Tarp Ridgeline

[Cave Man]

I have always used a ridgeline that ran under the tarp,now the tarps are getting lighter and lighter ,I see that a ridgeline over the tarp leaving the tarp taunt and suspended under the ridgeline ,I see this helps with less rope ware on the tarp.
I am new to hanging ,so is this the way you all have been doing it ?

[Shug]

Folks on here use all kind of methods. Sorta personal preference but they all work......
Carry forth.
Shug

[pgibson]

Over or under work fine as does just off the ends. I think it would be very hard to measure any significant wear on the tarp from the RL under the tarp. There should not be a lot of movement of either so little actual rubbing should be happening.

[MAD777]

I think the various methods are all fine. I've tried both over & under as well as one line off each end and have settled on continuous ridgeline over the tarp. Any of these methods work so try each one to see what your preference is.

[dammfast]

I only moved to an over the tarp setup when I had a little water get under the tarp running down the ridgeline. It really didn't make any noticeable difference. I have always used a continous ridge line with mini biners and prussics to aid in the centering. On my sond tarp I have the cord tied to the D-rings and dont use any hardware. To be perfectly honest unless I mess it up the first time his tarp goes up quicker than mine. I think it has something to do with the fiddle factor. Try them out and use whatever one works for you.

[Cave Man]

Thank you guys , I see it's up to the person how he or she wants.
But when it is stormy the continuous r/l looks like the best way, less" chance of water following" the r/l to the hammock and dripping the better.

Shug : You are the best ,and thanks for going out of your way to make the vid's for all new to tarps,and old in my case.

[Klaussinator]

There might be something I'm missing, but I've never understood why folks use a continuous ridge line, either over or under. Don't we want to pull the tarp itself tight along its ridge? Then hook a line to each end and pull!

I've always used a line off each end and it works well for me. Of course, I've never had a CF tarp. Could there be too much force exerted on weaker materials like this?

-Klauss

[MAD777]

The urban clotheslines style of continuous ridgeline, allows moving the tarp back & forth to center over the hammock, from just one end on the tarp and to set the tension from just that one end.

No more running back and forth between the two ends, tweaking that end, then this end and back to that end.

But both methods work.