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View Full Version : How to Make a Tarp Shelter - A Tutorial



Mungo
22-10-2007, 02:32
I know that setting up a tarp sounds like the easiest thing in all of bushcraft... I have used them over a ridgeline made of cord, and this is fairly easy. But I wanted to learn how to make a free-standing shelter, so as to replace my tent. The reason I want to set up my tarp as a free standing shelter is to limit the amount of weight that I normally carry on a canoe trip.

Sometimes I go on solo canoe trips and have to portage all of my gear in my knapsack, plus portage my canoe over land. My tent probably weighs about 10 pounds with the necessary fiberglass rods and the tarp I have weighs just under about 1 1/2 pounds (I am guessing).

After trying multiple set-ups and getting quite frustrated, I settled upon the following plans - I set up my tarp as in the image below that I created. I had to install two additional grommets on my tarpaulin because mine did not have the set-up as in the image below:

http://bp2.blogger.com/_ccWC_qkHkY0/RxvJO4WKwyI/AAAAAAAAEwo/Ammu4wpurq0/s400/tarpshelter.jpg (http://mungobah.blogspot.com/2007/10/how-to-make-tarp-shelter-tutorial.html)

I ended up with the following arrangement:
http://bp1.blogger.com/_ccWC_qkHkY0/Rxux2oWKwMI/AAAAAAAAEsY/el0muosEg7E/s400/PA200063.JPG (http://mungobah.blogspot.com/2007/10/how-to-make-tarp-shelter-tutorial.html)

Please see my tutorial for in-depth details and photographs (http://mungobah.blogspot.com/2007/10/how-to-make-tarp-shelter-tutorial.html). I explain how I attached new grommets to the tarp as well.

Cheers,

Mungo

dwardo
22-10-2007, 09:46
Belting idea !

Will try that with my large mob basha, nice one ;)

Mungo
31-10-2007, 21:13
So I'm going to go down the New Hampshire for a long weekend, and intend to use this tarp set-up rather than using my tent... wish me luck!

Cheers,

Mungo

scanker
31-10-2007, 21:30
That's really good - thanks for posting. The YouTube video in your detailed tutorial helped a lot.

tommy the cat
31-10-2007, 21:47
Excellent stuff!
Canadian tire love that shop! (Not as much as Bass Pro though)
Have a great trip D

Surrey Yeoman
02-11-2007, 16:01
Nice idea Mungo!

Humpback
02-11-2007, 19:02
This spooky. I was watching the same Youtube film last night and planned to try it out this Saturday. My tarp has loops so I hope not to have to put in eyelets, but will if it works in the flesh.
Ta
Alan

Scots_Charles_River
02-11-2007, 19:41
Howabout converting a tarp or two, into a tipi/wigwam ?

Nick

redandshane
04-11-2007, 10:47
Howabout converting a tarp or two, into a tipi/wigwam ?

Nick


now that has got me thinking which is always dangerous
I feel a jaunt to the woods coming on

Mungo
08-11-2007, 16:48
I attended a bushcraft course taught by Mors Kochanski at Jack Mountain Bushcraft in New Hampshire last weekend - left Friday at 4:00 AM and got home for Tuesday morning work... had an amazing time and used this tarp configuration. It took me roughly 2 minutes to set it up in the dark in the mountains... and it held up to 12 hours of rain on Saturday - keeping me dry and comfortable in sub-freezing temperatures... brilliant! I will be posting pictures and my thoughts on the great weekend soon on my blog. Stay tuned!

Cheers,

Mungo