Tarp help

**BittyGoat** · 03-11-2015, 16:18

I'm trying a new technique for hanging my tarp with my guy lines all connected. I have some videos under the donating section under backpacking of this setup. My problems are with the corners. I keep getting sag in the corners while everything else is tight. See picture:20150311_170411.jpg

What am I doing wrong or do you need more information

**pgibson** · 03-11-2015, 16:23

The out side corner is being pulled in by the shock cord? on the inner edge tie outs. The outside corders need to be run outward from the corner at a strait angel away. The inner edge cords would tension better on their own stake rather than redirecting off the primary line on the corners. Skipping them all together would probably tension tighter than grouping them to a single stake.

**DanglingModifier** · 03-11-2015, 16:40

I'm guessing the spiderweb of center guy lines pull your pink guy lines inwards towards the center, which causes some slack at the corners. To compensate try putting the stakes out at a further angle from the center of the tarp. Stake out at a much greater angle away from the side of the tarp so the force coming from the center guys is directed more directly towards the stake than the pink line.

My suggestion would be to really nail down just the corners and then work inward from there. Then add the center guy lines and cinch them to the right amount so everything is taut. Everything has to have roughly the same forces pulling on it in the same general direction or one extra taut attachment point will lead to loose points at the adjacent tie outs.

Is that a prusik in the middle of the pink line or a fixed bowline? A prusik that adjusts tension to both the center tie outs probably isn't as helpful as having each tie out easily adjustable separately.

Edit: Paul beat me to a response. I agree with him that dedicated stakes will tension better. The spiderweb is going to be fussy, and multiple pieces of it will need adjustments any time the stake gets moved.

**BittyGoat** · 03-11-2015, 20:24

Originally Posted by DanglingModifier

I'm guessing the spiderweb of center guy lines pull your pink guy lines inwards towards the center, which causes some slack at the corners. To compensate try putting the stakes out at a further angle from the center of the tarp. Stake out at a much greater angle away from the side of the tarp so the force coming from the center guys is directed more directly towards the stake than the pink line.

My suggestion would be to really nail down just the corners and then work inward from there. Then add the center guy lines and cinch them to the right amount so everything is taut. Everything has to have roughly the same forces pulling on it in the same general direction or one extra taut attachment point will lead to loose points at the adjacent tie outs.

Is that a prusik in the middle of the pink line or a fixed bowline? A prusik that adjusts tension to both the center tie outs probably isn't as helpful as having each tie out easily adjustable separately.

Edit: Paul beat me to a response. I agree with him that dedicated stakes will tension better. The spiderweb is going to be fussy, and multiple pieces of it will need adjustments any time the stake gets moved.

Here is the setup I'm trying to accomplish:

**DanglingModifier** · 03-11-2015, 20:46

Originally Posted by yakitup

Here is the setup I'm trying to accomplish:

I definitely understand what you're trying to accomplish. With that in mind, does linking the video in some way address the specific points raised in Paul and my post?

I've seen the video before as it was linked in another thread recently (yours?). I watched it and commented on it then, making the observation that it looked fussy. So far it still looks fussy.

**Monkeyboy42** · 03-11-2015, 20:50

Originally Posted by yakitup

Here is the setup I'm trying to accomplish:

I've been considering this setup also. I think danglingmodifier has it right. My take on that video was to attach each of your white lines to your pink lines with either prussic or tautline hitches. That way the tension of the white lines can be adjusted by sliding them down the pink until properly tensioned.

Your setup look like they go through a fixed loop on the pink, and tension back on themselves. All you're doing is pulling the pink guy out of line when you tension them that way.

**SilvrSurfr** · 03-11-2015, 21:10

2007 Bushcraft Tarp-Rigging is calling, but I'm not answering!

Those are some seriously complex guylines.

**goobie** · 03-11-2015, 22:09

Seriously complex

??? I think that's an understatement

Looks to me like an over complicated, and time consuming, solution to a problem I'm not sure exists......but I've been wrong before. HYOH

If you're dead set on using this method, start by angling the top of your stakes away from the tarp when you put them in. Get them a bit further out from the corners as well. With your 12x12 tarp the anchor points should be 14' apart, at least.

**ShooTa** · 03-12-2015, 06:00

im with the - WHY bother? crew
looks pretty but seems an awful lot of work - unless i guess its so you can carry less stakes...

**cataraftgirl** · 03-12-2015, 06:24

The problem is your tarp, not your tie outs. Although the tie outs are definitely not helping. You are using a Kelty Noah 12. The Noah tarps have a VERY pronounced cat cut to them, and they are meant to be hung in a diamond set-up. You can mess with your tie outs from now until the end of time, and you'll never get them taut all the way around. Trust me. I had this tarp for several years and it drove me nuts. No matter what I did, there was always a floppy edge. Get a different tarp.