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  1. #1
    Senior Member Michelle the Camper's Avatar
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    Needed:tips for pitching winter tarp

    So...I just got an OES 4 season tarp. I put it up and realized I could use some advice about how to get the doors to close snug. I tried running the guylines from the stake on the opposite side through the ring on the cornerof the "door" then back to the stake. That was ok.
    Looking for better alternatives...go!

  2. #2
    Senior Member MDSH's Avatar
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    You could use shock cord for guy lines. Then it would close snug but you could also pass though easy enough.

    Run them crisscross to each other. The stake for each corner would be driven past the centerline opposite. The doors would lap.
    Mike

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  3. #3
    Senior Member body942's Avatar
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    Hilarious, was just coming to this subforum to ask almost the same question:

    I've exclusively used "doored" tarps (WB Superfly, my first HG WinterPalace, and now my longer HG WinterKingdom -my poetic license on the name-) and have very hit and miss results with getting doors completely closed. I've gone with shockcord systems, but that doesn't seem to help 100%.

    I think the problems have been in my setup geometry. I regularly find when trying to get the doors to shut tight, it would require them to be anchored at a fictional point in space about 6 inches underground. I've tried making the seam "away" from the center of the tarp (toward the trees on either end) and also bringing them in toward the center of the tarp (I have better luck with this "style").

    I've been thinking about making some true "guide lines" out of 10lb test braided fishing line with knots tied at select key points to help me out with the geometry. They'd weigh in at well less than 1 gram I'm sure....

    I'll be following this thread closely and would love if someone would be willing to post pics of their battened-down tarp.
    -Bill

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  4. #4
    Senior Member Roadrunnr72's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by body942 View Post
    Hilarious, was just coming to this subforum to ask almost the same question:

    I've exclusively used "doored" tarps (WB Superfly, my first HG WinterPalace, and now my longer HG WinterKingdom -my poetic license on the name-) and have very hit and miss results with getting doors completely closed. I've gone with shockcord systems, but that doesn't seem to help 100%.

    I think the problems have been in my setup geometry. I regularly find when trying to get the doors to shut tight, it would require them to be anchored at a fictional point in space about 6 inches underground. I've tried making the seam "away" from the center of the tarp (toward the trees on either end) and also bringing them in toward the center of the tarp (I have better luck with this "style").

    I've been thinking about making some true "guide lines" out of 10lb test braided fishing line with knots tied at select key points to help me out with the geometry. They'd weigh in at well less than 1 gram I'm sure....

    I'll be following this thread closely and would love if someone would be willing to post pics of their battened-down tarp.
    This is what I do with a 12x12, not a true winter tarp, and can get the doors closed pretty tight.
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  5. #5
    Senior Member BrianWillan's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Michelle the Camper View Post
    So...I just got an OES 4 season tarp. I put it up and realized I could use some advice about how to get the doors to close snug. I tried running the guylines from the stake on the opposite side through the ring on the cornerof the "door" then back to the stake. That was ok.
    Looking for better alternatives...go!
    If you got the standard OES 4 season tarp, then the ends have a cat cut on them so the "doors" won't completely seal closed. This is shown in the picture gallery on the product page.

    http://www.outdoorequipmentsupplier....ason_tarps.php

    Cheers

    Brian
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  6. #6
    Senior Member Tendertoe's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by BrianWillan View Post
    If you got the standard OES 4 season tarp, then the ends have a cat cut on them so the "doors" won't completely seal closed. This is shown in the picture gallery on the product page.

    http://www.outdoorequipmentsupplier....ason_tarps.php

    Cheers

    Brian
    +1

    IMHO, the biggest limitation of the OES 4 season tarp is just this.

    This picture displays the problem perfectly.

    Excellent craftsmanship. I'm taking nothing away from OES tarps as a whole, however, the geometry is such that the doors are - at least in all my tries - unable to totally seal closed.

    Many ways to get the doors of many other 4 season tarps to close. My favorite being prusiks attached to the doors and simply put the ends of the cordage around the corner stakes. Adjust the prusiks and you can tighten up the doors and bring them together.

  7. #7
    Senior Member bowl-maker's Avatar
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    how about a line of velcro along thw bottom of the doors?

  8. #8
    Senior Member blackd's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by MDSH View Post
    You could use shock cord for guy lines. Then it would close snug but you could also pass though easy enough.

    Run them crisscross to each other. The stake for each corner would be driven past the centerline opposite. The doors would lap.
    Great tip, shock cords!
    Go to Heaven for the climate, Hell for the company.
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  9. #9
    Senior Member Michelle the Camper's Avatar
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    Ha, it came with shock cord on the door rings...
    I wonder why they cat cut the doors, if the point of having doors is to shut them? Oh well, the tarp is great and I managed to get them to lap over pretty well, now that I realize they will never really line right up with the cat cut. I don't guess I did as bad as I thought!
    As always, I appreciate the help from everyone and I can't wait for the field test!

  10. #10
    Senior Member mbiraman's Avatar
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    Is it possible to close the doors first ,say 90% of the way and then stake the corners out??
    .

    bill
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