Question for KK owners - re tarp over camper

[LB]

On our last trip we attached a tarp to our kwik awning to create more covered space as our gazebo cam to a sad end days before.

As it turned out we really loved the set up, but thought it would be even better if we covered the camper as well to stop the bird and leaf crap. The roof is so high that its not the easiest to clean.

So the question is has any one done this and can you see any potential problems with the tropical roof taking the weight of the tarp.

[Never enough time]

Buy two more longish poles and place them either side of the Kamper roof at it's highest point to take the weight off the roof.
Though our older model KK doesn't have the tropical roof, that is what we do every April for the past decade when we set up camp behind a beach . You can buy a variety of contraptions from major camping stores to go on top of the pole spike for where there is no Tarp eyelet to stop it puncturing the tarp and or spread the weight

[Alan Loy]

 I use an Oztrail fly for a variety of things (not a KK) https://www.snowys.com.au/camper-fly about 18 x 12

I like how light and easy to pack it is, about the same price as an ultra rig tarp but probably wont last as long.

[paceman]

Buy two more longish poles and place them either side of the Kamper roof at it's highest point to take the weight off the roof.
Though our older model KK doesn't have the tropical roof, that is what we do every April for the past decade when we set up camp behind a beach . You can buy a variety of contraptions from major camping stores to go on top of the pole spike for where there is no Tarp eyelet to stop it puncturing the tarp and or spread the weight

actually in the process of doing something similar to our soft floor cheapie...

use a tarp instead of the awning, which protects from the rain, as well as more shade area...

i have got two of these for the centre part of the tarp to try...

http://supapeg.com.au/tarp-saver/

[tracker]

    Top info.  Pacey......


                          Cheers Tracker.

[LB]

actually in the process of doing something similar to our soft floor cheapie...

use a tarp instead of the awning, which protects from the rain, as well as more shade area...

i have got two of these for the centre part of the tarp to try...

http://supapeg.com.au/tarp-saver/

Do you still need the ropes to hold the pole up that you are using this for. We are looking at getting a 24 x 30 to make it over the camper and my daughters tent

[paceman]

Do you still need the ropes to hold the pole up that you are using this for. We are looking at getting a 24 x 30 to make it over the camper and my daughters tent

i'll tell you that after we go camping in april to test it out...

i am looking at getting a 24 x 24 tarp, with three 9 foot aluminium supapeg poles at the 'back' of the trailer (nearest the towball), then two 9 foot galvanised poles with the tarp savers on the top on either side of the soft floor door, with 7 foot aluminium poles on the edge, and then another three 7 foot poles on the kitchen edge of the tarp... if that makes sense...

in simpler terms:

3 poles (rear)  9 foot poles
4 poles (middle) inner two being 9 foot galvanised poles with tarp savers on them and outer two being 7 foot poles
3 poles (front)  7 foot poles

all of the tarp outer edge poles will have double guy ropes attached.  i am trying to see if i can get away with not having spreaders on the two poles with the tarp savers, and just use the tension created with the other poles...

the rear poles are 9 foot because i need a bit of extra height so the tarp doesn't rest on the rear edge of the camper, but still have enough fall so the rain can come off, if required...

[LB]

i'll tell you that after we go camping in april to test it out...

i am looking at getting a 24 x 24 tarp, with three 9 foot aluminium supapeg poles at the 'back' of the trailer (nearest the towball), then two 9 foot galvanised poles with the tarp savers on the top on either side of the soft floor door, with 7 foot aluminium poles on the edge, and then another three 7 foot poles on the kitchen edge of the tarp... if that makes sense...

in simpler terms:

3 poles (rear)  9 foot poles
4 poles (middle) inner two being 9 foot galvanised poles with tarp savers on them and outer two being 7 foot poles
3 poles (front)  7 foot poles

We should only need 3 of the tall poles the problem is the camper at its tallest is 3.085meters that higher then 9 foot


all of the tarp outer edge poles will have double guy ropes attached.  i am trying to see if i can get away with not having spreaders on the two poles with the tarp savers, and just use the tension created with the other poles...

the rear poles are 9 foot because i need a bit of extra height so the tarp doesn't rest on the rear edge of the camper, but still have enough fall so the rain can come off, if required...

[gronk]

As any tent camper can tell you...all is good until that storm comes through.....no amount of poles , ropes and pegs are enough if the wind blows like a bastard.

I used to do the same with my 1st KK, but it got away from the 4min setup that I bought it for ! If I had the room, I would park it so crap out of the trees wouldn't drop onto the roof, but afternoon shade was available ( the hottest part of the day ).

