Tarp tent.

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Joshvegas
Posts: 298
Joined: Sat Jul 26, 2014 9:37 pm

Tarp tent.

Post by Joshvegas »

I have a notion to build a tarptent, essentially its will be a 3x3 tarp with a midgie net box with a bathtub floor. The thinking being I currently use a 3x3 and like the fact it can be flaoting for fine weather or made into an almost enclosed tent by moving the poles under the tarp and creating a beaktype arrangement. By sewing the mesh in the wall will hang vertically.

Really not bothered about it being ultra light and I don't want it to be super expensive or require great care.

Two questions are, is there anything obvioiusly wrong with the plan and what sort of silnylon or alternative weight should I be looking at?
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Charliecres
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Re: Tarp tent.

Post by Charliecres »

Interested to see how you get on. Pics required!
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Bearbonesnorm
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Re: Tarp tent.

Post by Bearbonesnorm »

is there anything obvioiusly wrong with the plan
Not really but I'd suggest sewing the beaks in as an extra. Moving the poles under a flat tarp does allow you to form a beak but it tends to leave the tarp a little 'flappy'. The main seam will be under a lot of stress, look on-line for 'flat felled seam' and use that to join the 2 lengths together, anything else will likely fail ... oh and you won't be able to produce a 3m x 3m tarp easily as the material will be 1.5m wide, so once you allow for the seam / edges it'll be nearer 2.8m.
what sort of silnylon or alternative weight should I be looking at?
If you're using Sil then you'll want 90g/m minimum. PU coated will be a cheaper and easier to work with option as it's not as slippery as Sil, look for something 110g - 140g/m. Don't forget to order extra material to use as reinforcement patches for the tie-out points, again they're under a lot of stress so don't skimp on them. A big semi-circle patch will spread the load much better than a triangle. You can glue them into position with silicone adhesive before sewing, also make sure the tie-outs are sewn through the hem too as they'll be one of the strongest parts ... if not the tarp will tear just above the reinforcement patches.
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Joshvegas
Posts: 298
Joined: Sat Jul 26, 2014 9:37 pm

Re: Tarp tent.

Post by Joshvegas »

3x3 was just a number plucked from my dd tarp not a hard dimension by any means.

Interesting about beaks and flapage, I quite often set my tarp up with a heavy beak in the front but its a pretty beefy thing so I guess a lighter tarp will be more flappy?
Joshvegas
Posts: 298
Joined: Sat Jul 26, 2014 9:37 pm

Re: Tarp tent.

Post by Joshvegas »

Forgot to say thanks, I appreciate the advice!
drjon
Posts: 134
Joined: Thu Aug 28, 2014 11:38 am

Re: Tarp tent.

Post by drjon »

you seen this?

http://www.tarptent.com/projects/tarpdesign.html


basically a how to...
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