Tent Revisited

I tried to make a tent about a year ago, and it didn't go to well. I wanted a typical A-frame tent with a ridge sloping from the front to back. The design was a lot like this tarptent from Six Moon Designs. I added what I think is called a beak to the design so that, in bad weather, I could cook right in the front opening of the tent. However, when I got finished, it was a very sad excuse for a tent. I had just about given up on it ever being viable for backpacking, but then I saw the double ridge tarp that UL just got. After talking with him for a little bit, we came up with a way to give myself enough coverage under the tent that I could cook in bad weather, and sleep under with plenty of room. Here is a draft of what I will be trying to make that I drew with Google Sketchup.



Hope this isn't too tough to understand. You can't see the front , but the measurements are listed for every part (I think). I'll work on adding a front view. The front is high enough for me to sit up and cook in bad weather. The back is as low as my treking pole will collapse, but its good that this will be kind of high because it will help with ventilation. Both the front and rear openings will eventually be enclosed with no-see-um bug netting, and the front netting will have a closure of some type (probably a zipper). Well, let me know what you think. There is one detail that I've left out in the making of this tarp that I just remembered so I'll try to get a better updated pic up soon.

Here is a view that adds what I left out (the beak on the front and slight beak on the back). Again, let me know if there are any problems, mainly with coverage. Some of ya'll have a lot more experience under tarps than I do. The main thing that I'm worried about is splashing at the foot. If this ends up being a big problem, I'll just enclose the end opening with WPB fabric and take a hit to my ventilation.


Again, this isn't how the tent is going to look (no side walls....haha!), but just something to help you get an idea of what I'm thinking.

Oh yeah, there is also no floor to this tent. That way I can cook in it with out having to worry about burning the floor.

Hey Kyle.. who is that standing in the lower right hand off corner of the frame? I mean you should know, you had to draw them in... I see their shaddow but..... lol. No long ears so I know its not Bugs Bunny.. hahahahaha

haha it a person that is automatically on the diagram when you open a new project in Sketchup. He is there for scale. I could have moved him next to the tent to give a better idea of the scale and stuff. But, no, I didn't draw him, and no it isn't Bugs.

willky:
One way to lessen the weight of the tent and still get the coverage that you are looking for might be to shorten the length of roof and, instead of angling the ends inward, angle them outward to give yourself the 6' 6" floor length that your drawing shows. In a way, you are just flipping your picture over, but keeping the roof's width the same 2'3".
UL

The idea for the length of the floor is to be able to have my pad and bag out behind me while I cook on a rainy day. I know it may sound dumb, but right now the roof is just over 8'8". I was worried about that being enough coverage with the front being so high, and it has to be that high so that I can sit up under it. Do you thing that your idea of "flipping" it would give enough coverage?

If you want to have room to cook, then make the floorless area 8'8" long. That should give you plenty of room at one end of your pad to cook and still reduce the amount of material needed for the roof.
You will still maintain the height that you want and, really, if you look at your drawing, you're not leaving yourself any room to cook anyway.
UL

I think I see what you're saying. Because of the front sides being angled back, I won't have enough coverage to sit and be out of the weather in the front of the tent. Is that it?

Yes. If you angle them out, instead of in, then you should give yourself plenty of room to cook inside.
UL

Why not just have them at a 90 degree angle with the ground? That would save fabric (weight).

Because if you angle the ends out, instead of in, your roof doesn't need to be 8' 8" like the floor. If your ends are 90 deg., then you will need to have a longer roof, which might require more material.
Another question is where are your supports going to be to hold the tent up and how many are going to be required?
UL

willky:
Please don't let my questions discourage you. I really want to help you make this idea work. I may be the one with the difficulty conceptualizing your idea.
UL

I know that this is not exactly what we have been discussing, but thought that it might help. This is a tarp with a vestibule attached to the front.



Let me know,
UL

UL.. thats kind of a idea I had too, but I envision a smaller seperate tarp.. a micro tarp if you will that can be set up either in unison to the main tarp or as a mini tarp into itself. You could create a small porch or additional lean to liken to the photo you posted. Or could be used for something totally seperate. I know it kind of goes against the UL princable but it could be used as a ground cloth if need be. Hmmmm. may have to give it a whirl in the next day or so. lol

I see what you're saying. If I understand you correctly, the angled forward sides will be part of the vestibule, right? What I'm thinking of is having a tarp (tarptent....whatever you want to call it) that is just longer than I need, and I'd have room to sit in the front if need be. There might be a chance of extreme rain blowing some rain into the shelter, but the door is eventually going to be bug net, so keeping it simple (all one "stright" piece) is important. Also, I have it pictured in my mind as being pretty open. Hope this helps, and sounds a little better ! With all this said, do perpendicular-with-the-ground sides sound any better now? Be honest. I've already had to do this project over once, and I don't want to have to again.

For the supports, the main ones will be my treking poles (one 4' high in the front and one 2'3" in the back) for the main supports, with guyout points in the usual spots (aka where ever I figure I'll need them).

If you keep the sides perpendicular to the ground, you may have problems with the wind. They will act as a sail and catch even the slightest breeze. This will not only be a pain and reduce the interior space, but could reduce the stability of your shelter in a hard wind. A big reason why the sides are sloped is to allow the wind to spill over your shelter. You would need a little slope, at the very least, to keep your shelter on the gound in a storm and to stay dry inside.
Also, if you are going to go with a dual ridge roof, you've got to have SOME slope on the sides to hold the top taunt, since your not using small poles across the top at each end to keep the shape of the roof. I assume (careful, now) that you would use the same kind of tie-out that is on my new tarp at the foot of the roof.
UL

Yeah, I was thinking about using the same type on the back side and maybe on the front too. I dont know. Tieouts are something that I can toy around with after I get it done.