[feisty]

I use an Oztrail fly for a variety of things (not a KK) https://www.snowys.com.au/camper-fly about 18 x 12

I like how light and easy to pack it is, about the same price as an ultra rig tarp but probably wont last as long.

Thanks Alan.  Just what I was after (the smaller version) to use as an overnight awning  on my hard floor. Didn't know they existed until 5 minutes ago and now I own one! Well at least I will in a couple of days when it gets delivered.

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

[paceman]

As any tent camper can tell you...all is good until that storm comes through.....no amount of poles , ropes and pegs are enough if the wind blows like a bastard.

I used to do the same with my 1st KK, but it got away from the 4min setup that I bought it for ! If I had the room, I would park it so crap out of the trees wouldn't drop onto the roof, but afternoon shade was available ( the hottest part of the day ).

fair point, but my annex takes longer to set up than this tarp will (hopefully)...

and since i don't have a caravan, any camper will be affected by a storm (annex or tarp), so i guess i'll just soldier on and deal with it...

[Alan Loy]

As any tent camper can tell you...all is good until that storm comes through.....no amount of poles , ropes and pegs are enough if the wind blows like a bastard.

Our 1st tent was a Freedom cabin, one night at Merimula we slept through a storm that had tree limbs down.  I think the shape was what helped us. 

I also discovered that you need to tie tarps down as well as up.  Often the wind gets underneath and will pull it off the poles.

The perfect tarp has ropes sown into the tarp (you will see this on some army tarps) but no one sells them.

[LB]

As any tent camper can tell you...all is good until that storm comes through.....no amount of poles , ropes and pegs are enough if the wind blows like a bastard.

I used to do the same with my 1st KK, but it got away from the 4min setup that I bought it for ! If I had the room, I would park it so crap out of the trees wouldn't drop onto the roof, but afternoon shade was available ( the hottest part of the day ).

When its just us I would not use this set up but several times a year, my sons in their 20's, girlfriends, nieces & nephews come camping (it was the niece and nephews + daughter in the photo) and we need more undercover space. Figured this is going to take as longer than setting up the kwik awning with all the poles (for wind) and the gazebo we usually took. Plus the tarp and the extra poles wont take us or be as heavy as the gazebo.

[Alan Loy]

I have found that ridge poles can be a big help.  Poles apart make great ones http://polesapart.com.au/centre_ridge_bars.html

[LB]

I have found that ridge poles can be a big help.  Poles apart make great ones http://polesapart.com.au/centre_ridge_bars.html

Been talking to them today and looks like we will get 24' x 24' tarp and then from them 2 x Heavy Duty adjustable poles (up to 365cm) 2 x Adjustable support bars with U clip (365cm specially made) and 1x 24' ridge pole. This should well a truly do the trick.

[paceman]

i'll tell you that after we go camping in april to test it out...

i am looking at getting a 24 x 24 tarp, with three 9 foot aluminium supapeg poles at the 'back' of the trailer (nearest the towball), then two 9 foot galvanised poles with the tarp savers on the top on either side of the soft floor door, with 7 foot aluminium poles on the edge, and then another three 7 foot poles on the kitchen edge of the tarp... if that makes sense...

in simpler terms:

3 poles (rear)  9 foot poles
4 poles (middle) inner two being 9 foot galvanised poles with tarp savers on them and outer two being 7 foot poles
3 poles (front)  7 foot poles

all of the tarp outer edge poles will have double guy ropes attached.  i am trying to see if i can get away with not having spreaders on the two poles with the tarp savers, and just use the tension created with the other poles...

the rear poles are 9 foot because i need a bit of extra height so the tarp doesn't rest on the rear edge of the camper, but still have enough fall so the rain can come off, if required...

just as a follow-up to this...

we have returned from 5 days at rollingstone (north of townsville), where we experienced 30 knot winds for fair amounts of time during that 5 days...

tarp setup worked well overall, but we did add a couple of more 7 foot poles to the front edge, because that was bearing the brunt of the wind, most of the time.

pic below shows the setup and the palm trees blowing in the wind...




overall, pretty happy with the setup...

[LB]

Cant see the photo

[Bird]

Cant see the photo

workin here.

[Cruiser 105Tvan]

And here, but then again I am in Mexico.
Isn't that right Bird?

[LB]

Now I can see it. We have bought a ridge poll as we were concerned with the pressure on the Tropical Roof might be to much do you think that's true?

[paceman]

Now I can see it. We have bought a ridge poll as we were concerned with the pressure on the Tropical Roof might be to much do you think that's true?

we don't have a tropical roof on our camper... the tarp does that...

it really depends on how windy it is.  for us, it was really windy, so i had the ropes down pretty tight, which could add pressure to the roof.

you have the ridge pole, may as well use it... it won't hurt to have it.