Western Shelter Systems WS-VC-CBTA User manual

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WS-VC-CBTA
Vehicle Connector Boot

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TABLE OF CONTENTS CONDITIONAL WARRANTY
Western Shelter Systems warrants all
products against defects in materials or
workmanship for a period of one (1) year
from date of manufacture. Component
manufacturers’ warranties may exceed that
of Western Shelter.
No warranty is made or implied regarding
the intended use of the product. Warranty
does not cover damage caused by abuse,
misuse, neglect or improper care by the end
user in the application of the Western Shelter
Systems product.
Western Shelter Systems will repair or
replace any component deemed to be faulty
from manufacture in the most e󰊡cient and
timely means available to Western Shelter
Systems.
Western Shelter Systems must authorize all
claims prior to any action taken by the end
user.
For immediate attention regarding any
defective product, please phone Customer
Support at 1-800-971-7201, 7am-330pm PST.
Shipping: 815 Conger St. Eugene, OR 97402
PO Box 2729 Eugene, OR 97402 USA
Phone [phone]
Toll Free 1-800-971-7201
Fax [phone]
www.WesternShelter.com
A. Warnings 3
B. Shelter Speci󰊟cations 4
C. Component List 4
D. Erecting the Shelter 5
1. Unpacking the Shelter 6
2. End Frame Assembly 6
3. Center Frame Assembly 6
4. Roof Assembly 7
5. Raising the Frame 8
6. Floor and Basebars 8
7. Hanging the Doors 9
8. Hanging Shelter Walls 9
9. High Wind Tiedowns 10
10. Finishing the Shelter 11
E. Striking the Shelter 12
1. Removing Wall Panels 12
2. Folding Wall Panels 12
3. Folding Floor Panels 13
4. Lowering the Frame 14
5. Removing Vent Caps 14
6. Folding Roof Panels 14
7. Striking the Frame 16
F. Troubleshooting 17
1. Frame Connections 17
2. Wall Panels 17
3. Roof Panels 17
4. Torn or Worn Vinyl 17
5. Parts will not 󰊟t in case 17
G. Tips, Care, and Repair 18
1. Vinyl Panels 18
2. Insulation Panels 18
3. Mainframe and Bars 18
4. Hinges and Pull-Pins 18
5. Cases and Lids 18
6. Vinyl Repair 19
7. Replacement Parts 19

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All 󰊠ammable materials or
other items that are potential
󰊟re hazards must not be
placed on or adjacent to the
Shelter.
Pinch hazard: Always wear
gloves when raising or
striking the shelter. Setup
entails working with rigid
metal components bearing
signi󰊟cant weight.
A. WARNINGS
Follow all written and common sense safety procedures
when raising, striking, and occupying this shelter. Failure
to do so may result in property damage or personal injury.

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Frame Speci󰈛cations
All-aluminum frame constructed of
6063-T5 and 6061-T6 alloys with clear
industrial anodized support members.
Octagonal frame con󰊟guration, pivoting
from a central 󰊟xture. Roof trusses and
uprights shall be one assembly.
Eave bars and base bars shall lock and
unlock into the mainframe with integral
spring-loaded buttons, requiring no tools
for assembly. Eave bars and base bars
shall have a clear anodized 󰊟nish.
Eave bars shall be of an extruded design
to accommodate rigid hook-and-loop
fastening strips for the attachment of
roof and sidewalls.
Upright legs shall lock either up or down
with a steel captive locking pin. Legs
shall have a 󰊠at foot with provisions for
securing to the ground or 󰊠oor surface.
Legs shall provide a full 6-foot sidewall.
The frame assembly shall include
vented weather caps.
Doors shall be aluminum framed and
fabric covered.
Cover Speci󰈛cations
The entire cover shall be of 14-oz vinyl-
covered polyester scrim.
The material shall meet NFPA-701
standards for 󰊟re resistance.
The material shall contain ultra-violet
ray and mildew inhibitors.
Roof panel sections shall be thermo-
welded to insure against leakage.
All fabric security to the frame shall be
by the hook-and-loop fastening process.
Basic con󰈛guration:
Mainframe end sections (2)
Mainframe center sections (3)
Eave bars with fastening strips (12)
Base bars without fastening strips (12)
Plastic vent caps (2)
Double doors (4)
Threshold ramps (4)
Vinyl roof panel (1)
Insulated roof panel (1)
Vinyl wall panels (8)
Vinyl 󰊠oor panel (1)
Common accessories:
Insulated wall panels (8)
Fluorescent ights with dimmer sleeves (7)
Wiring harness (4)
High wind stake kit with straps (1)
B. SPECIFICATIONS C. COMPONENT LIST

