5 hours.

Ex-Call Centre Chimp

Ex-Call Centre Chimp

Well-known member
UKGSer Subscriber
Joined
Aug 19, 2008
Messages
9,559
Reaction score
1,327
Location
Lincoln
Following on from something I posted in the pub earlier this year, 5 hours is how long I spent today trying to erect a tarp.
That's obviously over an hour per pole.
And I still didn't manage it.
If it hadn't been a birthday present the fcking thing would be getting spanged into the bin.
 
Sadly there wasn't even the faintest sign of an erection of any description and I suspect for that very reason the scouts wouldn't want me.
 
Were you trying to do it with guy ropes alone ? I bought extendable poles from Amazon to erect mine.
 
Tarp Instructions.

1) Open Box
2) Remove Tarpaulin
3) Open out Tarpaulin
4) Check for damage

Perhaps you need a Grown Up to do it ?
 
Call Centre Chimp said:
Following on from something I posted in the pub earlier this year, 5 hours is how long I spent today trying to erect a tarp.
That's obviously over an hour per pole.
And I still didn't manage it.
If it hadn't been a birthday present the fcking thing would be getting spanged into the bin.
Click to expand...
:blast :D
What set up were you trying to do? A pole in each corner or two down the middle ridge line? :nenau
 
Sure it wasn’t an 8 person tent?
Aren’t tarps just a sheet and a couple of poles?
 
It's this one:-

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/multifunction-tarp-camping-shelter-fresh-xl/_/R-p-312999

I was trying with a pole in each corner but unsurprisingly when I got one pole up and moved on to the second the 1st one fell over and I had to go back to it, at which point the second would flop the floor to spite me.
I did at one point get 2 to stand up but when I moved towards the 3rd pole they both fell down in unison.
I never got as far as trying for a 4th pole.
I'd like to blame the weather but it was the perfect day for it, warm but not too hot and as still as a still thing on National Be Still Day.
I've been thinking about it this morning and the only way I can think it's possible for one person to put 4 poles up on their own is through witchcraft or sorcery.
Unfortunately there aren't any pictures Wapping, apologies, but I provided hours of entertainment for my neighbour and the local birdlife who kept popping into the apple trees to see how the idiot was getting on.

I've got a few days off this week so shall try again. Of course I'll be doing exactly the same things as I was yesterday so why I think anything will change goodness only knows.🙈
 
Does the gifter of wonderous item not realize they have an ongoing obligation to assist with its erection. :camping

Looking at the picture, and I can see how that would need a particular technique to get it set up. Good luck finding that.
 
The way I do a 4 corner tarp is ( some may do it differently but this method works for me ) is lay the tarp out flat on the floor and put a peg in at least one corner to stop it blowing away. I then have the 4 corner guy lines out diagonally from the corners and peg them ALL out keeping them at around half extended. I then get a pole, put it in the corner loop of the tarp and put it up, loosening the associated guy line out just enough to keep tension on the pole. The other 3 guy lines keep tension on it from all other directions. Then go to the next corner and do the same, and so on. Doing it like that keeps enough tension on the poles for them not to drop. You can then go round after and straighten / move the guy lines and poles to get it set up nice and straight / tight.

If I’m doing a ridge line tarp I set the tarp out on the ground and peg the guy lines out diagonally as above then put a pole in at one end, in the middle, plus an extra guy line at the top of the pole out at 90 degrees to the tarp. You have to loosen the corner guy lines as you put the pole in. This keeps the pole tight. Then go put the pole and it’s guy line in at the opposite end. Once up you can adjust the corner guy lines up or down.

There are some great tuition videos on YouTube too.
Good luck. :thumb2
 
Last edited:
Can you get the receipt from the gifter??
 
chablis said:
Does the gifter of wonderous item not realize they have an ongoing obligation to assist with its erection. :camping

Looking at the picture, and I can see how that would need a particular technique to get it set up. Good luck finding that.
Click to expand...
I did think that initially too but you can still put it up using the “ square “ part of the tarp and then do the narrower end flappy bit after.
I must also say that’s a blooming heavy tarp and not as easy as a regular square / rectangular one. You really didn’t help yourself buy getting that particular one to start with! :blast
 
Unfortunately the method of purchase from Decathlon meant that by the time I'd been able to try the tarp for the 1st time (1 month and 1 day after purchase in February) meant it couldn't be returned.
My wife has offered to help my erection numerous times but as she won't be with me when I'm using the tarp I need to figure out how to get it up and keep it up on my own.
Thanks for the tips and advice Udders, I'll give that a go presently.
As for making it hard for myself by going for a large one you're obviously right but it looked like the best option for what I wanted it to do (though it's clearly no use if I can't get it sorted).

Onwards and upwards (hopefully). 👍🏼
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

HTB
R1150GSA Alps to London in 12 hours....
2
Replies
26
Views
1,392
mike wright
mike wright
Best 3 to 5 hours Yorkshire riding.
Replies
8
Views
3,166
Aladin1
Aladin1
Wizards-Online
First Europe Trip - France, Switzerland, Italy and Germany - 2000 miles and 5 days.
Replies
13
Views
6,636
Ash
Ash
Last Minute dash France
Replies
7
Views
3,244
2 wheel humvee
2 wheel humvee
Dansin
Recommendations 5 hours from Calais
Replies
9
Views
1,835
johnnyboy
johnnyboy


Back
Top Bottom