Tarp ideas

[Santa-2512]

Tatonka poles (I have four of them) being sectional, you can use a single extension, two, three or indeed the lot to build a low or a hilgh level shelter.

I also have purchased this tarp. I have modified it with fitting black key rings into the eyes all round, and clip my guy lines with stainless steel carabiners attached to them into said key rings to suit my setup at the time.

Here is my setup during Soft Southern Shandy Drinkers event a little while ago.

View attachment 433227

Same setup at Sid’ last year and probably no to different this year too.

View attachment 433228

You forgot to mention that your tarp as Sids Came loose we do have evidential pics .. BTW who's set up near to you ??

 

[Sly]

I am same 6’3”.

The poles are very clever. They push into each other ( a bit of a puzzle) but, the do not rattle, and feel a solid baton of aluminium. The do not fit inside my Givi Outback Treckker panniers, so I tend to carry them strapped across the pillion seat inside an old tripod type chair bag. I believe that the 180cm version will fit inside the pannier though.

The video bellow does show exactly what I mean by a Puzzle.

Which length ones do you use?

 

[Sly]

This is the elastic I use - 4mm in yellow so I can see it. 10m for under £12 which I then cut into 4 equal lengths and tie loops in the end (one end obvs through the corner eyelet)

Pardon our interruption...

So your elastic stays on the tarp even when folded up?

 

[EVskiy]

You forgot to mention that your tarp as Sids Came loose we do have evidential pics .. BTW who's set up near to you ??

The tarp came loose at Souther Shandy event and not at Sid’. You need your facts checking chap.
It was @Skid06, he does love to be cosy

 

[EVskiy]

Which length ones do you use?

200cm & 220cm. Two of each. There are actually made in Germany rather than German Brand and made in PRC sticker slapped on them.

 

[EVskiy]

So your elastic stays on the tarp even when folded up?

I be just purchased a 20m drum of shock cord for £12.50 from Amazon. And it is in KTM orange

 

[Santa-2512]

The tarp came loose at Souther Shandy event and not at Sid’. You need your facts checking chap.
It was @Skid06, he does love to be cosy

Indeed it was,

 

[Udders]

how do you take the poles with you on the bike though?

Across where the back seat would normally be but in a Lomo roll top bag along with my Exped MegaMat 10 in its own dry bag.

 

[johnnyboy]

No no no! Don’t use the eyelet, especially if it’s windy. It’s a weak point.
I used to in the past but I got edumacated!
This takes seconds and is a LOT stronger. Plus you just pull the loose end and it pops off again.

Video unavailable Udders...

 

[Paul Young]

So your elastic stays on the tarp even when folded up?

Yes. Just roll them up with the tarp as you would if you had guys attached.

Video unavailable Udders...

Click ‘Watch in YouTube’ option

 

[zerax9]

No no no! Don’t use the eyelet, especially if it’s windy. It’s a weak point.
I used to in the past but I got edumacated!
This takes seconds and is a LOT stronger. Plus you just pull the loose end and it pops off again.

That's what I would call a "slippery sheet bend"... it's slippery because you don't pull the working end through... you can pull it to release (if not too tight). Not to be confused with a "slippery short sheep shank" which is something else completely different.

 

[Udders]

As Paul Young excellently showed in his picture, most good quality tarps nowadays have heavily reinforced eyelets. The cheaper ones tend not to be and it’s on those I’d not be using the eyelet to tie cord onto.
One of the best knots for tying a ridge line between two fixed solid points is the truckers hitch.
Done correctly with decent cord you can get it mega tight but will release again easily.

You can also use the truckers hitch on your guy lines if you lose / break your sliding adjusters.

 

[Sly]

Thank you all! Amazing feedback for a complete newbie

So I need some rope (NOT KTM orange ) and some carabiners. I will definitely get some of those poles @EVskiy thank you.

