SuperFly No-Sew mini-pole tarp mod

[Tinmar]

Thanks. My order from Quest is in the mail. Just got my SuperFly last week. Haven't used it to hang yet but did use it to keep the sun off the Grand kids in the pool last weekend.

[Jsaults]

Thanks to cpverne for the idea!

I made two poles, each consisting of two full 18" 0.340" sections w/alu end fittings, two 9" sections (ferrule-less pole cut in half), and one 145 deg arch.

I was going to make the grommet fittings myself, then remembered that I had squirreled away my 1980 TNF Oval Intention (dies from urethane coating cancer) that had pole fittings exactly as I needed. Scissors and a lighter completed the job.

I am not sure that the shallow arch is of great benefit, but it does eliminate virtually all of the pressure between my continuous ridgeline and the tarp fabric. A straight pole set would result in somewhat greater lifting effect, but I have yet to run an actual field test to see if my mod is acceptable.

Time now to sew up a suitable pole sack.

Jim

First pic is with the pole mod, last pic is with walls hanging slack for interior volume comparison.

[wawhiker]

I want to thank cpverne and tendertoes for their ideas as well - which led me to this discovery and setup...


Here is the YouTube video of the setup:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbUwf_jWeNE
(We spent the night with it in porch mode - see "Comfort for Two" video)

Again, cpverne and tendertoes - thanks guys!

[Jsaults]

I am contemplating ordering more poles from Quest and playing around with alternative designs, and your mod looks very promising.

Jim

[Roadrunnr72]

The biggest advantage of putting the poles under, is if your winter camping, snow will slide off better. You don't have that little shelf to collect it.

An advantage of this mod, is shorter poles= less weight.....RR

Something else that I forgot, with the longer, inside pole mod, you can loosen the guy lines on one side, and tighten the ones on the opposite, and the tarp goes into porch mode with no extra hiking poles needed.......RR

[cpverne]

Something else that I forgot, with the longer, inside pole mod, you can loosen the guy lines on one side, and tighten the ones on the opposite, and the tarp goes into porch mode with no extra hiking poles needed.......RR

I was on a camping trip down at the beach and while I had the fly hiked up and in porch mode, there was no breeze and I felt that I really needed to pick up a portable fan before for summer camp.

I put a non-structural adjustable ridge line on the inside of the tarp that would let me hang a fan above me, and could easily run poles on the inside through prussik loops attached to the sub-ridge line. It's not hard to move the grommet tabs down to the corners, and would only need to pick up more pole segments and longer elastic..

The other benefit to the inside poles, is that it would prevent the pole pressing on the ridgeline of the tarp and causing a wicking point.

I think if I did end up moving the tabs, I would change the snaprings out with mini-carabiners so that they could be removed/moved at a later date.

[wawhiker]

I am contemplating ordering more poles from Quest and playing around with alternative designs, and your mod looks very promising.

Jim

Jim - Thanks! Good luck with the designs. Happy to lend a friendly assist anytime if you need more information about my mod.

[biggameken]

I notice several on this thread have voiced concerns about moisture wicking through the ridgeline due to additional tension this modification would put on it. Are some just voicing this concern, or have any of you actually experienced this problem with this or a similar mod?

I'm preparing to order supplies for this mod and wanted to check into this potential issue first. Thanks in advance for your insights

Ken

[defsquad]

I notice several on this thread have voiced concerns about moisture wicking through the ridgeline due to additional tension this modification would put on it. Are some just voicing this concern, or have any of you actually experienced this problem with this or a similar mod?

I'm preparing to order supplies for this mod and wanted to check into this potential issue first. Thanks in advance for your insights

Ken

Did you go though with it? Just curious as I have my SF on order and was considering this as an option for my Ridgerunner as well.

[cpverne]

Last time out, I had this setup for 5 days straight, several with very large amounts of rain (2" or more). The only leaks I had were where the pullouts were sewn, but I hadn't had a chance to put any seam sealer on those points.