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  1. #1

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    Question Can a Tarp be too long?

    Newbie here - I'm curious to know if any of you think that a 14' long tarp is too long.... Obviously, I'll need trees a bit farther apart.... but, are there any other drawbacks?

    Thanks for any response

  2. #2
    all secure in sector 7 Shug's Avatar
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    Can be. May not match the tree spacing of the hammock. Heavier.
    A bit wider may be better than longer.
    Shug
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  3. #3
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    Needing to stay above the hammock suspension.

  4. #4
    Phantom Grappler's Avatar
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    Can a Tarp be too long?

    One of my tarps is 14x14
    Car camping rather than backpacking, due to weight and bulk
    Will need about 15 or 16 feet of tree spacing

    Makes a great dry footprint during rain

    My hammocks are eleven and a half feet long and some are 12 feet long

    My 12 foot ridgeline tarps get the most use.

    Ditto what Shug and TominMN posted
    Last tarp I got is 12 foot ridgeline and 11 foot 6 inches wide
    And if tarp ridgeline is much longer than hammock ridgeline then it’s difficult to get tarp and hammock ridgelines closer together during rain storms

    But someone suggested a way to get tarp ridgeline down close to hammock ridgeline is to loosen tarp suspension (ridgeline, if it’s a one piece ridgeline)
    And then tighten side guylines enough to pull tarp ridgeline down closer to hammock ridgeline
    I’ve not tried that maneuver yet, seems like tarp might have excess wrinkles. I dunno!
    Last edited by Phantom Grappler; 10-06-2022 at 11:47.

  5. #5
    Senior Member Otter1's Avatar
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    Wide tarps can catch A LOT of wind in crazy conditions.

  6. #6
    cougarmeat's Avatar
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    You'll have more weight, bulk, wind "catch" - unless you set up parallel to the wind - and ... The further apart your trees, the higher you have to connect the hammock suspension to achieve the near 30° hang angle. But that might not be a problem depending on how tall you are.

    According to the hammock hang calculator, the connection height for an 11 ft hammock with trees 16 ft apart (so the tarp isn't right up against the tree) is just over 6 ft with a little under 4 ft of suspension, on each side, between the tree and the hammock.
    In order to see what few have seen, you must go where few have gone. And DO what few have done.

  7. #7
    Senior Member Karla "with a k"'s Avatar
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    I have a 13 ft long tarp and if it was any longer, then I'd need a ladder or a stick to push up my tree straps higher on the tree. I don't ever seeing myself having a long tarp.
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  8. #8

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    Hmmm, I guess I can sell it on Ebay if it doesn't work out.. the hoped for use is a Tandem set up for me and wifey.... and yes I did read all the tandem threads.... kinda like tandem bikes - might be a divorce machine. But, we did a hang on three trees under 2 tarps and it was fun for both of us. So, took the suggested length...

    Since this is car and motocamping - weight is not an issue. Packed size might be. And I hoped for some coverage for the bike if doable.. if not , meh.

    I'll have to make sure I tie it out properly.

    Thank you all for your kind responses!

  9. #9
    FLTurtle's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Cagouillard View Post
    Newbie here - I'm curious to know if any of you think that a 14' long tarp is too long.... Obviously, I'll need trees a bit farther apart.... but, are there any other drawbacks?

    Thanks for any response
    Quote Originally Posted by TominMN View Post
    Needing to stay above the hammock suspension.
    This. The longer the tarp ridgeline, the higher you have to hang it to clear your hammock suspension. Eventually, you get it high enough that you lose a lot of side coverage, unless it's also a super wide tarp. If you're worried about the open ends of a hex tarp, get something with beaks like the WB Thunderfly or something with full doors.

  10. #10
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    A 14' tarp can be a great thing to own. I'm assuming a rectangular, flat tarp. It makes for a terrific dining fly, particularly for a group. It just isn't all that suitable as a rainfly for hammocking. How wide is it? If not re-purposed, can it be cut down to a size that will work for you?

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