Rain Fly from Old Tent

**Beeker** · 04-11-2013, 19:01

Greetings from Michigan!

This is my first post (been lurking for weeks). I'm gathering my first hang kit and I'm in need of a tarp to complete the package.

I've been a tent camper for years and a big fan of the Eureka Timberline tent (2-person) - I've had one for years. When I found one at a garage sale for $20, I could not pass it up (spare parts and such). Anyway, these tents have a rain fly that's very compressible, light and strong. I thought, why couldn't I use this over my hang?

I'm setting up a Grand Trunk UL. It's about 100" flat and 83 when hung w/ a structural ridge line. I searched the forum for information about folks that may have converted a tent fly (seems like someone must have tried this).

Will it work? Am I setting myself up for FAIL?

advTHANKSance to everyone out there for your insight and wisdom.

**HamMike** · 04-11-2013, 19:24

That's what I tried for my first tarp. It didn't work out well. It did not pitch tight due to being made to lay over a tent and didn't give good coverage. my hammock got wet when it rained.

**gunner76** · 04-11-2013, 19:57

Junebugdawn made a tarp from a old tent. Not pretty but it worked.

**Rolloff** · 04-11-2013, 20:27

I used one from a three or four man dome tent for a while. Like mentioned, marginal coverage, hard to get a tight pitch w/o additional pull-outs.

When I gave the GTUL away to my neice, my 11 foot BIAS out grew it. We now spend our time out under an AHE Toxaway. Much better kit for me.

**Junebugdawn** · 04-11-2013, 21:02

It sure got me hanging until I could get something with a little better coverage. My friend, SecretPrez, has a tarp made out of a tent that had the floor taken out of it. It's pretty cool cause it has a door and windows! Great coverage!

**SilvrSurfr** · 04-11-2013, 21:05

Originally Posted by HamMike

That's what I tried for my first tarp. It didn't work out well. It did not pitch tight due to being made to lay over a tent and didn't give good coverage. my hammock got wet when it rained.

This was my experience as well. I tried several rain flies from tents and none of them worked. I wouldn't waste my time, but good luck if you do.

**Beeker** · 04-12-2013, 19:27

Thanks for the feedback. I'm going to at least try it out in the back yard. We've had almost 4" of rain in as many days (good time to test). I think since it's not a dome tent the rain fly *may* make the span I'm looking for.

**anvil440** · 04-13-2013, 05:26

You might want to try a tent footprint instead. Of course, you could just get a Kelty Noah 9 or any other nylon tarp. Sportsman's Guide sells a Guide Gear tarp that might work for you.

Here's an assortment of coated nylon tarps.

Or, you could just get a PE tarp from Harbor Freight for less than $10. I use an 8x10 tarp from HF and it works fine. After you handle it a bit, it will pack down to about the size of a 1 liter Nalgene bottle.

**shingaling** · 04-13-2013, 06:40

I scrounged some tents with the same thing in mind, but since the flys are curved to form fit the tent, it wasn't feasible to stretch them out to cover a hammock. One fly will be turned into doors/Grizz beaks for my winter tarp.

If you're trashing the tent anyway, don't forget to scrounge plastic hardware/clips, tent poles, zippers, bug netting, the floor, etc. The floor of one of my tents was square, almost 8 ft per side. When strung diamond style, it has a ridgeline of about 11 ft, which is perfect. It's heavy PU coated polyester, of course, but it still works.

**c0wb0y84** · 04-22-2013, 20:50

As mentioned it won't pitch quite right but it will work and I've had good coverage. That being said be sure that you seal ALL the seams really well bc of the fact that it gathers in certain areas and will hold water in place and it will seep through. Trust me, to my shame I know from experience.