Side Panel Pulls or: How I learned to stop worrying and love the hype.

[robv60]

So yeah, I'm sold. The pic really doesn't do it justice. If you've been considering making some side panel pulls for your tarp and suffer from "analysis paralysis" like I do....Go for it. Try the "pebble tie off method" that I did to experiment and see what a difference they make. I'm never going back! I've seen so many pictures folks have posted of their tarps using side panel pulls and thought "You know, that's really nice and looks roomy. I may, one day, try it". Then I did and OM*******G! The difference is amazing and I feel I can breathe now. I have a new love for my cheap tarp.. So.... now its only an OCD question of where is the best spot for the pull outs? UGH! Da*n you obsessive brain!

Try not to focus on the sexy socks. I know its hard but they will just distract you from whats important here.

[Gustavus]

I did order some nano easton poles, this just may push me over the edge.

[Mouseskowitz]

A good question and one I've been pondering. In my case, I'm going to go down from the ridge as long as my poles are. Then for the side to side, I'm thinking somewhere near the tie out points or just a little in from there.

[breyman]

So yeah, I'm sold. The pic really doesn't do it justice. If you've been considering making some side panel pulls for your tarp and suffer from "analysis paralysis" like I do....Go for it. Try the "pebble tie off method" that I did to experiment and see what a difference they make. I'm never going back! I've seen so many pictures folks have posted of their tarps using side panel pulls and thought "You know, that's really nice and looks roomy. I may, one day, try it". Then I did and OM*******G! The difference is amazing and I feel I can breathe now. I have a new love for my cheap tarp..

Pull outs can be great, although depending on the weather, sometimes I'll just pitch my tarp higher and wider and not worry about it.

Only question - pebble tie off method? What's that?

[DuctTape]

grip clips work well too, with the added bonus of being able to switch them to different positions and/or tarps. downside is the weight penalty.

[JTsilverwolf]

I have been wrestling with the same idea about adding tie outs to my Equinox egret 10x12. The tarp is pretty good for a cheap tarp, but it could really use some grosgrain tie outs! I think I am going to hit the thread injector in a while.

[JTsilverwolf]

Pull outs can be great, although depending on the weather, sometimes I'll just pitch my tarp higher and wider and not worry about it.

Only question - pebble tie off method? What's that?

The pebble method is when you tuck a little pebble inside the tarp material to give you something to tie some cordage around so you can create a temporary side tie out point.

[BillyBob58]

I was forced to do this years ago(via Grip Clips) to get around the spreader bars on my bridge hammock. And yes, what a difference! It even allowed me to close the ends of my 10X11 tarp and still have plenty of room for the bars. Here it is back in 09 with a Claytor:


With ends closed using spreader bars, pull out on right side compared to none on left:








So welcome to the club! BTW, I love the Dr. Strangelove reference! "Side Panel Pulls or: How I learned to stop worrying and love the hype. "

[Poedog]

Pull outs are fairly easy to sew on, but if DIY isn't your bag, Dutch sells some nifty "insta-pulls" that wouldn't destroy your tarp over time, as say, a pebble would.

Here they are ---> http://dutchwaregear.com/clip-on-tarp-pull-outs.html

[Rolloff]

Dutchware's Tato tarp pulls, are also my preferred choice.

Don't go into the woods w/o em.