Reflectix in a Frabill dilema

[EZ17]

I just recently purchased my first portable, a few yr old frabill xl ranger twin and want to install reflectix on the ceiling...the problem I got is that the fabric is attached to the poles with about 1ft wide fabric sleeves instead of velcro straps like others....I really don't wanna cut slots in the sleeves but they cover too much of the pole to allow the 4' wide reflctix to be attached securely..I thought about using wide wooden dowels and sandwhich it between but not sure if thats the best way...I've searched every thread for the last year and havent been able to come up with anything...anybody else dealt with this? thanks!

[Surreal Deal]

I may be over simplifying here, but why not just cut bigger slits in the reflectix to accommodate the sleeves?

Just make sure to tape up the edges of the slits and you should be fine.

[Jim Almquist]

You will also want to cut your own slits to secure the reflectix to your bars with tie-wraps or Velcro so it will stay in place.

[shnelson]

I used to have the same portable, and faced the same dilemma.

What i did was cut a slit in the center of the sleeves about 6" wide (my sleeves ran the entire width of the ceiling), then passed a notch of reflectix through it. You wont be able to run a continuous piece this way, but rather build panels to go between each set of supports. I took a few inches off each edge to give the sides supports too - didn't affect the portable much as there's still plenty of sleeve to keep the canvas on securely. In your situation I would just cut the panels to fit in between the sleeves as much as possible, and maybe trim a little extra off if needed.

The other option I was thinking about doing is getting a hold of some adhesive velcro straps and just put up reflectix panels that way. Not sure how well it would have worked out, but i hear mighty mend it does a bang up job of tacking to canvas.

[EZ17]

Sorry about the poor explanation...Nelson understands.....if I use 48" wide reflectix , it ends up ending in the middle of the sleeves....basically if I were to attach it where there is only pole showing, it would be about a foot in on each side from the edge of the reflectix...I'm thinking it would droop severely....Nelson,..what you're saying is if I were to just cut slits in the sleeves for some velcro or tie straps, that the sleeves shouldn't tear up or disintegrate that bad?

[crappiebuster]

I have an XL Twin also and was thinking about doing this. Im watching this thread like a hawk.

[Ed Carlson]

You could use heavy duty Velcro and install strips on each overlapping section of the Reflectix.

Then slap them up like Lego's to interlink them under the support frame. That should work. Most craft shops will have the heavy duty Velcro in bulk strips.

[shnelson]

Sorry about the poor explanation...Nelson understands.....if I use 48" wide reflectix , it ends up ending in the middle of the sleeves....basically if I were to attach it where there is only pole showing, it would be about a foot in on each side from the edge of the reflectix...I'm thinking it would droop severely....Nelson,..what you're saying is if I were to just cut slits in the sleeves for some velcro or tie straps, that the sleeves shouldn't tear up or disintegrate that bad?

That's essentially what I did, I was able to dig up an image before I got rid of my XLT (pre reflectix unfortunately)

I made the center cut and think I could have gotten away without trimming the sides. Notch out the reflectix panel to fit over the bar where you made the cuts. I used velcro straps to tie the reflectix on to the bar, seemed to hold up pretty good.

If you are wanting to keep a resale value, i'd keep the cuts minimal. I didn't have any ripping issues but a potential buyer might not like the idea of it. I would instead try running velcro parallel to the bars (with heavy duty adhesive), cut the reflectix to fit and match up the velcro on the back side of it. You'll have two panels you can easily put up and take down, you can even get creative with reflectix on the back wall to help block wind too.

[EZ17]

Thanks for the help guys...I hope get to this next weekend and I'll post some pics of finished product...thanks again!

[EZ17]

Well I'm a week late and can't get the camera to work right but I did get the reflectix in and this is what I did...I cut slits in my sleeves just wide enough to get some double backed velcro around the poles..the slits were placed in the center, and at 22" left and right of center so each pole had 3 velcro attachment's plus each pole got a 2- 4" wide by 1 ft strip placed over an exposed area between the sleeves which I then attached to the main sheet of reflectic with Gorilla tape..all slits were also reinforced with Gorilla tape on both sides of the relflectix....It looks like it will work just fine..we'll find out soon!