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D. ERECTING THE TRAILER BOOT
1. Frame Assembly
ØPosition trailer roughly 10 feet away from
shelter, centered with a door or wall
split. The trailer may be moved for 󰊟nal
positioning after framework is fully erected.
ØPeel the walls away from the shelter door or
wall split all the way back to the 󰊟rst leg on
each side.
ØRemove the door, base bar and eave bar
from the side of the shelter where the
Trailer Boot will connect.
ØPlace the two folding frame sections 5
feet apart with the straight receiver blocks
facing each other.
ØPlace the eave bars and the ridge bar
between the folding frame sections. Attach
the eave bars and ridge bar to the outer
blocks with the hook and loop material on
the eave bars facing out.
ØStarting on one side of an eave bar, fold
out the legs to the left and the right of the
eave bar, and lock them into place with the
attached pins.
ØInstall the two base bars on the unfolded
legs and the end base bar between the legs
closest to the trailer.

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ØPosition framework with the end base bar
about 2 feet from the rear of the trailer. The
angled receiving blocks should be pointing
toward the shelter. If the position of the
shelter and trailer are not quite correct, wait
to align them until the boot has been raised.
ØAttach the arched eave bar to the upper
opening of the exposed shelter frame.
ØAttach the two angled base bars between
the folding framework and shelter.
ØInstall angled eave bars on the angled
receiving blocks of the boot framework. The
fastening strips should be facing out, and
the hole for the button locks facing up.

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2. Vinyl Assembly
ØDrape roof panel over upper folding
framework.
ØAttach the roof panel to the arched eave bar
starting at the center and working to the
ends, stretching it as you go. Look for the
vinyl weld or marking arrow to align with
the center screw on the bar. Do not attach
the sides of the roof yet, as they go over the
walls.
ØThe walls are labeled Left Side and Right
Side, which refers to the boot when viewed
from the trailer looking toward the shelter.
ØHang the wall by aligning the angled portion
of the wall with the angled receiving block.
Work out from the middle to both ends. The
end of the wall panel should align with the
trailer-side end of the roof panel, about 5
inches past the eave bar. Attach both walls.
ØSecure the four clips on the walls, located
near the trailer end, and tighten the straps
until they are just snug. Do not over-tighten
or bunching may occur in the vinyl. Do not
secure the lower straps yet.
ØStarting at the trailer end and working
towards the shelter, attach roof sides to the
walls. Pull the roof edge over the sides and
attach to the fastening strip.

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ØWith at least 4 people, raise the trailer boot
by pulling up on the 4 legs until the pin
locks snap into place.
ØNow attach the angled eave bars on the
trailer boot to the arched eave bar on the
shelter. This can be a di󰊡cult connection to
make. You may have to loosen the vinyl and
twist the bars slightly to get a 󰊟t.
ØWe will now attach the boot wall and roof to
the trailer wall and roof. This connection can
get complicated, but the basic order (from
inside to outside) is Boot Wall, Shelter Wall,
Boot Roof, Shelter Roof.
ØAttach the shelter wall ends that you pulled
back from the frame to the exposed black
hook and loop strip on the trailer boot walls.
Be sure to leave enough slack to make a
crisp corner where the shelter meets the
boot. Secure the end of the wall to the large
fastening strip on the trailer boot wall.
ØFrom inside the shelter, attach the shelter
roof hook and loop strip to the exposed
black hook and loop strip on the trailer boot
roof, starting from the center and stretching
the vinyl toward the ends of the eave bar.
ØAt either end of the eave bar, be sure the
black fastening strips are secured to the
shelter wall. A small velcro tab should align
with the wall directly over the leg of the
shelter.
ØFinally, pull the shelter roof corners down
over everything to 󰊟nish the attachment.
The padded roof 󰊠ap of the boot just rests
on top of the connection, and should be tied
down later.

