hey, Preacha...tarps

I been eyeballin one of THESE. For gravel bar/boat camping. Any DIY or cheaper alternatives? Campmor wants about 75 for that one.

Keep in mind that thing is HEEAAVVVYYY... I have seen them and helped put one up. Preacha's are only one pound and can be set up in MANY more ways. Little higher cost but I consider it worth it. I try to DIY where ever I can these days and not just for cost. Also because I hope that one day the manufatures will realize that we want Quality, Lighter and cheaper products. With the inovations out there in fabrics you would not belive what you can create. Look up some of the Cuben Fiber DIY projects. 10 x 12 tarp that weights in at less than a few ounces and is 4 times stronger than Kevlar and 120 time more durable than Kevlar... course it would prob cost some where around $300 but hey lol...

Around here gators usualy hangout on the gravel bars and bask in the moonlight so I opt for a tent so they can't sneak in the sleeping bag with you in the middle of the night.

I have a cheap wally-world 7 man tent that I would like to figure out an easy way to set up just the fly(they don't sell a footprint for wally-world tents) incase of a light shower on a daytime fishing trip.

So I gues what I am saying is that you could set up just the fly of your tent.

Yeah but gators, like bears... if wanting in... will get in. Unless you got some armour plated ripstop nylon. The only real way to be certain is hammock. Get off the frigging ground. lol just my 2 cent worth. But I do know about them thar gaters. Lived in Orlando for 10 years . Hated every min of it. lol

Ed,

Up here you don't have to worry about gators! Were I came from in S.E. AR is a differnt thing. As far as a tent fly with just the poles and a footprint if your tent isn't designed that way I dont' think it will work. I have a REI Quarterdome T3 tent that can be set up with just the fly, poles and tent footprint. I have been meaning to do just that, some time when you are over here we will set it up and see what it weighs. I also have a hammock that I need to start experimenting again with. Any way I will show some time.

OH

Cliff, The Kelty Naoh tarps are a great cheap tarp, but like TM said, they are heavier and have a lot less ways to set up than the ones my wife and I make. They are made out of Urethane Coated Polyester, and ours are made from 1.1oz silicone impregnated ripstop nylon. It really does make a difference. If you are interested in my wife making you a tarp, PM me and we might be able to work something out if you beg her enough. I almost bought a Kelty 9X9 tarp, but opted to design my own and have my wife sew it. It goes with me everywhere now, and it is always packed in my pack. I also second the hammock thing, since I sold TM his first hammock. He is serious about his signature .

Like I sed, for boat/car camping.More kitchen, shade than anything else. Weight not so much a problem except lighter would set up easier. If there is a lot of price difference, I can't really justify it right now. Just curious while I was shop/dreaming. If I were to sell a boat or 2 and go to more backpacking gear, it would be something to think about.

And I think I could become a hammock fan. Used to sleep in one all the time at the lake.... a loooong time ago. Like OH sez, back in the 70's.

If it is just for car camping, then why not use the cheap "blue" tarps from Walmart? The Kelty Noah is a good tarp, so it would serve you well, it is just too heavy for most of us who hike our shelter in. The Kelty Noah that I was looking at before cost $75 for a 9X9. The 10x12 Cat Tarp that my wife makes is $125, so there is a price difference, but the weight savings, more versatility in setups, and the extra 39 square feet really help out when the rain is coming down. I have never gotten wet under my tarp, and when the rain is pouring down and all the water is running on the ground, I am safe and sound above it all in my hammock

Clif:
That 16x16 tarp is HUGE!!
If all you are going to use it for is canoe/car camping, then I second Preacha's idea of a Wal Mart tarp. They work very well for what you are looking at and are probably a little lighter and a whole lot cheaper.
BTW, Lew has one similar to the Kelty Noah, but he only uses his while car camping.
UL

Good points guys. That is what I was looking for. I use a wallyworld special now. It takes lots of space as well as heavy. But very welcome in the noon sun or afternoon downpour while kickin back on a campout.

Trail Monkey Said: Yeah but gators, like bears... if wanting in... will get in. Unless you got some armour plated ripstop nylon. The only real way to be certain is hammock. Get off the frigging ground. lol just my 2 cent worth. But I do know about them thar gaters. Lived in Orlando for 10 years . Hated every min of it. lol


Two words for ya TM " Bear piñata"

Yeah but the bear is not blind folded!

Pepper spray him first to make it more challenging.

Looked again and paid attention to the weights....wow
9' 1lb6
12' almost 2lbs
then the 16 jumps to 5 lbs??

Yeah but I like the armour plated ripstop.... and at a ultra light weight of only 96lbs per sq inch I may may a 30x 80 tarp from it.. lol. Just cant seem to get my magnetic forcefeild to work correctly while using the photo laser turents on the machine gunners nest hammock. Damn. But it all looks really COOL when it does work. hahahaha.

HAHAHAHA If that is what it takes to stay safe out in the woods I am staying home . I even cowboy camped it this last Sunday night, just me and a pile of leaves (with my top quilt of course). I have tried to get Amanda to make me a Cuben Fiber tarp, but she saw the price and laughed, and when she stopped laughing, she started laughing again. I guess I can expect my new Cuben Fiber Tarp anytime now .

You pickin on me, monkey?? Hey I know I'm a different breed. Where's the tolerance? Where's the love? You ultra light don't wanna carry nuthin nuts. Scroll down here. Now THAT's campin.

Jus kiddin ya know. The big tarp is for those trips that layover a day or half a day. Kitchen, dad can sit in the shade while you younguns swim, throw rocks and explore till you collapse kinda trip.

Ya gotta have a chair and a cot and a guitar, well I don't play but, you get the idea. Them guys carry all kindsa junk and can barely see over the pile of it in their boat. Makes a little more sense on an out west trip that lasts 4-5 days or more. Some of those trips have meals you would not believe. But an overnight??

I had to giggle at the extra comfort thread/question knowing folks that bring a hand operated blender to make smoothies and other substance enhanced concoctions that I do not take part in. Somewhere is the happy medium.... maybe.

Clif,

You will get a lot of ribbing from folks around here! Those that don't have thick skin need not apply! Actually that is a pretty good picture! I can just see that fellow going over! I started back in the 70's, even have some of my old gear, and there is a lot of diffence in the weight of then and now. I get some ribbing now and then by folks as being the old timer!

OH

FYI,

Here is a link to a site that sells rope made from the same material as the Cuben Fiber. I work around the river and we use it on pushboats. The weight to tensile strength ratio is amazing as compared to wire rope (cable). The company will sell cut lenghts and takes credit card orders. The rope does not stand up well to abrasion. I think it would make a good rope for hammocks. The rope is the 12 strand plaama. The rope trade name for the fibers is Spectra by Honeywell.

http://www.erinrope.com/twelvestrand.html