Tarp over CT setup ??

[jj]

I was wondering if any one bothers putting a tarp over there CT?

My camper only has a 1.8 awning of the front that seems to be a little small at times. I'm considering tarping up over the whole lot to give me approximately 2m. out the front and 2m. down one side, 20'x24' tarp all up. Mainly for more shade or more room if raining.

I probably have enough poles and pegs that came with the CT , i understand wind is an issue and more time with set up etc.

Anyone with any pictures of there setups or suggestions, do's or dont's?

[Sawed-Off]

I posted a couple of pics in this thread http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=27042.0.

It wasn't a big deal, but not as big as what you want to do. We only did it because we were there for a couple of weeks and wanted to keep the sap, bird poo, etc, off the camper, as well as acting as a tropical roof. Normally we'd just use the awning on a weekend outing.

The big tarp beside my camper got trashed by the wind a couple of times. Mainly the wind was lifting the tarp enough that the springs on the guys let the poles lift off the ground and go skew if. Ours was rock solid the whole time. Some other friends camped the other side of us. Their tarp got trashed too. Their problem was those guy ropes with the small black plastic adjusters with the C mouth that bites onto the rope. They twisted off and let go. One of the poles went flying with enough force for it to spear into their coleman esky like a javelin. No one was around at the time, fortunately. My tip, with as much tarp as you want to use, is have some good guy ropes, and the right pegs.

[sablesoft]

Hi,

I first started using a tarp over my Cub Escape to keep bird poo etc off the roof, a tarp is easier to clean than canvas also cheaper to replace if needed.

If it is raining it keeps every thing dryer and makes for a dryer packup. I have recently got some extra poles so I can lift the tarp above the tent roof in hot weather to help keep the tent cooler.

Beware if there is strong wind, I drop the poles down to roof level and tie it down on every loop to make sure the wind will not get under it .

Would not normaly use the tarp for a quick one nite stop.


Ray

[Hairs]

G'day jj,
When we had our trailer tent camper, we would use a tarp over the top, 30x24.
It would give about 1.2 meters extra coverage along the sides and about the same at the ront, but over the annex kitchen en it would allow for 2.4 meters or so of shade and in wet weather this was great, meant the kids weren't boxed inside. Also if wet, there was plenty of room to hang the wet clothes and towels.
yeah it was a pain to put up, but worth it.
The below two pics are of a smaller tarp we had before the 30x24.


Here is a pic with the bigger tarp.

Our camper is to the left in the below pic under the tarp.

It was one of the heavy duty tarps with the D ring sewn into the edging.
Sure it use to weigh a heap and we needed to carry a ton of gear to use it, but as mentioned it did have it's benefits when camped for a fortnight or so.
 

[Jeepers Creepers]

We used the tarp over tent set-up in december on Fraser, was great for knocking the edge off the sun and was a bonus when it rained.

Not too hard to do for the first time either..... except for the odd swear word, throwing od tent pegs and spitting the dummy in the sand and throwing the toys out of the pram.

Once we had it unfolded though, things went much better. 

[Desert lover]

We also carry a big (24 x 30) tarp.  It is folded concertina style with longish ropes attached to each corner at one end.  These allow us to put the tarp at the end of the camper and once the front edge is led up onto the end of the camper to pull it over using the ropes - makes it easy for us. We use the annex poles and ropes across the front to support it even if the annex is not being used. We just use shorter ropes (already attached) around the other tie down points to peg the tarp out a bit which allows for ventilation and water run off away from the camper.   We have also been able to set up and pack up under the tarp when it has rained meaning the camper stayed dry.  I notice there are lots of different "systems" and most seem to work for the campers.
A decent tarp is a worthwhile bit of kit in my opinion.
Cheers.
     

[Nay-DMAX]

We also carry a big (24 x 30) tarp.  It is folded concertina style with longish ropes attached to each corner at one end.  These allow us to put the tarp at the end of the camper and once the front edge is led up onto the end of the camper to pull it over using the ropes - makes it easy for us. We use the annex poles and ropes across the front to support it even if the annex is not being used. We just use shorter ropes (already attached) around the other tie down points to peg the tarp out a bit which allows for ventilation and water run off away from the camper.   We have also been able to set up and pack up under the tarp when it has rained meaning the camper stayed dry.  I notice there are lots of different "systems" and most seem to work for the campers.
A decent tarp is a worthwhile bit of kit in my opinion.
Cheers.
   

