brackets to the tail end of the rafter with 3/8" detent pins. Finally, install the scissors truss cables at
the intermeditate brackets and also at the tab at the rafter extension. Each set of scissors truss cables
will have 4 separate cables connected to a center 2" stainless steel ring. There are 2 short cables and
2 long cables. The short cables attach to the ear at the connector splice and the long cables attach to
the intermediate bracket at the perimeter. (See Drawing).

Purlin

Keder Rafter

Hip

Hip

Purlin

Now would be the best time to install any attachments to the crown cluster or rafters for lighting or
other accessory items that my need to be installed in the tent for the event.

Install the 14'4" hip poles onto the welded angle tubes of the crown cluster now so you don't have to
make that attachment from the ladder later.

Next, connect the ridge tube for the next mid section (if assembling more than a 50x50) with a quick
pin. Now connect the pre-assembled 2-piece end rafter to the crown with a quick pin. It will be
necessary for one person to hold this up to relieve binding until the arch is raised.

ROTATING THE ARCH
Place the arch with the intermediates at the desired finish location. Placing personnel in this step is

important. Two are positioned about 5' to either side of the crown and will do the main lifting. One
person on the ridge tube pushes and the second person on the end rafter pulls and steadies the arch
until it is upright. Working together as a team, the arch assembly can easily be raised with a crew of 4.
CAUTION! Once arch is upright, 2 people are needed to steady it until the next step is complete.

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50w Future Trac Hip

TENT ERECTION CONT'D

Next, build out the hip rafters and purlins. Attach the 6-way hip connector (swing arms to the high
side) to the 14'4" hip pole that has already been attached to the cluster. Install 9'4" purlins between
the swing arms of the 6-way hip connector and the keder rafters and end rafters (4 purlins on each
end). Finish the hip by attaching the 21'10" hip pole that terminates the hip at the corner of the tent.

6-way Hip

Cluster

Connector

9'4" Purlin

9'4" Purlin

Intermediate

Corner

Intermediate

After the hip poles and purlins are connected, attach the intermediate rafters (16'1") to the fixed
tubes of the hip connectors. They terminate at intermediate locations on the perimeter.

To finish the end framework, assemble the perimeter by starting at one keder rafter and working in
progression, pin by pin, until you reach the opposite keder rafter. Attempting to install the perimeter
poles in any other sequence will lead to unneccessary frustration. Also, keep in mind that the
perimeter poles, if laid out properly, can now be installed in either the "up" (26.5 degree angle)
position for use with conventional clip-on sidewalls, or in the "down" position for use with sliding
sidewalls.

The half end framework is now complete. Check for the security of all bolts, pins, and shackles.
Assembly of the remaining arches for the mid sections are typical of the first arch assembly, but must

be done laying away from the half end that was just built. Assemble arch in the same sequence as
the first assembly, then rotate the arch to its upright position and, while using a ladder, lift the ridge
pole and connect to the second arch cluster with a quick pin. Next, connect the perimeter poles for
this mid with quick pins. Finish the mid frame assembly by adding the purlins on each side of the
arch with quick pins. You may find it easier to install the final purlins by sliding them past their pin
holes on the brackets and then sliding them on the opposing brackets and making the pin
connections after the pole is fully on both brackets.

Assemble the last hip end using the same procedures that were used to build the first hip end. It is
helpful to stand this final arch toward the end so that the end rafter and hip poles can be attached
while the arch is laying flat on the ground.

Form #E60031609

page 6

50w Future Trac Hip

TENT ERECTION CONT'D

Check all the connections and fittings to ensure that the frame is ready for top installation. As was
previously pointed out, make sure to turn all quick pins away from the direction that the tops are
being pulled from, so as to minimize the risk of them being pulled out by the curtain rope or other
potential snags.

TOP INSTALLATION

Know that the top may be installed either now, before the legs are attached to the frame, or after the
legs are attached and the tent is "in the air".

Preparation is important! Lay out ground cloths at perimeter line of the tent. Ground cloths should
be large enough to protect the panels when opened to the length of the bay and should be 6'-8' in
width. Place top on ground cloth and roll out along the length of the section of tent that you are
working on.

Throw pull ropes up and over the frame section where you're working. Connect carabiner of rope to
the HEAVY DUTY 1" webbing that's sewn to the top - not the small beckett that's sewn to the valance.
When making this connection, make sure to clip the carabiner with the gate facing away from the
cluster to minimize the chance for snagging when the rope passes the crown.

Two people working together as a team will man the ropes at the loose end while the other two
insert the top into the keder track. Optional keder guides (see illustration) will allow for a much
simpler guiding of the material into the track and extend the life of the tops.

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50w Future Trac Hip

TENT ERECTION CONT'D

Utilizing a third rope as a return rope will allow you to pull back the pair of pull ropes without having
to throw them over the frame each for each section of top fabric.

While working slowly and pulling evenly, the two people on the loose ends of the ropes will pull the
top panels up and over the top and down to the opposite perimeter. If the fabric catches, stop and
pull it back about a foot, or just far enough to clear the obstruction. Once the top panel is pulled into
place, fasten a couple of the perimeter buckle straps to the perimeter poles. This will keep the wind
from possibly backing the top back out of the frame.

IMPORTANT! It is best to start at one end and continue in order to the opposite end when installing
roof panels. Furthermore, it makes good sense to start on the upwind end of the tent for the first
section of top to be pulled into position.

