Umnak
Adventurer
I've been using tarps for shelter for a long time. In Southeast Alaska we slept under tarps and set them near our fires for a kitchen. We always had one with us hiking for a way to stay out of the rain.
I set up a tarp support system on our 4Runner using an old piece of PVC pipe for a short trip up the Dempster Highway to the Tombstone Range a few years ago. The pipe held the tarp, poles and served as a mounting base. It was a simple way to keep the rain off the camp and held up to some severe thunderstorms.
We didn't want to add an awning to our Sprinter because of the cumbersome look they add to the side of a van, and because it could only be used for one thing, and awning off the side of the van.
I thought a lot about how to mount a tarp on a van without dedicated attachment points before deciding to primarily use 65lb test rare earth magnets with eye screws. I was at first concerned how well these would work, but have found, when properly mounted, them to be more than sufficient to withstand mild winds. We also have, as back-up, small c-clamps that can be attached to the rain gutter, though they have only been used when testing the theory.
The advantage of the rare earth magnets is their flexibility. We carry a 6'x8' and a 8'x10' tarp in the van. Most often the smaller and lighter tarp is used to cover the space over the sliding door and toward the stern. We've set them over the back door a couple of times as well. They can also be used to cover the picnic table at a camp site or for a sun shade away from the van; that's not possible with an awning.
The magnets hold well when the force pulling against them is straight out from their base, as opposed to an angle much beyond 25 degrees. Two adjustable poles (up to 8') are most often used to hold the tarp straight out from the van. These poles are either set to the ground using tent stakes or to a tree using line. Line can sometimes be used to secure the outside corners of the tarp directly to a tree or shrub if the angle isn't too steep.
The above picture shows the tarp, magnets, poles and line being set up for a sun shade.
See this link for our ongoing trip report - http://www.expeditionportal.com/for...rs-Around-North-America?p=1959205#post1959205
I'd like to know if others are using tarps and how they are set up
I set up a tarp support system on our 4Runner using an old piece of PVC pipe for a short trip up the Dempster Highway to the Tombstone Range a few years ago. The pipe held the tarp, poles and served as a mounting base. It was a simple way to keep the rain off the camp and held up to some severe thunderstorms.
We didn't want to add an awning to our Sprinter because of the cumbersome look they add to the side of a van, and because it could only be used for one thing, and awning off the side of the van.
I thought a lot about how to mount a tarp on a van without dedicated attachment points before deciding to primarily use 65lb test rare earth magnets with eye screws. I was at first concerned how well these would work, but have found, when properly mounted, them to be more than sufficient to withstand mild winds. We also have, as back-up, small c-clamps that can be attached to the rain gutter, though they have only been used when testing the theory.
The advantage of the rare earth magnets is their flexibility. We carry a 6'x8' and a 8'x10' tarp in the van. Most often the smaller and lighter tarp is used to cover the space over the sliding door and toward the stern. We've set them over the back door a couple of times as well. They can also be used to cover the picnic table at a camp site or for a sun shade away from the van; that's not possible with an awning.
The magnets hold well when the force pulling against them is straight out from their base, as opposed to an angle much beyond 25 degrees. Two adjustable poles (up to 8') are most often used to hold the tarp straight out from the van. These poles are either set to the ground using tent stakes or to a tree using line. Line can sometimes be used to secure the outside corners of the tarp directly to a tree or shrub if the angle isn't too steep.
The above picture shows the tarp, magnets, poles and line being set up for a sun shade.
See this link for our ongoing trip report - http://www.expeditionportal.com/for...rs-Around-North-America?p=1959205#post1959205
I'd like to know if others are using tarps and how they are set up
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