what are the best tarps to use
Submitted: Tuesday, Jun 24, 2003 at 21:12
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peter
Going to Moreton for three weeks and will need to setup a
camp kitchen and general shade shelter. Any suggestions on tarp configurations and sizes. I will need side protection as
well.
Reply By: basecamp15 - Tuesday, Jun 24, 2003 at 21:35
Tuesday, Jun 24, 2003 at 21:35
I use Silver tarps for the top (and sides if you are doing that) and the cheapy blue tarp as the ground tarp. Try get the ground tarp at a garage sale. My ground tarp is 24 X 30 so pretty big, helps keep the sand and stuff away as much as possible. It depends on how big the
camp will be on what size Silver tarp you want, poles are not cheap either. Hope this helps.
AnswerID:
23403
Follow Up By: relaxed (Fraser Coast-QLD) - Tuesday, Jun 24, 2003 at 23:04
Tuesday, Jun 24, 2003 at 23:04
basecamp15, have you ever tried shadecloth as a groud sheet in sandy areas, works a treat. All the sand falls through but doesn't work up through the cloth. Next time your camping at
the beach,
check out the other camps, everyone up here is now using it. I only buy the cheap stuff for
places like those warehouse stores like Solleys.
Relaxed
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15590
Follow Up By: Member - Oskar - Wednesday, Jun 25, 2003 at 05:41
Wednesday, Jun 25, 2003 at 05:41
Yeah, go with the shade-cloth for the ground. I've tried them all (tarps, carpet etc.) and shade-cloth really is the best. If it rains water doesn't
pool like on tarps and then turn to "mud".
I use a "Durarig" tarp for a fly with the "D" ring corners. I've had one over my boat outside for 2 years and it still looks and works great.
Can be VERY windy in winter so get some BIG sand pegs.
Moreton is great, have a good time!!!!
FollowupID:
15598
Follow Up By: Member - Rohan K - Wednesday, Jun 25, 2003 at 12:18
Wednesday, Jun 25, 2003 at 12:18
Yeah, agree with the shadecloth for the floor. That's what we use. Ours is made from the mid-weight cloth in the 3.66 metre size. Total size is 9.5m x 6.5 m but it folds up to take less space than our tarp that's half that size. Shadecloth is also noe the preferred flooring in most commercial and NP camping grounds as it allows the grass, if there is any to breath and thereby causes less damage. If you don't want to go to the trouble of edging it and fitting eyletts/rings, it doesn't matter. You can drive pegs through it and the ensuing hole won't tear or "run". Try that with a tarp and see what happens.
For the top, have a look at the tarps at www.discountcamping.com.au they are silver one side and dark green the other. They are
well made and the D-rings are tough. We use the 12' x 16' one as a roof for the alfresco cooking and dining.
Stay away from the blue tarps, except as an extra ground sheet for the tent. The March/horse flies seem to be attracted to the blue.Talk is cheap ...
Rohan (
Sydney)
FollowupID:
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Reply By: peter - Wednesday, Jun 25, 2003 at 19:10
Wednesday, Jun 25, 2003 at 19:10
Thanks for all the handy hints. I am impressed with the ideas. My concern is the amount of poles I need to take. Our current hole ridden tarp takes 18 poles for each eyelet. Are spreader bars the answer for extra lateral wind strength? The last time we went we had 55 pegs in the ground to hold
our camp in place! And the tarp had to have rope over the top in a x formation to stop it lifting. Has anyone used shade cloth on the sides of their
camp? How does it go in the rain and wind?
AnswerID:
23507
Follow Up By: Member - Rohan K - Thursday, Jun 26, 2003 at 11:54
Thursday, Jun 26, 2003 at 11:54
Peter, you'll never avoid the "parachute syndrome" totally. The bigger the tarp, the stronger the wind, the greater the effect. We reduce the effect somewhat by adjusting the tarp so it slopes toward the groud on the windward side (where the wind is coming from). It seems to equalise the effects of the wind under and abive the tarp a little. Spreader bars under the tarp would help stabalise the structure and over(?) the tarp may help control the tarp but you'd really need to anchor those poles
well or you could end up with a pretty dangerous structure flying around.
We have also used shadecloth as a screen wall. We use a mid-weight (tighter weave) cloth. It dramatically reduces the penetration of rain and wind, but not totally. You sufferer the same (albeit reduced) parachute effect as get with a solid tarp. Again, secure it properly and the slight amount of wind it lets through should avert any risk of an airborne
camp. Smile, you're on ExplorOz
Rohan (
Sydney - on the QLD side of the Harbour
Bridge)
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