Tarp size suggestions

[Richardandleigh]

We have a large family (9) with 1 large tent (10*20), 1 screen room (10*10) and a couple 2 man tents. We recently went to GSMNP and saw awesome campsite set ups with tarps set up to cover entire sites, attached to trees. Obviously, the "right" site will fit certain tarps but I'm trying to get the tapes first to suite then look for the perfect sites. Any opinions on the pros and cons of sizes and how many we should get? Debating between a couple 20*40, 30*30, or several 20*20. Tia

[Happy Joe]

Re: Tarp size suggestions

We once camped during a very rainy weekend and people kept showing up with tarps... eventually we had a large campfire totally surrounded with vehicle and camps covered by tarps (you could walk all the way around the fire and not get wet...It was even colorful; blue, orange green, camo etc. (wish that I had a pic but it was before digital cameras).


I once made a "community center" based on a single 10x20 footer surrounded by 3 9x10 (or thereabouts) then someone invented popup canopies which have largely replaced the need for tarps (except as sidewalls in our camps.


We normally just carry a couple of small tarps the biggest being 10 x 15 and at least 100 feet of paracord to rig them (if needed).

[MacGyver]

Re: Tarp size suggestions

For rain protection, I always try to get a tarp that will hang over 4 or 5 feet on the sides and back and 8 to 10 feet in front of the tent. However, that comes with a warning. The larger the tarp, the harder it is to keep it safe in wind and rain. I recommend using a bungee cord on every tie down that you use and making sure there's enough of a slope throughout the setup so rain doesn't collect anywhere.

[tplife]

Re: Tarp size suggestions

Quality tents don't get any better with tarps draped over them, but for additional weather protection for your group, consider a US surplus parachute with the center strung up over a high branch once tied to a rock and thrown. Just don't try it here out west, public campsites forbid the attachment of ANYTHING to a tree or bush and it will be removed along with a stern warning once observed. Only private campgrounds and Indian reservations allow that these days.

[MacGyver]

Re: Tarp size suggestions

Quality tents don't get any better with tarps draped over them...

No, they don't get any better, but a tarp also helps keep a tent from getting any worse. It gives added protection from UV degradation, and keeps bird droppings, tree sap and other junk from soiling the tent. This is one of the reasons why none of my tents appear to age - even the ones that are 20+ years old.

[05Kingquad700]

Re: Tarp size suggestions

No, they don't get any better, but a tarp also helps keep a tent from getting any worse. It gives added protection from UV degradation, and keeps bird droppings, tree sap and other junk from soiling the tent. This is one of the reasons why none of my tents appear to age - even the ones that are 20+ years old.

Also by keeping the sun off your tent and on the tarp, it keeps your tent cooler. I use a 12x12 Kelty Noah to make a bigger awning in front of my tent, to keep from getting sunburned.

[a65hoosier]

Re: Tarp size suggestions

No, they don't get any better, but a tarp also helps keep a tent from getting any worse. It gives added protection from UV degradation, and keeps bird droppings, tree sap and other junk from soiling the tent. This is one of the reasons why none of my tents appear to age - even the ones that are 20+ years old.

MacGyver - I agree.

Also by keeping the sun off your tent and on the tarp, it keeps your tent cooler. I use a 12x12 Kelty Noah to make a bigger awning in front of my tent, to keep from getting sunburned.

Kingquad - I agree.

I use one over my tent (3-4 man). In addition to the reasons above: I also use Noah 12 tarps to provide me with dry "staging" areas for gear and tent set-up and take-down. The 12 is good for 4 campers (that size easily covers a picnic table or a 3-4 person sized tent with some decent overhang). They also have a 16x16 size. I really like using tarps as they keep me outside generally regardless of weather (I head to the tent if it's sideways rain-lol). My tarps are the first thing up and the last thing down when I'm camping.

My opinion? --- Using several smaller tarps instead of one large one gives you better campsite set-up flexibility and coverage placement (one over the tent or used as a tent's awning and perhaps another over by the cooking/campfire/table/sitting/etc area).

[05Kingquad700]

Re: Tarp size suggestions

Yes, I seem to take a couple different sizes. Makes it nice if it rains, listening to the sound of rain on a tarp. Good times with friends hanging out under a tarp. I usually take a 10x10, or a 10x20. My 12x12 usually makes the trip to. I want to pick up a 9x9 noah this winter as well.

[MacGyver]

Re: Tarp size suggestions

All this tarp talk brings back a laughable memory. I've been camping with the same guys now since the early 80's and, being what I'd say are typical guys, we pick on each other constantly for any reason we can find. All in good fun, but it's a tradition that we just don't let up. Anyway, back before I'd found an easy way to hang a large tarp so it wouldn't collapse in the wind or rain, it would take me more than an hour to make it work. My friends would sit back and laugh as I went back and forth making adjustments. Long story short, the laughing came to a quick halt the first time we got hit with a massive thunderstorm and everyone brought their chairs under "The Big Top" to ride out the storm. From then on, if anyone started to say anything about it, I just reminded them that the next storm would cost them $10 for a dry seat. No more laughing - especially now that I can usually put a huge 18 x 24 up in about 30 minutes or less.

[Irate Mormon]

Re: Tarp size suggestions

This may seem peculiar, but it never occurred to me until my last trip out that I could use my truck's camper shell to SLEEP in! It was always just a dry place to store gear (guitar, nets, seines, etc.). I found that if I pitch a small tarp (6x8 or so) off the back end of the truck I can stay perfectly comfortable in any kind of weather and not have to mess with pitching a tent. Who knew?

[Richardandleigh]

Re: Tarp size suggestions

Thank you all for the insight. Hadn't thought about having to refold the tarps. A parachute is a really interesting idea as well. Looks like we will mess around with some trial and error. In Fl, we were nt allowed to tie to trees but now that Im in TN, the rules have changed and I will learn a new way. I appreciate all the help =)