Tarp Line Rope

**phatt_millips** · 02-11-2014, 18:30

Hey guys

What is a good rope to use for a tarp? The reason why I'm asking is the rope I'm currently using gets frayed up every time I run it around a tree. I saw one of Shug's videos where he used Dyneema but I don't want to use all of my Amsteel on a tarp. And I also would like to know how long the rope usually is?

**Shug** · 02-11-2014, 18:32

Nope….Shug of the Third Person used Spectra.
I love this stuff. http://www.tttrailgear.com/spectra-no-tangle-guy-line/
Shug

**SilvrSurfr** · 02-11-2014, 18:48

1.75 mm Zing-It is also popular for hammock and tarp ridgelines.

**MAD777** · 02-11-2014, 19:35

If you want to go light, my choice is 1.2mm tech line
http://diygearsupply.com/product/tech-line/

**Mountnman** · 02-11-2014, 20:02

I use the zing it also about 30 ft long

**The Old Boot** · 02-11-2014, 20:28

Originally Posted by phatt_millips

Hey guys

What is a good rope to use for a tarp? The reason why I'm asking is the rope I'm currently using gets frayed up every time I run it around a tree. I saw one of Shug's videos where he used Dyneema but I don't want to use all of my Amsteel on a tarp. And I also would like to know how long the rope usually is?

First off, running rope around a tree and fraying it is the least of the problems. That rope is doing damage to the tree as well. That's why so many parks don't allow anything to be hung from the trees at all. We're slowing convincing park managers that we know how to hang without damaging the trees - tree straps.

Using tree straps also means that you can use your choice of Spectra, Zing-it and Techline and get away with using less of it because it's going tree strap to tree strap not around the trees.

**phatt_millips** · 02-11-2014, 21:39

Originally Posted by Shug

Nope….Shug of the Third Person used Spectra.

I love this stuff. http://www.tttrailgear.com/spectra-no-tangle-guy-line/

Shug

Oh it has been a while since I've seen the video. I remember you having a whoopie sling (reason why I assumed it was dyneema) that attaches to a toggle on a fixed loop and on the other end a figure-nine prusiked to the suspension line. Do you still recommend that?

**phatt_millips** · 02-11-2014, 21:48

Originally Posted by The Old Boot

First off, running rope around a tree and fraying it is the least of the problems. That rope is doing damage to the tree as well. That's why so many parks don't allow anything to be hung from the trees at all. We're slowing convincing park managers that we know how to hang without damaging the trees - tree straps.

Using tree straps also means that you can use your choice of Spectra, Zing-it and Techline and get away with using less of it because it's going tree strap to tree strap not around the trees.

Oh, most of the sources that I've looked at didn't mention using tree straps for a tarp. I use them on my hammock but I have extra pair I might use on my tarp.

**Gravity** · 02-11-2014, 22:15

Yes, straps are used with hammocks because the weight of the occupied hammock creates a significant amount of pressure on the tree bark (or more accurately, the cambium layer just beneath the bark). Not needed for tarps, since the pressure is much less.

For the tarp ridgeline, I have had good experiences with zing-it, just as others have posted. You can buy it here: http://dutchwaregear.com/25-feet-of-zing-it.html

For the tarp guy-outs (line from the edge of the tarp to the ground stakes), I like to use a line with reflective tracers, so that I don't trip over the line during the night. The line I use is called glowire, and can be found here: http://lawsonequipment.com/Reflectiv...ange-p881.html

I also recommend one dutch stingerz and one flyz, if you are going to use a continuous ridgeline, and dutch flyz on both sides, if you use a split ridgeline. They will help you to tie the ridgeline to the trees more quickly, without the need to use knots . You can find those here: http://dutchwaregear.com/tarp-and-quilt-stuff/.

See a split ridgeline in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sj7yw3n_IPM. (I use a split ridgeline)

See a continuous ridgeline in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8K8dDUzuOU. With this ridgeline type, you can setup the tarp under the line, as Shug does in the video, or over the line, as if you were hanging it to dry on a clothesline. Here's another video: http://theultimatehang.com/2012/11/v...s-with-a-tarp/

After you finish figuring out the basic tarp setup, you may want to tweak your guy-lines with some shockcord. Wet silnylon stretches, the tarp loses tautness, and the guy-lines slack off. To avoid having to get up in the middle of the night to re-tension your guy-lines, use the method outlined here: https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...ead.php?t=3731. Notice that the post has two different methods to accomplish the same thing. I prefer the second one, because it helps me to not lose the lengths of shockcord.

Another tweak is to install line locks on your guy-lines. You can purchase those here: http://dutchwaregear.com/line-locks.html. And here's a video of how to install them: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KnAaykA3yg

**Floridahanger** · 02-11-2014, 22:35

Originally Posted by phatt_millips

...I remember you having a whoopie sling (reason why I assumed it was dyneema)...

Dyneema is the type of fiber that makes up Amsteel, zing-it, lash-it, and other non-stretch and strong lines. So you could use your Dyneema Amsteel for your whoopies to suspend your hammock and use your Dyneema zing-it ridgeline (RL) to suspend your tarp.

Originally Posted by phatt_millips

Oh, most of the sources that I've looked at didn't mention using tree straps for a tarp. I use them on my hammock but I have extra pair I might use on my tarp.

I also use straps for my tarp most of the time. If the trees are close enough, I don't use them and they just hang there on the RL.

It's not for the tree protection as much as to keep the Rangers happy in case they don't know much about hammock hangers. But, it may help and that's good enough for me.

I hope this helps.