Portable Shelter Maintenance?

[dickbaker]

    The snow is flying in the north country.   Soon cold windy nights will skim over the ponds.

           Anticipating a long ice fishing season I bought an Ameristep 2004 shelter on Ebay.  Only paid $80, about 20% of the cost of a Clam!   I love it but Surf warned me that the material might begin to fall apart in a couple of years.   So I decided to try a little preventative maintenance
First I put duct tape on all the areas where metal met cloth.   
Second I bought a half dozen one ounce tubes of McNett Seam Grip and applied it liberally to all the seams and zipper edges.
Third I sprayed the whole thing down with Armorall to help prevent water and sun damage.
Now I have to figure out how to protect and lube the multitude of zippers.  Does anyone have any idea what I can put on the zippers to help with function and wear? 
I thought about replacing the factory ice anchors with the ice climbers that Surf recommended but ice climbing people must have way more money than I do because they cost up to $50 apiece. 

Any advice would be great.  Maybe you can warn me if I screwed up some how

Thanks
Dick

[DoubleBurg]

I was thinking of putting a little bit of that sub-zero lube on my zippers this year.  I had some problems with them icing up a little bit last season and I hated having to jerk the zipper to get it to fully close.

[newfound]

Hey DB,

You'd probably wanna put the same thing on the zippers that snowmobilers use on their sliders when there is only ice and no snow. Soap!
putting liquid dish detergent would be helpful on the zippers.  If you wanna be environmentally responsible, you could heat up and spread some 'Tom's of Maine' soap on the zippers.
Not kidding.

NB

[mbs1957]

Buy some clear house hold wax it comes in a box with about 6 blocks it works just rib it on and work the zippers.

[surflizard]

Hey Dick, I'm gettin mine ready for the season also. I use the powdered graphite that is used to lube door and pad locks on my zippers. I get the little tubes from Most any hardware store for 2 bucks and keep it in the tackle bag. It's working good for me, I also lube the frame poles with it too. Eskimo makes some pretty good ice screws, they're a lot less then the climber screws.

[DaveSS1]

Something else that I feel is important during use is keeping the shanty dry during storage, even during the season.  I try to open mine up and air it out in garage after a long weekend.  Also wipping off any salt/dirt that you pick up in the parking lot helps as well.

[dickbaker]

    Darn you guys can be helpful.   I think I will try all of the wax stuff.  Surf,  I have a half tube of graphite that I didn't know what to do with.  Got it for my spools and it didn't work so well so it will go to work in my portable.   Enough zippers to try all of the stuff.  I'll let you know what works best. 

Thanks
Dick

[double trouble]

 try 100% silicone spray . I spray it into a rag and wipe it on  unless you have the little tube and can be careful.

[jibbs]

i put heavy duty velcro

[Bellybuster]

even a plain old candle works wonders on zippers, just rub it on and work the zipper a few times

[ice dawg]

I usually rub a bar of soap on my zippers and it works for me.

[Bellybuster]

anyone come up with a solution for material that is starting to show thru?" I have an Ice Cube that is starting to show pinholes. I'd like to seal it up with something. Was thinking a light coat of spry paint maybe??? I contacted the manufacturer and they were sooooo helpful, "time to buy a new one" was the response

[Greg2ha]

anyone come up with a solution for material that is starting to show thru?" I have an Ice Cube that is starting to show pinholes. I'd like to seal it up with something. Was thinking a light coat of spry paint maybe??? I contacted the manufacturer and they were sooooo helpful, "time to buy a new one" was the response

Yes cause they are looking at it like

[Greg2ha]

 JOB SECURITY!