Installed Lots Don't Show up?

ZeAuthor

First off I want to apologize if there is already a thread for this or if I placed this in the wrong place; I'm a bit new here.. haha.. Anyhow.. I haven't been able to connect to the sims 4 gallery (I'm thinking it might be because of the University firewall. I'm staying in the dorms, so can't do much about that.) and so I can't go on there and download any sims or lots others have made, which really bums me out. I've tried other methods, such as going to the sims resource and downloading lots but when I go to install them it doesn't show up in the game. I read that you're supposed to put the files in the tray folder, but when I start my game and if there's anything in the tray folder it says error and other things. So I have to clear it out before I play every time. I don't have any issues with the mods in my mods folder, so I know that isn't the case. Thanks for any help!