Spreader bar damage

[drsolarmolar]

One of the "cons" that seems common when discussing the Ridgerunner is the possibility of putting a hole in your tarp with the spreader bars if they rub. Has anyone (or know anyone who has) actually punctured their tarp with their spreader bars? Or is this a concern that is overblown?

[DaSpindler]

I think it mostly depends on what your tarp is made of. When using my RR and a Hennessy hex fly, I have no worries even though it rubs quite a bit. When using my superfly I'm a little more cautious but not overly. As long as your not swinging in the thing you should be good. Alternatively, Arrowhead equipment makes little rubber ends for your spreader bars to protect your tarp. Hope that helps.

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[ChacMool]

I think the people with fancy cuben tarps are most concerned about this issue; Arrowhead's thingy (or something similar) should lessen the concern.

[TrailSlug]

I have a Ridgerunner and a SimplyLightDesigns Winter Haven that I pitch tight when it's cold. Last night the wind blew very hard and kept the tarp in contact with the spreader bars all night long and there's no sign of the contact what so ever. I use the Spreader Bar Bumpers from Arrowhead equipment. They work great as long as you do not over heat them. Ask me how I know

[drsolarmolar]

I think the people with fancy cuben tarps are most concerned about this issue; Arrowhead's thingy (or something similar) should lessen the concern.

I bought the Arrowhead rubber protectors but haven't put them on.

I was in a pretty good windstorm under my Cloudburst recently and there was a lot of tarp-to-spreader bar contact, but no apparent damage done.

Like I said, the potential for tarp damage is one of the downsides often mentioned about the RR, but in the real world how common is it?

[drsolarmolar]

They work great as long as you do not over heat them. Ask me how I know

OK TrailSlug, I'll bite, what happens when you overheat them?

[IRONFISH45]

The arrowhead protectors are easy to clone, bicycle inner tube, paper punch and 8 inches of innertube. I made some protectors before Arrowhead came out with nice tidy bummers. High density foam, some Velcro and I had bumpers that were okay, not great but functional.

[hangnout]

I have a patched hole in a tarp from a bridge hammock. It happened getting in the hammock which is probably when most happen with a tight pitched tarp.

[pgibson]

Not with a RR but with another bridge I rubbed a trap pretty bad and scarred it on one of the first uses of the hammock. It did not rip but you could always see where the bar had rubbed it bad enough to leave a mark in the fabric. Big part of why we came up with the bumpers as soon as the RR came out.

I have also used the bumpers without heating them and they still work fine, they just might twist in the stuff sack and need repositioned when you set up next.

[TrailSlug]

OK TrailSlug, I'll bite, what happens when you overheat them?

They turn into tiny tiny pieces of rubber and split leaving them unusable. I ended up not heating my second set. I wrapped a small piece of tape on the end to hold them in place. I think a small drop of crazy glue would hold them in place as well.