hey all you good builders out there...

topic posted Wed, August 26, 2009 - 8:52 PM by  GibsonPearl
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You have the following:

One very large silver tarp
one pickup truck with shell
one 8x8 tent

You want to make a shelter for the tent with the silver tarp and figure you could use the truck to fasten one side of the tarp. But how would you fasten down the other side, leaving room between the tarp and the tent?

I'm not, um, buildingly-minded. Please send help.
posted by:
GibsonPearl
SF Bay Area
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  • Re: hey all you good builders out there...

    Wed, August 26, 2009 - 9:35 PM
    Without one more item(pvc, a post, etc.) the only way to get the tarp to stay up would be to connect it to another tall structure. Another truck on the other side, someone else's shade, a 16-foot inflatable penis--something.

    With the items you have(and rope, obviously,) you'll have to let the tarp flop over the tent, then tie each outer corner to stakes in front of the tent.

    Could you bring a couple of pieces of pvc? It would help.
  • Re: hey all you good builders out there...

    Wed, August 26, 2009 - 10:29 PM
    Addendum: I'm more than happy and willing to buy more supplies...just not totally sure what to buy...PVC? Metal poles? Hrrrmmm...
    • Re: hey all you good builders out there...

      Thu, August 27, 2009 - 8:09 AM
      Ah, that changes everything! I would've suggested my little hut but I thought you had limited supplies or no room for pvc.

      Yes, the hut is easy, cheap and strong. You have the tarp. You'll need pvc, rebar and bungee cords.

      www.chromatest.net/Lovemonkey/

      Don't worry about the "optional shade flap." You can park your truck behind the hut to block the wind, since your tent should fit inside.
      • Re: hey all you good builders out there...

        Fri, August 28, 2009 - 9:51 AM
        Hey Lovemonkey--

        How do you make sure the whole thing stays on the ground during a really bad windstorm? I'm imagining that perhaps you could put in a piece if rebar right up next to each PVC piece where it hits the ground and pound them in at an angle, and then bungee the hell out of it?
        • Re: hey all you good builders out there...

          Sat, August 29, 2009 - 12:19 AM
          It's the tensile strength that keeps it sitting on the rebar. That pvc really wants to straighten out but can't because of the rebar obstacle. As long as the rebar is securely in the ground and there's also a good portion of it inside the pvc, it's very difficult for the frame to lift up. When you have one side in and you arch the pvc down and slip it onto the corresponding rebar, you'll feel how solid it is.

          *Important note: the straight rebar should be almost 90-degrees to the ground. You can angle it in toward its opposing rebar piece JUST slightly but do it only by a couple of degrees. You want to have to force the pvc down on the rebar when arching. That's the strength of the hut.

          One thing you may want to add is a piece of hooked or bent rebar between where the ribs hit the ground Tie this off to a grommet on your tarp. If the hut gets any lift from a strong wind, these tie-downs act as a back-up system.

          GP, do you know where you'll be camping? I can come by and help you guys if you need it. I'll be there Sunday.
          • Re: hey all you good builders out there...

            Sat, August 29, 2009 - 12:29 AM
            Thanks Lovemonkey! Makes sense...

            We'll be at the Iron Rose at 6:30 and A...I go by Holly as well, or ask for my honey Ryan. We plan to drive up Tuesday and will hopefully have the hut up sometime before dark. Not sure when our arrival time is though...maybe see you then!

            Thank you!

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