When rigging a tarp using the ridge line method, if karabinas are used at attachment points, one can take down the tarp quickly in event of stormy weather leaving all the guys and pegs in place. It can go back up with ease.
I miss tarp origami!
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
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* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
This is such a good idea. I think I will do this with our Barbados. Hard to describe but the metal eyelets that the guys attach to have squared off edges which I think could wear the guy lines over time.
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Alternatively you could remove your guy lines and drop them in a bucket of Grangers for 5 mins then pop them on the line to dry before re-fitting them and hay presto water repellent guy lines and no more worrying.
I did indeed, and I'm not overly embarrassed to admit it!
I used Fabsil, so can't comment on any other brand.
I'm 100% certain it did no harm.
I'm 65% certain it was worthwhile doing.
I have 0% regret.
Ok, the results proved inconclusive, as I had neither a laboratory nor the inclination to run side by side tests!
And, in my defence, it was a cracking day weather-wise, my beloved had abandoned me for the sake of her career (OK, she agreed to cover a Saturday shift!), and I literally had nothing better to do other than household chores/DIY, so you do the maths! LOL!
However, this was back in the day when my guys were tied on and stayed on. Now all my guys are fitted with carabiners, and get removed every strike down, whether I think they're soaking, damp or bone dry, so no need to rely on 65% "certainties"!
Fortunately, due to my tent's design, more often than not, that means removing only 10 guys. Much fewer than yer average tunnel tent.
I'd definitely say removing the guys is the preferred option, and there can be no quicker/easier way to do that than connect using carabiners.
If they must stay in place, waterproofing them wouldn't be the most ridiculous thing to do... in my opinion!
Why buy karabinas or whatever for guy lines. Never had a problem or causing any damage. Just make sure they are dry. Tip leave them loose rather than tying up when packing, nothing really gained. Like delta's, never had the urge of buying any, as I have full confidence in my pegging ability.
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Fair comment, Heath, and one that's difficult to argue with.
We're all "guilty" of continuing with a method that's never let us down.
Strictly speaking, I didn't go out and buy carabiners for my tent, as they came supplied, seeing as all guys aren't always used (unlike the majority of tents). But having said that, if I didn't have the Karsten, I'm certain I would have gone out and bought (and fitted) karabiners to my previous tent's guys by now. I just like how I can simply hang the guys in the shed when we get home from a winters camp, then concentrate solely on getting the cotton canvas dry in the house. It's just one less thing to "worry" about (packing damp guys in with a perfectly dry tent).
As for waterproofing the guys, The best I could say is that I doubt it did any harm, and I don't regret doing it. Not the most glowing reference of course, as I've no idea whether it actually achieved anything!
As for the Delta's, I too have confidence in my pegging abilities, but I have carried out a little experiment a few years ago, on my 3 poled polycotton tunnel tent, in high winds and soft ground. To be fair, the ground was VERY soft! Gusts were hitting 35-40mph.
All pegged to the best of my ability, angled away from the tent etc, and knocked right in. All on the same side of the tent, that was taking the wind. with the ground being so soft, the hard ground peg (8mm diameter) moved enough to cause a slotted hole about 70mm long, and was ready for being flung out towards the tent. It had probably pivoted almost 90deg, so was now pointing towards the tent by the same angle it was pointing away at the start!
The yellow plastic peg, T section in shape, was pulled inwards about 40mm. Just about vertical by now. The yellow nylon Delta had also moved. Pulled towards the tent by a good 25mm.
The thing was, unlike the other two, which get pulled forward and ultimately upwards (out of the ground), as they simply pivot from their bottom point, The Delta got pulled forward, but hadn't noticeably lifted, due to it's design. (I do have very long guys when conditions dictate, with pegs a good 2m+ out from the tent if need be, so the guy is a low angle).
If the conditions had continued, and I'd left them to it, I reckon the hard ground "nail" would have been out comfortably within the hour, if not a matter of minutes. The plastic T section would have been out in 2 to 3 hours, and maybe the Delta would have ultimately succumbed, but a good few hours later, I suspect. So not perfect of course, but I'm confident they could buy me some precious time, whilst I'm out and about for the day in such conditions.
I always regretted not photographing this particular little experiment, in all honesty!
I have not yet decided whether to commit to the full karabiner guy method, but I have decided that I will keep a few spare guys ready attached to krabs so that I could very quickly add storm guys if I needed to.
Very wise, Deborah.
Had to do similar in the past. "Luckily", I already had some guys rigged up with carabiners for my tarp, so a quick add on when needed for the tent...
"As for waterproofing the guys, The best I could say is that I doubt it did any harm, and I don't regret doing it. Not the most glowing reference of course, as I've no idea whether it actually achieved anything!"
Hold your head up Mucker. I still do it and yes it does work and works well. To be fare though the thought of removing over 40 guy lines, depending on if I have the full front on ours or not, is just not an option.
When I first thought of the idea, many many moons ago in fact Diablo 600 XP years ago !! I took a treated line and a non treated line and threw them both into a bucket of water for about 10 minutes. The treated line came out bone dry and the non treated was bloated and dripping.
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Topic: Karabinas for guys?