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3. Flooring Assembly
ØSpread 󰊠oor out inside the trailer boot. The
end with a built-in berm faces toward the
trailer.
ØWorking around the boot, pull the edges of
the 󰊠oor under the base bars of the boot
and shelter.
ØStraighten the 󰊠oor and pull it tight to
eliminate wrinkles.
ØThe boot 󰊠oor attaches to the shelter
󰊠oor identically to a vestibule or entryway
connection.
ØSecure the remaining straps on the
boot walls and 󰊠oor. Snug, but do not
overtighten.
ØYou should now make any 󰊟nal adjustments
to the trailer position. Ideally, the back of
the trailer will line up
with the berm on the
boot 󰊠oor, as shown. It’s
󰊟ne to be an inch or two
o󰊞 in either direction.
You can either move the
trailer or the shelter/
boot, whichever is more
convenient.
4. Attachment to the Trailer
ØNote: this is a fairly complex series of
connections. Keep in the mind the general
layering order of Wall, Floor, Roof.
ØEither open the back of the trailer, or get a
ladder, in order to drape the boot air-beam
over the back of the trailer.
ØUnfold the air-beam
in either direction.
The velcro strip
should be facing
upwards and
oriented toward the
boot roof.
ØAttach the
fastening strip on
the air-beam to
the roof and walls
of the shelter. The
vinyl welds on either edge of the air-beam
should align with the eave bars.

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ØAttach the web
straps underneath
the trailer to secure
the air-beam.
You will have to
momentarily raise
the trailer gate
if you lowered it
before. Pull the
straps fairly tight.
ØAttach the boot
󰊠oor to the back
of the trailer using
the integrated
magnets. Lower
the trailer door.
ØNow secure the boot
󰊠oor to the air-beam
and boot walls. Attach
the boot 󰊠oor to the
air-beam, then the
boot wall to the boot
󰊠oor. Be sure the 󰊠oor
lies 󰊠at.
ØContinue attaching the
air-beam to the boot
wall. There is a slit in
the air-beam velcro
near the bottom skirt
of the vinyl to allow the airbeam skirt to
hang outside.
ØInside the boot, secure the velcro strips
between the air-beam and the boot 󰊠oor to
󰊟nish the connection.

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5. Finishing the Trailer Boot
ØWork around the boot and shelter and be
sure the 󰊠oor is secured to the fastening
strips of the walls to create a berm.
ØIn󰊠ate the air-
beam with the
included pump
and hose. The
inner valve can
be locked and
unlocked by
turning it a ¼
turn. Be sure
it is unlocked
(springs in
and out freely) to in󰊠ate, and locked when
in󰊠ation is complete.
ØIt may help to
lean against
the air-beam
to distribute
air as you are
pumping. If air
is not getting
to the other
side, press hard
against the
in󰊠ated side.
ØSecure tie-downs to the boot. It will have 6
in total.
E. STRIKING THE BOOT
1. Suggested Folding of Vinyl
ØRoof Panel
1. With the interior side up, fold the width of
the roof panel in half .
2. With exterior side up, fold the edges
of the 󰊠oor in to meet each other in the
middle.
3. Starting at the wider end, roll up the
folded roof panel and store in the vinyl bag.
ØFloor Panel
1. Fold the edges of the 󰊠oor in again to
meet each other in the middle.
2. Fold the 󰊠oor down the center of its
length, making the folded edges meet. Fold
in half lengthwise, then fold in half again.
3. Place folded 󰊠oor in bag.
ØWall Panel
1. Fold the bottom quarter of the wall panel
to a place roughly halfway up the panel..
2. Fold the new bottom edge up to a place
roughly three-quarters up the panel.
3. Fold the remaining panel again, matching
the folded edge with the top edge of the
wall.
4. Roll the folded wall panel into a cylinder,
beginning at the wid- est edge. Place wall in
bag for storage. Repeat for other wall.

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E. STRIKING THE BOOT
1. A frame connection will not click into
place.
ØBe sure the connection point is free of
debris.
ØGently lift the frame to allow it to 󰊟nd a
natural resting position. Lifting to relieve
pressure on the connections allows them to
󰊟t more easily.
ØFirmly tap the connection point with your
palm.
ØIf a button lock is not popping up, try 󰊠exing
the frame in various directions until it clicks
into place.
ØDo not use liquid-based lubricants on frame
connections, as this will attract more dust
and debris, making the connection less
functional in the future. Compressed air may
be used if nessesary to clean connection
points.
2. Wall panels will not meet in the
center.
ØVinyl stretches to varying degrees
depending on ambient temperature. The
centers of the wall panels may not fully
overlap in all conditions, but it should be
possible to overlap the walls somewhat in
all conditions.
F. TROUBLESHOOTING
ØIf the wall sections are not meeting,
re-stretch the vinyl starting from the
doorframe. Apply as much force as possible
and stretch the vinyl in small sections as
you work along the wall.
ØAfter several years, vinyl ages and can
harden and lose its elasticity. Eventually,
the vinyl walls of your shelter may need
to be replaced if they are cracking or not
stretching enough to complete the shelter.
3. Roof panel will not 󰈛t fully over the
frame
ØWhen securing the roof panel, start by
securing opposite corners of the roof panel
󰊟rst. Be sure the roof collars are centered on
the key 󰊠anges.
ØAs vinyl ages it can harden and lose its
elasticity. Eventually, the vinyl walls of your
shelter may need to be replaced if they
are cracking or not stretching enough to
complete the shelter.
4. Torn or worn-out vinyl
ØSee the Vinyl Repair section (page 20) for
information on how to 󰊟x minor tears and
holes in your vinyl panels.
5. Shelter components will not 󰈛t in their
cases.
ØMoisture or dirt can add volume to the walls,
󰊠oor and roof of the shelter. Be sure all
surfaces are as clean as possible under the
conditions.
ØPush as much air as possible out of the
walls, roof, and 󰊠oor as you are folding
them.
ØPack rigid items, such as base bars, in the
bottom of cases, then 󰊟t softer items around
them.
ØTry changing the orientation of bulky
components, such as the end frame
assemblies.
ØHave several people put their weight on the
case lid and secure the latches.

