DIY tarp/old tent rain fly

**colganwilson** · 01-14-2010, 03:30

Has anyone made a tarp out of a tent rain fly? I am sure it can be done and has been done. Just want any feed back on durability and weight. Also thinking about making a UQ from a old sleeping bag. I know that it's probally not a good as a real one but I probally won't be to much cold weather camping this year.

Colganwilson

**gargoyle** · 01-14-2010, 04:12

I tried to do a tarp out of an old dome tent I had. Didn't work out so well tho. I mean it does work at keeping you dry, but.. the shape doesn't lend itself well to a hammock.

Is your existing rain fly a rectangle? or dome shape? If its a rectangle, and big enough (8x10) it will work great.
[ATTACH]moms kids dads hammock 006.JPG[/ATTACH]
Due to the panel construction of my old fly, this was the best shape I could come up with. The zipper is still functional, and uctually is quitea nice feature. Those wrinkles pulled out when I got in the hammock.
But, the sag left me below the edge of the tarp, exposing me to the elements
(wind-driven rain). It did shed water.

ps, this was my first attempt at sewing,

**TinaLouise** · 01-14-2010, 08:31

the uq from the old sleeping bag should work out. You'll have to add some way to support the bag to your hammock. and test it out, you'll be surprised at how many ways wind and air currents manage to find their way between your hammock and the sleeping-bag uq!!! (that means cold spots) but still totally do-able.
Durability & weight of reused tent fly as tarp.... should be very durable as most tent rain flys are made of a heavier material than what we normally use with our hammock tarps. Which leads to weight... yep weighs more than one of our typical hammock tarps too. Plus there's usually zippers... could even have bug netting with zippered covers over them...
TinaLouise

**Hawk-eye** · 01-14-2010, 08:49

Originally Posted by colganwilson

Has anyone made a tarp out of a tent rain fly? I am sure it can be done and has been done. Just want any feed back on durability and weight. Also thinking about making a UQ from a old sleeping bag. I know that it's probally not a good as a real one but I probally won't be to much cold weather camping this year.
Colganwilson

I'd just pop for a good sil tarp ... you can get Equinox tarps for less than 90 bucks at Campmor.com but there are a lot of folks making exceptional tarps here on HF.

Sleeping bag UQ ... dang right you can. I played with a rectangular NF I picked up for about 60 bucks and using those tarp clips with the grip jaws ... didn't even cut or modify it. Actually works pretty good at temps to 40 ... and better bags could be made to work in combination with pads to get you even lower. LOTS of options and ideas ...

Make some snacks ... some good coffee and sit in front of your PC and cruise through the forums ... LOTS of good info and ideas. Not to mention some really great folks.

**colganwilson** · 01-14-2010, 09:51

I see alot of half UQ's. Did you use the full length sleeping bag when you made your or did you cut it to half lenght.

**Hawk-eye** · 01-14-2010, 09:52

Full length

**JohnSawyer** · 01-14-2010, 12:40

I took an el-cheapo rectangular bag and cut it into an UQ by cutting out 2 long triangles from each end and re-sewing it. I added drawstrings to each end, and grosgrain loops (2 on the head end, 3 on the foot end). It formed a nice bathtub shape that matched my hammock well.

I successfully slept warm in this at about 45 degrees.

Downside: it's really heavy/bulky. I like my KAQ better.

If you're going to do this, and have access to a sewing machine (and maybe an operator) Climashield is $10/yd, and most walmarts have cheap, light nylon fabric. A DIY rectangular UQ from these materials would be warmer, lighter, and fit better. (I found sleeping bags don't gather/drape well enough to conform to a hammock shape)

If you have a bridge hammock, it'd probably work well...

John

**HamMike** · 01-14-2010, 12:57

Originally Posted by colganwilson

Has anyone made a tarp out of a tent rain fly? I am sure it can be done and has been done. Just want any feed back on durability and weight. Also thinking about making a UQ from a old sleeping bag. I know that it's probally not a good as a real one but I probally won't be to much cold weather camping this year.

Colganwilson

I have a rainfly from a 3 man coleman that I use on the diagonal. It's rectangular. I'm sure I'm gonna pick up a tarp just for hammocking but using a rainfly will get ya by.

**exdiver** · 01-14-2010, 14:28

I made an underquilt from a Wally World 40* YOUTH sleeping bag. Trimmed to about 52 x 52 final size. Bulkier than down but works for cheap ($10). Only tried it down to 40s.

**RootCause** · 01-14-2010, 14:37

Originally Posted by gargoyle

I tried to do a tarp out of an old dome tent I had. Didn't work out so well tho. I mean it does work at keeping you dry, but.. the shape doesn't lend itself well to a hammock.

Is your existing rain fly a rectangle? or dome shape?

+1 on the "I tried a rain fly from a dome tent." I gave my son the good tarp and used the tent fly. I had good coverage because it was large, but it was not a pretty picture. Then again, neither is the guy in the hammock.