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With a minimal amount of maintenance and care, the Mantis will provide you with years of comfort and protection and a more enjoyable outdoor experience!

 

The Mantis was designed and has been tested to effectively function in a wide array of environmental conditions. However, for safety reasons, and in order to provide a cost effective solution, Pro-Techt has defined certain user guidelines that serve as the basis by which Pro-Techt will warrant the Mantis product. Using Mantis in ways or conditions that exceed our recommended guidelines could cause premature damage to the product and will likely reduce the life of the product. Usage outside of these guidelines could result in injury and will void your warranty.

Following these usage guidelines, and exercising common sense, will ensure that your Mantis will provide you with years of comfort and protection while enabling you to have more enjoyable outdoor experiences.

 

Deployment and Adjustments

Cams (latch mechanisms)
After placing your Mantis on your mount, and adjusting for the desired position, always be sure to fully lock the cam to ensure a tight fit for this connection. Similarly, for Pro Models that have height adjustment, always be sure the cam is in the locked position once the desired height adjustment is determined.

Should your Mantis fit become too loose onto your mount or height adjustment , tighten (in small intervals) the lock nuts which are located on the left side of both latch mechanisms until the desired fit is achieved. Over tightening and loosening, or removing of the lock nuts could over time reduce its effectiveness and require replacement.

Knobs (tilt adjustments)
Always fully loosen the knobs when setting and adjusting the angles, and then fully tighten the knobs once the desired angles are achieved to ensure the Mantis will stay securely at the desired position. Should the fit become too loose on your tilt adjustment mechanisms, tighten (in small intervals) the lock nuts which secure the knobs until the desired fit is achieved. Over tightening and loosening, or removing the lock nuts could over time reduce its effectiveness and require a replacement.

 

Using Mantis while Moving and in the Wind

Pro-Techt recognizes that wind can be a factor in many outdoor excursions. Mantis' aerodynamic canopy has been uniquely designed to minimize the impact of the wind. However, the Mantis standing alone, has not been designed to withstand high travel speeds and/or wind. Therefore Pro-Techt has provided the following specific guidelines to ensure your Mantis will provide years trouble-free comfort and protection.

When moving more than a 5-7 MPH, always position Mantis in the overhead position. Pro-Techt recommends and warrants using the Mantis only when combinations of travel and wind speed are 15 miles per hour or less.  Operating at travel and wind speeds greater than 12-15* mph (depends on wind) with the Mantis in the open position is not recommended and could void your warranty. 

When you want to travel at speeds in excess of 12-15 mph, Pro-Techt recommends that you close the fabric into the upper spine of Mantis, attach the fabric catch, loosen the pivot knob and swing your Mantis back so that the upper spine overlaps the lower spine and retighten the pivot knob.  For marine use, we also recommend where possible, to keep the Mantis in a position horizontal to the water if traveling at high speeds in rough waters.   These actions take just a few seconds to do.
 
 * The exception to this is if your Mantis is equipped with our Sunbrella Shade fabric. If you are using Sunbrella Shade fabric you can extend your speeds to approximately 15 – 20 mph.  See also below for all of our suggestions on what you can do to maximize the Mantis’ wind tolerance.
  
What steps can I take to maximize the Mantis’ wind tolerance?
You can take several actions to maximize the Mantis’ wind tolerance:
 
 1.  Consider a Sunbrella Shade Mesh fabric – Our Sunbrella Shade fabric option offers maximum wind resistance and the best performance in the wind. Sunbrella Shade is a tightly woven mesh fabric which provides 84% UV resistance and allows wind to pass thru the fine mesh.
 
 2.    Tighten the lock nut on the one side of the lower pivot -  The lower pivot is adjustable.   There is a locknut on the one side of the lower pivot (the part with the lower knob near the base that is the source of the Mantis falling over) which can be tightened to ensure greater resistance in the wind. There is some variance here, and if the locknut is too loose, it will easily blow over.    We recommend you tighten the locknut (turn clockwise)in quarter turn increments until the lower know can still be turned to enable the Mantis to be adjusted front to back but with a little resistance in that movement.   If you don’t typically adjust the lower pivot for shade, you can actually tighten the lock nut to the point where you won’t be able to turn the knob and adjust the Mantis front to back.    This would provide the most strength in wind, but if you tighten the nut this far you will lose the front to back adjustability.
 
 3.   Physically secure the Mantis at another point- Many customers actually strap or tie down the Mantis. Depending on the situation, this can be done with a strap or other mechanism to physically reinforce the spine,  or by adding straps forward . . . typically by adding grommets to your fabric.   Additional support will greatly enhance the Mantis' ability to tolerate high speeds and winds.   We would recommend that for these applications you use our Sunbrella Shade Fabric offering.

  

Cleaning and Care

With a minimal of care, Mantis will remain attractive and functional for years. Pro-Techt recommends that you always rinse off your Mantis with fresh water after exposure to salt water and let dry before storing.

Fabric Removal

The fabric top on your Mantis is easily removable for cleaning. The top is secured by Velcro along the upper spine. To remove, start by holding the fabric near the base of the upper spine and gently separate the fabric from the spine. Once the fabric is separated along the entire spine, separate the velcro connected fabric at the inner most portions of the Mantis arms. Now the top can be easily removed by sliding it off of the arms and battens.

Fabric Cleaning

One of the best ways to keep fabrics looking good and to delay the need for deep or vigorous cleanings is to hose fabrics off on a monthly basis with clear water. This practice will help prevent dirt from becoming deeply embedded in the fabric and eliminate the need for more frequent vigorous cleanings. In most environments, a thorough cleaning will be needed every two to three years. Once separated, follow these instructions for cleaning both the polyester and Sunbrella Fabrics:
 
Place your Mantis fabric in a washing machine and follow these steps:

♦ Use only natural soaps (like antibacterial dish washing liquid), never detergent

♦ Wash and rinse in cold water

♦ Air dry. Never put the fabric in your dryer

For Sunbrella fabrics, if stubborn stains persist, you can use a diluted chlorine bleach/soap mixture for spot cleaning vist the Sunbrella website for specific recommendations on how to get out difficult stains and other relevant information.

Retreating the Fabric

As part of the finishing process, the fabrics are treated with a finish that enhances water repellency. This finish is designed to last for several years, but must be replenished after a thorough cleaning. Pro-Techt recommends 303 High Tech Fabric Guardª as the preferred retreatment product for our fabrics. Fabrics should be retreated after thorough cleaning or after five years of use. 303 should be applied to fabrics after each thorough cleaning, which typically removes the original fluorocarbon finish and reduces the fabric's water repellency. After cleaning the fabric, allow it to air dry completely and then apply 303 in a thin, even coat. After allowing the first coat of 303 to air dry, apply a second thin, even coating of 303. Two light coatings are more effective in restoring fabric water resistance than a single heavy coating. A 15-ounce bottle provides coverage of up to 50 square feet of lightweight fabric. Always apply 303 to clean fabric.

Mantis Spines and Plastic

The anodized aluminum spines and plastic should be wiped clean as needed with a non-abrasive household cleaner.

Storage

Mantis fabrics and components are rot, mildew and rust resistant, however we recommend that you do not store Mantis wet for extended periods of time. If wet, simply wipe off and leave the fabric in the open position until dry before storing.