Do you use bungee on a tarp guy out?

[cougarmeat]

I've been thinking about how I want to rig the tarp. Occasionally I've seen mention of using bungee cord on the tie outs. But if the tarp is catenary cut to maintain tautness, wouldn't a stretchable cord defeat the purpose of that design?

I can see elastic used - maybe - on additional tie outs sometimes seen about mid-side of large tarps. But I'm not so sure elastic would be so effective and major corner tie outs. Or would they?

Having tripped over my share of guy lines, I thought about using some reflective line - but I could run it part way and attach some length of bungee to have both.

Finally, what length do you find useful for the side tie outs. With a tent fly it is easlier - you are usually just going to ground. But with a hammock fly/tarp, often I see the sides elevated with hiking poles, sticks, etc. So if you wanted to come out about 5 ft high and then down at about a 45 degree angle, would that require the tie out to be between 7 to eight feet?

I'm pretty solid on the continuous ridgeline configuration - either over or under the tarp. Now I'm trying to figure out the rest of the guying and if I could just buy a lot of reflective line (Kelty's - $$) or just use a short section combined with something else.

How do you do it?

Thank you,
Paul

[craige]

The cat cut is to achieve a taut tarp, not maintain it (as well as saving a little weight with minimal loss of coverage), a silnylon tarp stretches a little, and more when wet so it is the bungee that maintains a taut tarp and saves the need to adjust guy tension. If you have a poly tarp or cuben then the bungee is less necessary.

I think most use 6-8 feet for guys, I'm still playing with mine to find the best set up for me.

I'm sure someone will post a link to how to do shock cord tensioners (I'm on my phone so it's difficult) I know headchangeforyou done a tutorial.

Hope this helps.

[hairbear]

when working in a bucket truck osha makes us wear a harness, with a safety line made with rubber band type stuff in it.it is to break your fall more gradualy.i use a one foot piece of 1/8 bungy at the stake,even on my cuban.i feel that it reduces the dynamic force from the wind on tie outs.i dont know if it helps ,but in high winds it doesnt go anywhere.it also gives you a little time to keep from kicking your stakes out tripping on a line.it sure makes a nice tight tarp too.

[Boston]

I haven't tried tarp tensioners yet but I run 5ft guys on one side, and 10ft on the other to allow for porch mode. I marked one side of the ridge-line tie out D-rings with a white paint marker to indicate which side has the longer guys. This way I can set up so "porch mode" is in the direction I intend.

Right now i use 1.2mm z-line for the guys and ridge tie outs. It's a spectra sheath with dyneema core available from z-packs. 200+lb breaking strength.

[Mund]

I Greatly Appreciate all comments & suggestions...

I've watched the video's, clicked on the associated links... while confused still about a little, I have come a long way in my understanding in just this 24 hours!

I don't know if I need shock cord for the Kelty Noah's Tarp, if it has any elasticity in it or not, or what set-up i'd prefer best using it... still debating on that darn size of 16 x 16 opposed to 12 x 12. The 12 x 12 is most common I know, but I need larger as well at times for multiple use, tent camping, scouts, etc. Can't afford both right now. With that thinking of getting (4) of the Kelty Adjustable Tarp Poles instead of just (2) for now. The (2) additional for situations when there are no trees present and we need cover.

I have decided on using MSR GroundHog Stakes & Lawson Reflective Glowire Cord not in stock currently but it is what it is. I can wait a little.

I have some experimenting to do... applying my engineering background, young scout know how from these youths, tips from you folks, mistakes on my behalf... the hard lessons learned, hopefully not costly, i'll get there.

I Thank You for the information, the time taken to share, direct, guide me, etc. Spare time is scarce for many of us.. THANKS

[2Tall]

I use bungie.on my doors for easy in and out or quick adjustmemts. I put loops half way down.shock cord and modified mitten hooks let me.tie.them.back....to the d rings or to tye ground...options galore. Also use some on entry side of my asym in storm mode to get into it since its so low and burrito like. Length is just whatever is needed for.the task.

[Paulie]

For reflective guywire, I use this stuff: http://lawsonequipment.com/All-Produ...wire-p881.html

[Loki]

I take about 1-foot of bungee and tie it into a loop; then, larkshead the loop onto the tarp tieouts. Attach the guyline to the bungee loop next.

Can always just attach the guyline directly to the tieout when needing a shorter length to the stake. Often will not use the bungee loop for the Ridgeline tieouts.

HYOH!

[breyman]

I have 6 foot guylines and a few 6 and 8 foot strings in my stake stuff sack for when I want to attach something to the pullouts and then out to a trekking pole/stick and down to the ground.

The self-tensioning guylines using shock cord are very useful for silnylon tarps. As others have mentioned, when silnylon gets wet, it stretches a bit. These help take up that slack and are incredibly easy to do.

Here's the thread for it:
http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...ead.php?t=3731

[cougarmeat]

Thank you, thank you, thank you for giving me the alternative to Trip-tease. Looking forward to using that new, less expensive cord from Larson.

I am curious about the YoungBlood method of attachement. It is great if things are moving around. But the other method of attaching the shock cord (as a tied loop) more permanently to the guylines seems there would be less chance of leaving pieces behind and/or having everything together when needed.

I do plan on having a non-attached ridgeline cord that will move from Tarp to tarp. But figure I'll put guylines/shockcord on all tarps and keep them attached.

However, I can see that putting the ridgeline, guylines, line locks, etc. all in one bag keeps the tarp simpler and it just takes seconds to attach.

This is what happens in the winter - too much thinking and not enough doing.

But an UQ will appear soon and then I can see what it is like in the white stuff. ... Yes, I have winter stakes from my tent days.