 

[Udders]

Thank you all! Amazing feedback for a complete newbie

So I need some rope (NOT KTM orange ) and some carabiners. I will definitely get some of those poles @EVskiy thank you.

Don’t buy climbing carabiners. They are obviously a lot stronger and a LOT more expensive and you don’t need them to be.
Get some good quality cord though. This is what I use. And a lighter to melt the ends once you’ve cut it off. It stops it fraying.

Atwood Rope 100ft 550 Paracord Olive Drab

Atwood Rope 100ft 550 Paracord in Olive Drab colour is in stock now at Military1st. We are the UK based online store with a comprehensive selection of outdoor accessories and survival gear. Free UK delivery & free UK returns.

www.military1st.co.uk

Some like these would do.
EGGMARCH 8 Pack Black Carabiner Clips with 8 Key Rings Heavy Duty Spring Snap Hook Zinc-Galvanized Steel Snap Clip Connector Link Hooks for Camping Fishing Hiking Swing Hammock Dog Leash https://amzn.eu/d/8V5dNjI

 

[EVskiy]

Thank you all! Amazing feedback for a complete newbie

So I need some rope 4mm shock/bungee cord (NOT KTM orange ) and some carabiners. I will definitely get some of those poles @EVskiy thank you.

Fixed it for you .

You will get away with standard pegs in harder ground, but anything remotely representing sand (DAMHIK), will require better designed pegs, such as Delta Pegs, mentioned above by @Paul Young. Not least, as should you get pissed and fall on one, you are less likely to get injured by one of those, compared to any other type of peg. If you do end-up buying Delta pegs, be sure to look into buying a carrying bag/pouch, for them.

 

[Udders]

Tent pegs you get with most tents / tarps are crap.
For windy weather I use Delta pegs on the vital points but for nearly all other occasions I’ve changed over to 6” and 9” nail pegs. I had my doubts initially as to how well they would hold being round but they are superb. Better than the V or Y pegs that you normally see.

Nano 9 inch Tent Stake - Double Flange Head

Easton Nano 9 inch Stake - Double Flange Head available from Ultralight Outdoor Gear with FREE UK Delivery, reviews, full tech specs & helpful buying advice

ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk

Easton Products - Ultralight Outdoor Gear

ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk

 

[Udders]

Another clever bit of kit for rapidly deploying a ridge line between a couple of trees etc are these jobbies.

https://niteize.com/camjam-xt-aluminum-rope-tightener

They are available in a couple of sizes depending on what mm your cord is.
All you need are a pair of tree strops or some strong cord with a loop on each end, chuck it round the tree or whatever and clip one of these on the two loops. Do the same at the other end and run a length of cord between them, pull it tight and hey presto…. a mega tight ridge line. You can put one up in about 30 seconds. Handy if it’s pissing down.
You can get imitation ones too and some made of plastic but I much prefer the stronger aluminium ones.

 

[Hann]

What`s all this putting a tarp up over a tent....!
Just throw the tarp over yer bike or use a handy fence and nestle down.....

 

[The Other PaulG]

Hann. What bike is that in the second pic? Having seen your DR Big, there is a certain theme developing!

 

[The Other PaulG]

Tent pegs you get with most tents / tarps are crap.
For windy weather I use Delta pegs on the vital points but for nearly all other occasions I’ve changed over to 6” and 9” nail pegs. I had my doubts initially as to how well they would hold being round but they are superb. Better than the V or Y pegs that you normally see.

Nano 9 inch Tent Stake - Double Flange Head

Easton Nano 9 inch Stake - Double Flange Head available from Ultralight Outdoor Gear with FREE UK Delivery, reviews, full tech specs & helpful buying advice

ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk

Easton Products - Ultralight Outdoor Gear

ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk

A couple of months ago, camping on ground that was more rock than soil, my manufacturer-supplied pegs were bending like spaghetti.

IanAK lent me a handful of these nails - they drove through the rocks with ease and stayed in place in pretty blustery conditions. Impressed!