Gear: The Ozark Trail Screenhouse

I purchased this Screen House two years ago. It goes up OK, poles have color coded stickers on them. Been through several severe storms while camping with no issues. Keeps sun and bugs at bay which was my main reason for buying it. Seems harder to take down than to put up.

ozark trail screen house

The campground received a moderate rain on the second night and the roof collected water in several places, causing the screen house to collapse. This was not a heavy rain by any means as no other shelters or tents collapsed. The weight of the water actually bent several poles on the roof and one leg.

Hard to set up for one person. It take 2 people at least to set this screen house up. This model has been discontinued and I only need two parts to fix it. No information on where I can get replacement parts. I need one of part number GBLL-05 (three-way hub gable left) and one of part number GBLR-05 (three-way hub gable right). Had I have known that this particular screen house was so hard to find, I would have bought a kit and tried to repair it.

But, the slightest wind or rain and the whole thing comes down because of flimsy roof design. After multiple storms/fall downs, the screen portion has suffered some massive wounds. The rest of the process was funny too, with wimpy frizzy ozark trail canopy guylines, and inexplicable bits of plastic that are supposed to tighten them. I had to use every knot I’ve learned from rock climbing. There’s shade, and fewer bugs than outside the screenhouse. I do have some reservations left, though.

‘Insert the leg poles into the hubs to raise the screenhouse frame’ got the first laugh. The “frame” barely stayed together on the ground. Any attempt to lift a corner and insert a leg pole resulted in pipes flying everywhere. I thought of resorting to duct tape, but since I had none handy, with great finesse I managed to lift each corner one pipe segment at a time. Some middle sections fell out but I had a standing frame of sorts, swaying and wobbling.

Well I’m a camper and I intend to use this weekly. I borrowed this screen tent and thought it was a pain to put up…the center hub broke forcing me to duck tape it to keep it together. The new types that go right up without connections are so much better.

Then the screening doesn’t fit right over the frame. I am sorry that I ever purchased it. Hopefully I can find a replacement part. I contacted Wal-Mart (1-800-WALMART) to see where I could get a replacement pole for the tent. They are idiots and seemed like they didn’t want to help me by supplying me with the manufacturer’s phone number.