Easy Tarp Deployment

[Rob E]

I've read hundreds of posts, watched a great many videos, and laid awake at night, thinking of how I can best set up my tarp. Still, every time I go out and pitch the dang thing, I end up aggravated and tying too many knots.

I'm rocking a Superfly, and haven't yet gone to a continuous ridgeline setup. Maybe that's my problem, to begin with; I'm hassling too much getting the tarp centered over my hammock. On top of that, I have the corners to pull out and stake, then the doors to secure. It seems like an impossible amount of cord and stakes and configurations and guylines and stuff. There are ten points to tie cord to, not counting the pull-outs. If you count the pull-outs, 14! I'm looking at a continuous ridgeline and brummel-knot setup using figure-9's, but by the time I get all this gear compiled, I'm overwhelmed and have spent a ton o' dough.

Does anyone have a simple way to tie out a tarp? Feel like an idiot asking this, but any help is much appreciated.

[pndwind]

Trucker's hitch to the trees and marlin spike hitch to the stakes. Thats what I did before I got all this ti stuff.

[OldRagFreeze]

I've read hundreds of posts, watched a great many videos, and laid awake at night, thinking of how I can best set up my tarp. Still, every time I go out and pitch the dang thing, I end up aggravated and tying too many knots.

I'm rocking a Superfly, and haven't yet gone to a continuous ridgeline setup. Maybe that's my problem, to begin with; I'm hassling too much getting the tarp centered over my hammock. On top of that, I have the corners to pull out and stake, then the doors to secure. It seems like an impossible amount of cord and stakes and configurations and guylines and stuff. There are ten points to tie cord to, not counting the pull-outs. If you count the pull-outs, 14! I'm looking at a continuous ridgeline and brummel-knot setup using figure-9's, but by the time I get all this gear compiled, I'm overwhelmed and have spent a ton o' dough.

Does anyone have a simple way to tie out a tarp? Feel like an idiot asking this, but any help is much appreciated.

I do the first method for the ridgeline and the second for the ground stakes. For the panel pulls I use six foot of shock cord and six foot of Zing It in the method he describes. No hardware and simple:

[kbajg]

Trucker's hitch to the trees and marlin spike hitch to the stakes. Thats what I did before I got all this ti stuff.

+1 on this setup although I mainly use a slippery hitch in lieu of the truckers hitch. If you want serious tension on your line you cant beat the truckers hitch.
Tonight I just switched back from a CRL to the separate lines on the end.
Not that I think one is better than the other I just get bored & like to switch it up every now & then.

[Rob E]

I do the first method for the ridgeline and the second for the ground stakes. For the panel pulls I use six foot of shock cord and six foot of Zing It in the method he describes. No hardware and simple:

Bigtime epiphany. Thank you for this. I'll be pitching my tarp in the morning trying these methods - cheers!

[SnrMoment]

I've found that a CRL with the tarp attached to prussigs is the simplest for adjusting the tarp over the hammock. I use a fixed eye with an S-biner on the anchor end, and use the overhand hitch as Brandon shows on the other end to tighten the ridge line.
I prefer this method as it allows me to set the tarp first, adjust some, and quickly fine tune for the hammock once it's up if it's raining.

[rhjanes]

I use mini-line-locks (can get on this store site), attached to the four corners. That way, I can tighten the four corners of the tarp, while under the tarp. Makes it nice to not get wet when it is raining.

I store it in Kat's (mountaingoat gear) mesh snake skins.

I Figure-8 all the tie out lines over my fingers, then roll up into the tarp, pull the skins on, stuff in the outside pocket of the pack to it is then last packed and first deployed.

[jwright]

I use mini-line-locks (can get on this store site), attached to the four corners. That way, I can tighten the four corners of the tarp, while under the tarp. Makes it nice to not get wet when it is raining.

I store it in Kat's (mountaingoat gear) mesh snake skins.

I Figure-8 all the tie out lines over my fingers, then roll up into the tarp, pull the skins on, stuff in the outside pocket of the pack to it is then last packed and first deployed.

This and I will fold back the doors of my SF, clipping them to the same side door before I store it away in the skin. That way, they are not in the way when I deploy - string up the tarp, center, stake out the corners then I can undo the doors and stake them out as needed.
I also like the dual end lines with stingerz - simple and no knots. I find I can usually get my SF centered 'good enough' on the first try. I use a continuous sliding RL for my smaller tarp as that takes some fiddling too get it right.

[VictoriaGuy]

I've found that a CRL with the tarp attached to prussiks is the simplest for adjusting the tarp over the hammock. ........
I prefer this method as it allows me to set the tarp first, adjust some, and quickly fine tune for the hammock once it's up if it's raining.

+1

Me, too.

I use Amsteel CRL with a Figure9 for tensioning. Zing-it prussiks. Tarp clips to prussiks with mini-biners.
Main tie-outs have line-locs at the tarp.
Great for setup/teardown in the rain (with a biggish tarp).

[OldRagFreeze]

Bigtime epiphany. Thank you for this. I'll be pitching my tarp in the morning trying these methods - cheers!

As was said, you can get a little lazy and basically do everything with slippery half hitches but ideally what Brandon shows is best. I've often heard people praise CRLs but Brandon specifically discouraged them for the Superfly a while back (link). I think the cat cut ridgeline is better off being pulled from the ends...

Just my two cents, worth exactly what you paid for it.