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G. TIPS, CARE, AND REPAIR
ØWestern Shelter Systems provides
protective bags for shipping and storage. Do
not drag these bags on the ground.
ØReplacing the components in the proper
bags or aluminum cases ensures all parts
are accounted for and ready for the next
deployment.
ØCleaning and drying of your shelter system
will extend the life of the shelter and
eliminate health issues associated with
particulate buildup. Maintenance is best
performed when the shelter is being taken
down. If the shelter must be packed when
wet and/or dusty, It is VERY important that
the shelter is cleaned and dried as soon as
possible.
ØUtilize the following steps to ensure that
proper care and maintenance has been
performed.
1. Vinyl Panels (roof, walls, and 󰈜oor)
qClean and fold on a clean surface, such
as the shelter 󰊠oor. Sweep o󰊞 loose
debris. Remove debris from hook and loop
fasteners using a rigid brush.
qClean with a mild solution such as Simple
Green™, Tilex™, or 10% bleach water
solution.
qDo not saturate the fabric, especially the
hook and loop fastener, which tends to
retain water even after prolonged drying
times.
qDry thoroughly using towels, leaf blowers or
sunlight.
2 Insulation Panels (roof & walls)
qClean and fold on a clean surface, such
as the shelter 󰊠oor. Sweep o󰊞 loose
debris. Remove debris from hook and loop
fasteners using a rigid brush.
qClean with a mild solution such as Simple
Green™, Tilex™, or 10% bleach water
solution.
qDo not saturate the fabric, especially the
hook and loop fastener, which tends to
retain water even after prolonged drying
times.
qDo not spray cleaner directly on fabric as it
could soak into the air bubbles on the fabric,
leading to mold and mildew. Spray cleaner
on shop towels and wipe to clean.
qNever pressure wash the insulation panels.
qDry thoroughly using towels, leaf blowers or
sunlight.
ØNote: Stains can occur on the white
insulation fabric. These stains, once
cleaned, are purely cosmetic and do not
indicate product failure or health risks.
3. Main Frame, Eave & Base Bars
qBrush o󰊞 loose debris. Clean dirt and debris
out of the ends of the bars and legs. Wipe
down with a mild solution such as Simple
Green™, Tilex™ or a 10% bleach water
solution.
qDry thoroughly using towels, leaf blowers or
sunlight.
4. Hinge Points & Pull Pins
qKeep moving parts free of debris and dust.
Disassemble and clean if binding occurs.
qDo not use liquid lubricant on moving parts,
as this will cause fouling.

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5. Product Cases & Lids
qBrush o󰊞 loose debris. Wipe down with
a mild solution such as Simple Green™,
Tilex™ or a 10% bleach water solution.
qDry thoroughly using towels, leaf blowers
or sunlight, making sure to remove and dry
any padding material installed in the bottom
of the case.
qClean dirt and debris out.
6. Vinyl Repair
ØAll units come standard with a vinyl repair
kit. Each kit contains a can of vinyl cement
and a supply of patching material.
qTo repair a damaged area, thoroughly clean
with soap and water.
qAllow to dry completely.
qCut out a piece of vinyl fabric slightly larger
than the damaged area.
qOnce completely dry, apply a liberal amount
of vinyl cement to both the repair area and
the patch.
qAllow the cement to become dry to
the touch and place the patch over the
damaged area. Press the patch 󰊟rmly to
ensure complete contact.
7. Replacement Parts and Accessories
ØWestern Shelter Systems o󰊞ers a full line of
replacement parts, as well as a wide range
of optional accessories for all GateKeeper
shelters. To view accessories, visit www.
westernshelter.com