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  1. #1
    Senior Member Black Foot's Avatar
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    Failure of Cuben Tarp Ridge Line Tie Outs

    Had my new HG 4S Cuben Tarp out for the second time last weekend. Unfortunately the plastic D-Ring on the ridge line snapped off during the first night followed by the one on the other side the next morning. The ridgeline was snug but not overly so, but the temperature was in the low single digits so I assume the plastic was more brittle than usual. It's still a little disappointing on a tarp that cost this much . I just used a larks head knot on each side through the loop on each side to put it back up.

    Wondering if anyone else had this same issue on their tarp? I'd also be interested in thoughts on how to rig the ridgeline now. I know some cut these off to save a bit of weight and the larks head works fine but I don't necessarily want to have the tarp be the weakest link in the chain so to speak and risk tearing it.
    see you on the trail,
    Mike

    #optoutside

  2. #2
    Senior Member Ewker's Avatar
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    Have you talked to HG about this to see if anyone else has said something about this happening to them also?
    'Classic.' A book which people praise and don't read.” ― Mark Twain

    Who cares about showers, gourmet food, using flush toilets. Just keep on walking and being away from it all.

    There are times that the only way you can do something is to do it alone.

  3. #3
    Senior Member Black Foot's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ewker View Post
    Have you talked to HG about this to see if anyone else has said something about this happening to them also?
    I haven't, it seems so minor I hate to bother them. Maybe it's worth an email just to let them know that it happened and to get Adam's advice on what I should do. I'll drop him an email.
    see you on the trail,
    Mike

    #optoutside

  4. #4
    Acer's Avatar
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    Contact Adam or Jen and they will take care of anything wrong for sure. They are awesome on their cuben tarp repairs and such. You could have just gotten a lemon of a plastic D Ring is all. I just got back my cuben tarp where something caustic caused a melted spot on it,,and it looks new the way it was repaired. I still don't know how or what I got on it to cause the cuben material to melt, so take care of your cuben goodness. Love the cuben and will keep abusing it all I can.
    2nd CAG, CAP 2-1-5 5th Marines, 1st Mar. Div.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combined_Action_Program

  5. #5
    Senior Member breyman's Avatar
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    +1 on contacting HG. I'm sure they'll help make it right. Did the D ring itself break or the place where it was attached to the cuben? I haven't seen any other reports of similar failures.
    Brian
    Denver, CO
    Father. Husband. Scoutmaster.

  6. #6
    Senior Member Fronkey's Avatar
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    I have just last week during extreme winds. D rings are just plastic and it really isn't a biggie that it happpened. They are the weakest link on a tarp and something like the trees swaying could have popped them off. Better thank than the tarp itself.

    I just use the gross grain for attachment points. I've actually had my s biners bend and the gross grain was fine.

    Fronkey

  7. #7
    Senior Member Black Foot's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by breyman View Post
    +1 on contacting HG. I'm sure they'll help make it right. Did the D ring itself break or the place where it was attached to the cuben? I haven't seen any other reports of similar failures.
    I sent an email to HG. The D-Rings snapped - the tie out itself is fine - so at least the right part failed
    see you on the trail,
    Mike

    #optoutside

  8. #8
    Senior Member Black Foot's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Fronkey View Post
    They are the weakest link on a tarp and something like the trees swaying could have popped them off. Better thank than the tarp itself

    Fronkey
    Exactly my thought - I don't really care about the D rings but if they are designed as the weak link to protect the tarp itself, will attaching directly to the tarp create a risk? I'll see what Adam says and report back.
    see you on the trail,
    Mike

    #optoutside

  9. #9

    Join Date
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    Hi Blackfoot,

    Sorry to hear about the D-rings snapping. More than likely it was due to the colder temperatures affecting the plastic while under load. While we have tested them in most conditions, including single digits, and had good results, I can see that there could be conditions where they might fail (obviously). They are, after all, 1/2 inch plastic d-rings.

    We decided to use those particular rings for a couple of reasons. One, they go a long way to keep the weight down. I would put Dutchware titanium d-rings on every tarp if I could afford it. They are strong and who does not like titanium? Also, we build the tarp in such a way that if there is a failure to one of the d-rings, the remaining webbing attachment can still be used for the pullout. This allows the user to finish the trip and send it back to us for repair if deemed necessary.

    We have a good number of our cuben tarps out in the market now and we have had only heard of a very few instances of failure. Few enough that manufacture defects of the d-rings themselves could be a factor.

    It goes without say, but I will say it, that we will fix your tarp if you send it back to us. I apologize for any hardship you might have experienced out on the trail.

    ~Stormcrow
    Owner/Founder at Hammockgear.com - Hammock Camping Outfitters
    Home of the Burrow, the Incubator, and the Phoenix

  10. #10
    Senior Member MAD777's Avatar
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    It's always good to have a "weak link" (other than the tarp) in the system. Plastic and cold don't always go together well. Consider putting a small loop of 1/8" polyester shock cord in the ridgeline. Polyester shock cord does better in bitter cold than nylon.
    Mike
    "Life is a Project!"

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