Quote: Originally posted by bluenosewidow on 01/9/2013
Good posts and instructions of how to erect a tarp. I do mine slightly different to stop the first pole falling over. I erect mine solo and never use a ridgeline. I guy the corners out keeping the guy ropes quite short. I insert the first pole in the hole and also keep this pole as short as possible, the tension of the guy will hold the pole up, also don't forget to angle the pole instead of standing it straight up. Once this first pole is in I then add the other poles and finally increase the height of the first pole. I then adjust the shape of the tarp. The trick is to get the tension correct at the beginning.
Good to see another method being posted up.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Here's the pic of Cling Ons in use to hold the back of the tarp in place to prevent it from being pulled forward.
Not sure if it will work, as it stopped raining for the rest of the trip after I rigged it, typical!
BTW, that was taken using my new phone, and the quality, including night shots, is so good it can make my normal digital camera redundant!
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Quote: Originally posted by dk168 on 01/9/2013
Here's the pic of Cling Ons in use to hold the back of the tarp in place to prevent it from being pulled forward.
Not sure if it will work, as it stopped raining for the rest of the trip after I rigged it, typical!
BTW, that was taken using my new phone, and the quality, including night shots, is so good it can make my normal digital camera redundant!
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Our compact digital camera never comes out of the cupboard these days as our S4 and Nexus 4 phones have 13mb and 8mb cameras respectively. The HD video is excellent and there's the upload capability so for site etc reports you can be PC free.
Nowadays I only get the big camera out for the optical zoom.
------------- Mike
My advice is worth no more than the price paid for it
My apologies for replying so late - family came round and he ho another afternoon/evening gone! Nice tho'
Well we did finally manage to put the tarp up in the garden - many thanks for your replies, especially DK who definitely heard my call - thanks. And yes!!! We have it completely sorted - hope it goes as well on site.
Decided we need better quality guy rope for the ridge, probably a couple more tent poles (to try other configurations - getting clever now!) and need to get some Karabiners (spelt like that mm) - Krabs - mastered the prusik knot - works a treat and got another couple of knots up our sleeves - whether or not we'll remember those is another thing. OH refuses all things digital or with tinternet when camping - so can't take You Tube with us.
DK - I thought you might be there on September 14th - the day we leave - would have liked to have said hello - didn't realise it was 2014, sorry. And have you any tips for Fforest Fields - not particularly the site but surrounding area that should not be missed. We do have things planned Brecon Beacons - PenyFan and Waterfalls, Hay on Wye etc..
So many thanks again - much appreciated!!
------------- May - Dorset
July - Saundersfoot
September - S. Wales
October - S. Wales
It is definitely advisable to have an extra set of poles as it would add versatility to how the tarp can be set up.
I keep the Prusik knots with the karabiners hooked up to the loops on the dedicated ridge guy all the time, so that I do not have to remember how to tie that knot. Also, I can use the dedicated ridge guy to guide me where to put the poles. It saves time trying to find a guy long enough to be a ridge guy too.
You are not alone in mis-interpreting the future dates in my signature. Perhaps I should put a "'" before the two digit year which is what I am used to using to avoid future confusions.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Apologies for ressurecting an old thread, but it's a SUPER helpful how-to for setting up a tarp.
I have a question - how do you get your ridge line nice and taut? I got my DD 3x3 tarp up easy enough with a pair of telescopic poles (after ditching the wire pegs in favour of rock pegs), and the prusiks were fine, but I found that the ridge sagged when I guyed out the corners. I made it using brand new paracord, so maybe just needs to be a bit shorter so it's under more tension before hanging the tarp?
ou'll never get 3 meters of fabric taut without a ridge pole underneath. You can, however, stretch two extra lines to the poles to get the ridge as taut as possible.
Quote: Originally posted by Milady B on 12/7/2025
Apologies for ressurecting an old thread, but it's a SUPER helpful how-to for setting up a tarp.
I have a question - how do you get your ridge line nice and taut? I got my DD 3x3 tarp up easy enough with a pair of telescopic poles (after ditching the wire pegs in favour of rock pegs), and the prusiks were fine, but I found that the ridge sagged when I guyed out the corners. I made it using brand new paracord, so maybe just needs to be a bit shorter so it's under more tension before hanging the tarp?
Post last edited on 12/07/2025 13:17:09
In addition to the ridge line between 2 poles, each pole has 2 guys of its own. After hooking up the tarp, tighten the guys for the poles to make the ridge line taut.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
I had it set up with a pair of guys on each poll but couldn't seem to get it not to dip over the tattoo was pegged out. I've now got a length of DD cord to try instead, which seems to have a bit less bounce/stretch than the paracord. Will see how that goes.
I've just seen the Camping and Caravan Club's new advert video on YouTube, someone hammers in a tent peg, vertically, surely everyone knows tent pegs go in at 45 degrees!
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: A few pics and question about tarps
. And have you any tips for Fforest Fields - not particularly the site but surrounding area that should not be missed. We do have things planned Brecon Beacons - PenyFan and Waterfalls, Hay on Wye etc..
via mobile 12/7/2025 at 12:18pm