When all tops are installed, with just enough straps connected to hold them in place, you are ready to
lift the frame. Before lifting, connect the top portion of the hold-down ratchets to the top loops of
the roof panels. This will keep you from having to get on a ladder to do it later.

LIFTING THE FRAME

Preparation is important at this time. INSTALL ANCHORING POINTS TO HOLD THE TENT WHILE THE
FRAME IS BEING LIFTED INTO POSITION. A minimum of one anchor point at each corner is
recommended. Drive a stake about 2' from the corner and attach a ratchet strap to temporarily
secure the frame and top to the ground.

Pre-assemble the legs and bases and distribute them around the tent - leaving one leg at each
perimeter bracket, including each corner.

CAUTION! Wind conditions can and will lift the entire tent if the tops are on the frame. It is for this

reason that you should ALWAYS LIFT THE TENT INTO THE DIRECTION OF THE WIND. In other words,
the windward side of the tent should be the LAST side you raise. Proceed with extreme caution.

Once wind direction has been determined, the tent jacks should be placed down the long side of the
tent that is the most downwind. NO FEWER THAN ONE JACK PER SECTION OF TENT (Perimeter Pole)
SHOULD BE USED. The tent jacks should be placed within 4' of each corner leg and within 4' of each
intermediate leg position. The jack is designed such that the u-shaped base is oriented toward the
tent, with the single outrigger leg pointing away from the tent.

Caution! Wind conditions can and will lift the entire tent. Proceed
with extreme caution and always lift from the downwind side of the

Prevailing Wind

tent first.

page 8

LIFT

LIFT

LIFT

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50w Future Trac Hip

TENT ERECTION CONT'D

After the jacks have been placed into position, attach the short sling with D-rings at each end around
the perimeter tube of the tent and clip it to the hook on the end of the jack strap. PAY SPECIAL
ATTENTION HERE TO BE SURE THAT THE JACK STRAP IS NOT TWISTED. This will make it more difficult
to continue raising the tent as the jack strap shortens.

With one person manning each jack, begin cranking the handle of the jack clockwise such that the
perimeter stays perfectly parallel to the ground. It is easy for members of the tent crew to get out of
sync at this point, but it is imperative that they pay attention to each other and raise this side of the
tent as a team. IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO WORK QUICKLY, BUT SAFELY TO GET THE LEGS ATTACHED
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

Slide each tent leg into position on the corner and intermediate brackets and connect with a 3/8"
detent pin. Brace bars should be installed during this process as well. It is the installer's choice as to
which position they mount the brace bar - high or low. MAKE SURE ALL OF THE LEGS ALONG THE
LENGTH OF THE TENT ARE ORIENTED IN THE SAME DIRECTION, INCLUDING THE CORNERS.

Once the legs and brace bars have been completely installed and attached with pins along the first
long side, move the tent jacks to the opposite side of the tent and repeat the process. The final step
in this portion of the tent erection is to attach the legs on the ends of the tent. The jacks should
remain in place until this step is complete because the installer will find it necessary to lift the frame
so the end legs can be attached. Finish their installation by attaching their brace bars to the
respective end rafters. Remove the jacks from the tent and store for future use.

It is at this point in the installation that attention needs to be given to the legs of the tent. If no
sidewalls are being used, visually plumb each leg and drive one stake through the angled tube on the
outside of the base plate and another through the large hole on the inside of the base plate. The tent
is intended to be installed with two 40" double-headed stakes per leg and they should be used EVERY
TIME. IF KEDERED SIDEWALLS ARE BEING USED, measure between the legs and drive both stakes
through each base plate AS SOON as these measurements are correct. BE SURE TO MEASURE FROM
THE CENTER OF THE LEG (BETWEEN THE KEDER TRACKS) so the keder walls fit correctly.

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50w Future Trac Hip

TENT ERECTION CONT'D

TO ACHIEVE THE ENGINEERED WIND LOAD CRITERIA OF THIS TENT, THE INSTALLER
MUST ALSO ATTACH OUTGUYS FROM THE CORNER AND INTERMEDIATE BRACKETS
ALONG ITS LENGTH. THE NUMBER AND CONFIGURATION OF THE STAKES DRIVEN
MUST HOLD TO THE LEVELS ESTABLISHED IN THE ENGINEERING DOCUMENTS THAT
ARE AVAILABLE FROM TOPTEC.

You have now successfully installed your new Future Trac frame tent from TopTec Products. If
you should have any questions about this installation, call TopTec technical service personnel
at [phone]. We will gladly assist you in any way we can.

TENT TAKE-DOWN AND REMOVAL FROM SITE

This tent should be disassembled in the reverse of the installation with the exception of the top
removal. The installer will find it simpler to remove the tops while the frame is still standing on its
legs. Gravity is your friend and will aid you in pulling the tops off the frame. The top sections can
then be accordian (fan) folded on the ground as they come off the frame. Otherwise, the tent
disassembly is carried out in reverse of the installation.

ENSURE THAT THE TOPS ARE PLACED IN THEIR STORAGE BAGS TO PREVENT DAMAGE DURING
TRANSPORT TO THE SHOP OR JOBSITE.

DO NOT STORE TOPS WHEN WET!! IF THE TOPS ARE WET WHEN REMOVED FROM THE FRAME,
DRY THEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE - BEFORE STORAGE - OR MILDEW WILL OCCUR.

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Form #E60031609