We dont currently have a tarp and have only used the tropical roof (tent fly type material) once I think.  We watched a couple set up there camper with tarp first in rain last year yes they got a bit wet but the camper and all their gear in kitchen was dry and as they were only there one night the next day was dry pack up for them too as they were on their way home

[Bunyip]

We have not used a tarp over our CT, we used to when we had the touring tents.

Saw an interesting setup on the weekend, these guys had a massive tarp that was as tought as a roof. Closer inspection showed they were using ratchet tie down straps rather than guy ropes. This thing wasn't moving for love or money.

Bunyip

[Bird]

I was wondering if any one bothers putting a tarp over there CT?

no point.
My tent keeps me dry, and intercoursing round with more poles and ropes when not needed.. no thanks

[ruskie]

We have been long time tenters and have always used a tarp over the camp site, starting out with a 18 x 16 and up to a 24 x 30 for longer stays, now with a CT used 3 times since buying it back in October and each time I have put up a tarp more from habbit. IMO it is a great idea, gives a bit of a tropical roof, more undercover area for rainy days and a dry packup area. Out of the 3 times we have used the 24 x 30 once when camping with friend that didn't have much in ways of camping gear so the extra room was well used and the other 2 was with a 20 x 24 which just covers the tent and gives an extra long awning area. The photo below is our setup last week at Woody Head were we got some very drizzily days so it kept us well dry. The blue tarp was used to channel the run off water away from the tent.

[Alan Loy]

When using big tarps I find that you need to tie them down as well as up.  This stops the wind from getting underneath and pushing everything skywards.  The down side is of course time and the number of ropes and pegs used.

[Willow Girl]

Looks great Ruskie!
Looks heaps easier to set up than the annoying annex! I am thinking I might use my big tarp instead of the awning and just using one of those 'Tarp Saver" by superpeg in the middle. Anyone done this???

[camlisa]

Ruskie
Great looking set up mate. Been thinking of doing something similar since last trip at christmas where i used a smaller tarp matched eyelets to awning poles and extended it out. Hard to get a good waterproof join. Good to have lots of shelter for longer stays. Camp spot looks good as well.

[jj]

That's kind of what i was thinking of ruskie.
How many poles do you have around the tarp?
Do you just tie it off at the back of the CT to the ground using the CT as support or use poles there to?

[ruskie]

That's kind of what i was thinking of ruskie.
How many poles do you have around the tarp?
Do you just tie it off at the back of the CT to the ground using the CT as support or use poles there to?

The tarp has 16 eyelets and for this trip I used all 16 with poles as I knew we would have some wind and rain, if I know there is not much weather I would have gone with a few less, maybe just 3 a side. our 24 x 30 has probably about 20 eyelets so I carry enough for that, although after this trip I am thinking of swaping out all the intermediate poles with shorter ones so that the clamp is a bit higher and could be used to hang things off as well as dropping the weight a bit in the pole carrier. The reasin I use the poles at the back is one for the spreader bar and 2 to create the gap between the tarp and tent for the tropical roof/insulation effect, it also over hang a bit to give more protection from the rain. Yes it is more setup and packup but for a trip for a week well worth the effort.

I was fortunate on my setup time to have bullfrog drop in on his way back from picking up #3 daugther from nan and gave me a hand and showed me a really cool trick to take the load off the pole spike when attaching the guy rope. You loop the rope under itself so that all the downward preassure is on the pole and not the spike. see the picture for a better description.

[Willow Girl]

Have been putting ropes up like this for ages, much better than having the tarp flapping in the breeze

[jj]

I was fortunate on my setup time to have bullfrog drop in on his way back from picking up #3 daugther from nan and gave me a hand and showed me a really cool trick to take the load off the pole spike when attaching the guy rope. You loop the rope under itself so that all the downward preassure is on the pole and not the spike. see the picture for a better description.

[/quote]

Thanks for the tips ruskie.