I've got a spinnul deluxe on the way. How are you all guying this out. Heard I dont need tensioners. Trying to figure the lightest system that will pitch quick.
Also, are you using skins or the stuffsack?
Finally, a starting length for the guylines? I do want to use one side as an awning occasionally.
Thanks for the advice. Cant wait to see this thing.
No tensioners needed, really. For line, I use either yellow mason line from Home Depot or the Speer No-Tangle. Some report difficulties with the mason line tangling, but I've had pretty good luck with it as long as I wrap it before I stuff it.
I don't use either skins or a stuffsack. I just cram it down in the outer pocket of my pack so I can get to it quick if needed.
Guyline length...ummmmm, a lot? I haven't measured it recently, but I'd guess I probably have close to 7' to 10' of line at each point. Overkill. However, I like having the extra line if I want to do something funky with the tarp or just have the extra line for some other need around camp. It's light, so I really don't mind.
Hope it helps.
Trust nobody!
I recently purchased the same tarp and have yet to set it up (how sad is that??). I'd like to know if you guys use a single ridge-line with prussils to tension the tarp or do you tie a line from each end of the tarp? I have always used a single line but I am open to suggestions. ANy advantage or disadvantage to either setup other than the weight of the rope?Originally Posted by Cannibal
Todd K. Miller
I keep trying to get around to the separate line with the tarp over the line, so I can hang wet clothes or whatever. But I have stuck with the skins for a couple of years or so, because it has just seemed to work dang good, especially when the wind is howling. I'm sure I could adjust the tarp easier and with more precision with the prussicks, but it is pretty simple and easy right now.
For example, when I pulled into camp on the last Sipsey trip, it had just started an all night rain, sometimes heavy. So I tied one end of the JRB tarp in skins to tree #1 with a easy to undo knot, then tie to the other tree. I eyeball it, and decide it is centered close enough, and tighten the knots/line. I don't really need it centered precisely anyway. Because I always try to hang one end a bit higher than the other, if I'm not quite centered I'll make up for it by raising or lowering one end after original set up. So after that the tarp comes out of the skins, a little at a time if the wind is bad. Once the tarp is up ( which was just a few minutes later) and staked- with a hiking pole porch- then I wrap the hammock webbing around one tree and clip the biner, adjust so that the triangle ring is about 6" under the tarp repeat on tree #2, and tighten up each end as needed so that the hammock is more or less centered on the tarp. Actually, I think in that case I pulled the hammock closer to the uphill tree, away from the river. Because the rain was trying to blow in the other end.
All of that only took a few minutes, and all was bone dry. And believe me, it was pouring pretty good at times. So how much easier does it need to be?I ended up hanging my wet clothes over the WBBB RL.
Still, I'll probably end up trying a separate line. Just for fun and to have a place to hang stuff!Maybe then I will realize how superior it is. Will I have to give up my skins?
I dont see why you would. The only difference between 2 seperate lines and 1 is the physical presence of the line under the tarp.
The benefit is several fold. First, as you stated you have somewhere to hang items. Another is you have the ability to adjust tarp placement without having to untie the line holding the tarp up.
No. When you roll the tarp into the skins, have it over the tarpline. Doesn't matter what you do after unrolled, if you want the tarp under the line just feed one side under. Or leave it over....
Still, I'll probably end up trying a separate line. Just for fun and to have a place to hang stuff!
Skins stay on the ridgeline. Everything works as before, it's just a bit simpler to adjust the tarp's position by moving it along the rigdeline.
Grizz
(alias ProfessorHammock on youtube)
Weight of 4 guy lines (~8 ft max length) plus mini locs is ~20gm. Minimum length of line as set up in the picture is ~3". Dyneema 1.7mm is a bit overkill at +500# break strength when new. Even with UV & time breakdown the lines should last the life span of the tarp. Spent the $$s on a Spinn tarp to reduce weight. No point in adding heavy lines and heavy hardware. At less than 1gm/each the line locks under less than ideal conditions have been worth the additional ~4gm in weight. Easy to use with gloved hands. Quick when you need rapid set up or take down.
Noel V.
I carry 10 feet of line on all sides.
I use the Kelty triptease line. Like cannibal said, no tensioners needed.
I currently use the stuff sack - when the weather is nice i just wrap the sides around the "ridgeline" making it fold up like it's in some snake skins.
You will LOVE the tarp.
I've always used a separate piece for each end of the tarp but this weekend I made a single ridge line system for my tarps. Uses pussik loop with a couple extra wraps. I also used flag clips on the prussiks so the line could be easily moved to various tarps.
“Light thinks it travels faster than anything but it is wrong. No matter how fast light travels, it finds the darkness has always got there first, and is waiting for it." -Terry Pratchett
That's what I have always used except I have a separate ridge line for each tarp stored in the stuff sack. I have two sons in the house that like to borrow my gear so this way I never end up in the woods wondering where my ridge line is. Thanks for the feedback.
Todd K. Miller
Posting Permissions
Bookmarks