Gorilla Tarp - The Cubenist Manifesto

[Paul Zissou]

Paul,
No, I don't have packed size pictures, but I can tell you that compactness is not one of the virtues of these tarps. If you make a poly tarp you will be thrilled at the low cost and ease of construction (Gorilla tape is the high end solution; the pebble and string trick works great). However, it's going to be heavy and bulky. Make one and use it. Then when you get (or make) something lighter and easier to pack you'll appreciate it all the more.

Truer word were never spoken, i tried it and it definently worked kept me completly dry over a two night rain. but defnently large and difficult. I just got a guide gear and it is appreciated like no other, i don't know how people say it is too heavy

[FLRider]

WV, this is officially the cleverest post I've seen here thus far. I literally laughed out loud through the whole thing. Matter, of fact, I'm still chuckling, with my cat on the couch looking at me as if I'm some sort of madman (to be fair, he does that regardless of other factors).

Thank you for the information, as well. It's certainly a good, cheap way to prototype for tarps. I'll definitely keep it in mind for if and when I wind up making my own.

Thanks!

[jasonb986]

So how well did this tarp hold together over time?

[WV]

So how well did this tarp hold together over time?

It did okay for camping a couple of times, and then it kept my woodpile dry for an entire winter. The UV weakens poly after a while, and tape adhesive doesn't freeze well.

[jasonb986]

Was it the clear duct tape or the garilla glue that started to break apart?

[WV]

Was it the clear duct tape or the garilla glue that started to break apart?

The clear duct tape is very weak - not worth using IMO. The black tape in the pictures in the first post is Gorilla tape. It's tough stuff, but heavy, as tapes go. If you want to make a polyethylene tarp, I suggest using 4 mil poly and attaching tieouts with Gorilla tape; don't bother to reinforce edges. Or try something else, and let us know how it works.

[UncleMJM]

I copied the poly tarp with gorilla tape tie outs exactly from this WV post for some college kids I was taking on a hike. They were tenting and using 2 small, pretty cheap old tents, more for privacy and bug protection than weather and the 9x12 tarp was used as a rain fly.

It worked great for the three rainy nights we had it out and I plan to use it at a group hang coming soon as part of a dirt bag cheap setup I intend to demo.

Thanks for posting the idea for me to steal.

[Les Rust]

Years ago a buddy and I took a three day hike through the Smokies with nothing but a poly tarp set up something like this. Just tied a ridgeline between trees and sheet bended the ends to some stakes. It withstood some serious rain and even two inches of snow. It was cheap and worked for the short term. Yes, the sunlight will affect it over time, but it's good material for prototypes and for inexpensive, short-term solutions. Thanks WV for the post and the insights.