Tarp-Shelters, an Introduction By
Presented by Equipped To Survive - www.equipped.org The most current version of this document is located at http://www.equipped.org/tarp-shelters.htm ================================= Tarp-shelters, an introduction by DBM ================================= Q: What are Tarp-shelters? A: Tarp-shelters are simple shelters made from a Vertical Support System (VSS), rope, ground stakes, a tarpaulin (or a fabric or plastic sheet), and ingenuity. Q: What’s a Vertical Support System (VSS)? A: Any way or means of providing a fixed point above the ground, from which something can be hung from, or hung on. VSS include tent poles, internal or external frames (tripod, shears, etc), a rope slung between two supports (trees, etc), an overhead suspension point (tree branch, etc), or a mixture of these. Q: What sort of rope? A: 6-millimetre poly or nylon rope is a good size, with thicker rope better in some situations. Smaller diameter ropes may suffice, IF they’re ‘doubled’ up. Q: What sort of ground stakes? A: Tent stakes designed for ‘hard ground’ are usually just a metal spike, and can pull out if rain softens the ground. Tent stakes designed for ‘soft ground’ have shafts with an ‘angled’ or ‘star’ cross-section, and grip any sort of ground better than ‘spike’ stakes. ‘Soft ground’ stakes are harder to hammer into ‘hard ground’, but they’re harder to get out too! Q: What sort of tarpaulin? A: Any sort really. Canvas, nylon tent fabric, poly-tarps, or even heavy-duty plastic sheeting like ‘painters drop sheets’ may do. Ideally, the material should either be a Square, or a Rectangle with the short side half the length of the long side (1:2 ratio).
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