Rainflies and the wind

[Redpath]

I've been using Tato's Adjustable tarp tie-outs, from Dutch's site. Seem to make a world of difference.

You can use one on each side of the tarp to open up the inside nicely or pitch broadside into a wind and place both of them on the wind side and let them double down against the gale. No flap, no pulled stakes.

+1 on this. I had the tato tie out deployed last time I was out and during some gale force winds one of my guylines popped off a stake, but the Tato tie out kept the tarp from coming completly free and kept everything dry while i got the guyline restored. I don't have tarp tensioners on that tarp, but think I'll add some.

[SSGHawk]

Excellent questions and answers.
Thanks.
Paul

[MAD777]

Were your doors folded to the inside or outside?
I fold my doors to the inside for two reasons. One is that it's easier to deploy them and stay dry if a sudden rain kicks up. The other is that they are a bit less exposed to wind that would fill the folded doors like a wind sock.

[Oms]

If you look at my album, the first two pictures of the HG tarp in the snow was a very windy day/night. I sucked the hammock way up high to prevent CBS and closed the doors tight to make it more aerodynamic. The walls were as vertical as possible to shed snow. Had no issues that night and slept warm. This is up in the Porkies (Mich) 50' off Lake Superior. It was poor site selection on my part.

[mrjaw14]

Doors were folded inside. the two doors folded away from the wind were fine, the two folded opposing the wind still caught wind and pulling every which way. I had a prussik knot on the tie outs between doors to keep them taught, but that only goes so far.

What I thought of is the two doors that oppose the wind could be opened up and staked out straight in line with the tarp, or ad a slight angle so as not to catch the wind as much.

So the tato tarp conenctors are used like a shock cord tensioner in this application correct? I already have a length of shock cord spliced into the guy lines on all 4 corners. They actually did quite well in the wind. I'm curious what size shock cord you guys are using. wondering if 1/8" is sufficient, or if 1/4" is preferred

[MAD777]

I have used loops of shockcord of either 1/8" and 3/32" and both got the job done.

[nothermark]

I'm puzzled because I use the tarp to block wind. IF it will not do it without breaking then I need a different tarp. That said, I also agree with the folks that select sites for protection and pitch according to the weather.

In terms of better materials Urethane coated Nylon is stronger, heavier, and cheaper. ;-)

[Rolloff]

So the tato tarp conenctors are used like a shock cord tensioner in this application correct? I already have a length of shock cord spliced into the guy lines on all 4 corners. They actually did quite well in the wind. I'm curious what size shock cord you guys are using. wondering if 1/8" is sufficient, or if 1/4" is preferred

Nope. They are pull-outs for the sides of the tarp. Some people have additional sets permanently sewn on to the sides for this.

Tato gear lets you move them around anywhere on the tarp you'd like, and believe me, I've probably never set them in the same spot, two times in a row. The weather, pitch of your tarp, and anchor points change, so why shouldn't you be able to move the pulls outs around to best suit the situation. The harder the tarp pulls the tighter they hold. No slip. No damage. They just work.

Great price points > http://dutchwaregear.com/clip-on-tarp-pull-outs.html

And of course you get to order stuff from Dutch! That should almost be enough as is.

[TN Cereal Killa]

My failure story from the same island, same day that you are talking about is that mason line for tie outs in the wind doesn't hold well due to the friction caused from the movement of the line on the stake.

[mrjaw14]

LOL I had forgotten about your tarp. Now that I think about it, that's about the time I started worrying about mine and opted to put it in the snake skins. What size shock cord do you have on your tarp? I forgot to ask you when I saw it.

I've wondered about taking a 1-2" piece of sheathing from some wire and using it on the guylines where they wrap around the stakes to protect them from that kind of damage.

My failure story from the same island, same day that you are talking about is that mason line for tie outs in the wind doesn't hold well due to the friction caused from the movement of the line on the stake.

Ah, I was looking at the wrong thing on dutch's site. Those make better sense. I just made a dutchware order too..dang it, I could have included those and saved on shipping vs another order.

Nope. They are pull-outs for the sides of the tarp. Some people have additional sets permanently sewn on to the sides for this.