How to Set Up & Take Down Truck Bed Parade Floats
How to Set Up a Cold-Air Inflatable Inside a Truck Bed
It’s becoming more common to haul cold-air inflatables via truck at local parades. Not only do parade inflatables attract attention and generate buzz for organizations and local businesses, but they're also easy to set up, manage, and take down. The information below was put together to help you pull off a successful parade float using cold-air inflatables.
Set-Up Time: 15 minutes
Things You’ll Need:
- Inflatable with fan system (blower)
- Tether Straps with Carabiners to Secure the Inflatable
- A gas generator (Power Source) 2000W
- A truck with Hardware in the truck bed for attaching tethers.
Before the Parade: Set Up Instructions
- Start with a clean, empty truck bed.
- Place generator in the truck bed near the cab.
- Center inflatable in the truck bed. Locate the front and back of inflatable based on how you want to be displayed.
- Attach the inflatable’s tether straps to the attachment hardware (cargo hooks) in the truck bed using carabiner clips (usually provided by the inflatable manufacturer).
- Tighten the tether straps so the inflatable will remain inside the truck bed.
- Close all zippers on the inflatable.
- Start the generator.
- Plugin the fan system (blower).
- As the inflatable inflates, slowly loosen and adjust the tether straps as necessary so that the inflatable is secure in the truck bed & facing the correct position.
During the Parade
- Enjoy the ride!
CAUTION: DO NOT DRIVE FASTER THAN 5 MPH WHILE THE INFLATABLE IS IN THE TRUCK BED. EXCEEDING 5 MPH COULD CAUSE DAMAGE OR INJURY.
After the Parade: Take Down Instructions
- While holding a tether strap, open the deflation zipper.
- Unplug the fan system (blower) from the generator.
- Gather the inflatable toward the inside of the truck bed as it deflates.
- Unhook the tether straps from the truck bed.
- Remove the inflatable from the truck bed and place it onto a clean area where you can roll out and pack it back into the inflatable storage bag.
What Others Say About Landmark Creations
"The inflatables have been a great success at shows, seminars and especially at pet shops where they help us to coordinate Iams Co. weekends that allow us to promote and increase sales of our products."
-The IAMS Company
“This has created tremendous buzz around town and we have received a great deal of compliments on the Big Tire. Exposure is my goal, and the inflatable does that better than anyone, including me, can do at these events. The Big Tire never takes a break, gets tired or has to take a call. It just keeps shining bright and the kids love it.”
- Ed Chaney, Ed Chaney Tire Center Inc.
“The huge cereal bag could be seen from anywhere and was a nice draw to gather people to the tents we had set up.”
- Anika Hage, WatersMolitor
“We knew Landmark was the only company that would be able to understand our vision and work to make it come to life.”
- Lelia King, Charlotte Center City Partners
“Everywhere it goes, folks go out of their way to catch a glimpse of the colorful inflatable.”
- B. Campbell, Enterprise Beverage Group, LLC
"We had the inflatable hockey player out in front of the coliseum and it caused such a crowd! Thanks for the professional job you and your company did for me!"
- Scott Adams, Liquid Box Inc.