Although tarpaulin is one of the most useful accessories while camping in nature, many people still do not know how to put up a tarpaulin in the right way. As with many things, there are certain rules that one needs to follow while putting the tarpaulin up to ensure maximum safety and security.
Therefore, if this sounds like something you might make good use of, make sure to keep reading this article until the end.
How to Put Up a Tarpaulin
If not put up properly, a tarpaulin can cause more damage than good. That’s why, before even attempting to do this, you need to ensure that you have the necessary skills and tools to put up a tarpaulin in the right way to remain safe and secure, especially if you have a log fire under it.
To do this accurately, you will first need to go over a few basic rules essential for a successful tarpaulin setup. After doing so, you may continue reading the six methods to put up a tarpaulin correctly and choose the one that best fits your situation.
What to do before you put up the tarpaulin
Even though you might have all the skills in the world, if you do not ensure steady and stable ground and base for your tarpaulin, it can all go down the water. Therefore, if you want to ensure that the tarpaulin will do its job most effectively and protect you from the different weather conditions, you must go over these few ground rules.
Investigate the surroundings
Before putting up your tarpaulin, the first and foremost thing is to thoroughly investigate the surroundings or the campsite you are in. This is crucial because you want to find the ideal location depending on the size of your tent or equipment, your vehicle, the number of people you are, etc.
Additionally, ensure that the place you choose is not too enclosed nor too wide. Choose it just right to fit all of your stuff comfortably.
Decide the location of the firepit
As camping or staying in nature usually involves a fire pit, you need to make sure that the trees you choose are high enough so that you can elevate the tarpaulin to a suitable height where the fire will not melt it or cause any greater danger.
Choose a good, sturdy rope
If you do not want your tarpaulin constantly moving or falling down, the quality of the ropes plays an important part. That’s why you need to get high-quality and sturdy ropes that will steadily hold the tarpaulin in place.
Learn a few knot-tying techniques
Finally, before you attempt to put up a tarpaulin, it is always wise to learn a few basic knot-tying techniques to tie the tarpaulin with the ropes successfully and, therefore, ensure your safety.
Read more: What Is a Tarp Made Of?
Four methods on how to put up a tarpaulin
Continuous ridge line
- For this method, you will need to do a little home prep. First, you should thread your line through the ridge risers on your tarp and then attach the clipper on one end of the line while tying a prusik knot about half of the line with another attached clipper to it. Then, pack your tarpaulin with the two clippers hanging out the top.
- When you find two suitable trees with enough room between them so that you can pitch your tarp, run the first clipper (the one without the prusik) around the first tree. Then, attach it to the center of your tarpaulin.
- After doing so, work your way to the other end of the tarpaulin and make sure to slide the prusik knot along until you wrap it around the second three and then again clip it on the center point of the tarp.
- Finally, pull the prusik knot toward the tree to tighten the tarp and work the line around the trees to position your tarp perfectly over your camp.
Buried sandbags
This method is ideal for staying cool in open beach areas, and most importantly, you do not need pegs for it. But, ensure to have some empty bags with you.
- You first need to take the cords and attach them to the lifter tabs and the leading corners. Make sure you do this halfway along the sides. Then, you need to loop around the top parts of your sticks down to the sand.
- Next, take your bags and fill them with sand. Then, attach the cord.
- Make a hole in the sand big enough to fit the sandbags and bury them. You can also do this in the snow.
Van attachment
If you are looking for a simple way to extend your living area while living in the van, this is the method to do that.
- Find the attachment point and pass a piece of cord through it.
- Then, you need to tie a big overhand knot in the cord itself.
- Next, you must ensure that you trap the cord in your vehicle door and ensure that it does not move.
Plough point shelter
If you are not very skilled with putting up a tarpaulin, this is definitely the method you want to try. It is super easy and maybe the most straightforward way to put up a tarpaulin.
- Choose one corner and tie your cord to one of its tie-down loops.
- Then, take your tarp and lie it flat on the ground. Make sure to straighten the edges. After doing so, peg out the other three corners.
- Finally, by using a trekking pole, raise the fourth corner and insert the pole tip into the rig point while at the same time pegging out the cord that you have tied before. Remember that the longer the pole is, the more headroom you get.
Also read: How to Keep a Tarp From Collecting Water
Conclusion
In this article, you could have read how to put up a tarpaulin in four different ways so that you will always be prepared with the suitable knowledge to do this successfully, regardless of your situation. I also made sure to include the four ground rules everyone needs to know before putting up a tarp so that you can stay safe and secure while camping and enjoying nature. Happy camping, and good luck!