Using a Tarp between two trailers to make a canopy

[Newt182]

Had a great time out camping this weekend with the CTC. As we were sitting at camp with our two trailers parked next to each other with our camp between them came up with the idea of using a large tarp to create a canopy between our trailers. Has anyone thought of doing something like this or even tried it? We were thinking of some sort of hooks that could connect to the holes edges of the tarp then make some home made tent poles out of PVC pipe to prop up the middle.

Ideas or suggestions?

[hankaye]

newt, Howdy;


Here's a thought for ya. It's difficult to get 2 trailers to park parallel consistently, why not
think about a way to roll up the excess on one or both sides? That way you can modify it
for each event or as a solo use. Please keep us in the loop as you work on this.

hank

[Newt182]

newt, Howdy;


Here's a thought for ya. It's difficult to get 2 trailers to park parallel consistently, why not
think about a way to roll up the excess on one or both sides? That way you can modify it
for each event or as a solo use. Please keep us in the loop as you work on this.

hank

This was actually my first thought, how do we make sure the trailers are always the correct distance apart. If we get them in the ball park maybe the tent polls could be adjustable to take up the slack as the middle is raised.

[tony.latham]

I don't think this is a bad idea. (But I'm camped over in that mighty fine teardrop!) You could use tent tighteners to compensate for the difference in parking. A (curved) catenary cut along the four edges would also help.

But for sure you'd want to add a grommet in the center to lock a single pole to ensure you don't end up with a pond above you during that thunderstorm.

T

[troubleScottie]

If it rains, you might have issues.

A more structured tarp like a popup, will accumulate water. It is part of the reason for popup have such tall tops. Many of the originals had shallow roofs and collected water too easily.

A large tarp without supports will be much worse.


And as is stated above, you need some mechanism to take up the slack depending on the positioning of the second trailer or when there is no trailer.

[Shadow Catcher]

I can see a number of potential problems including the parking parallel mentioned. Having them suspended will mean you have one BIG rain catcher, and you are limited to using it when the other person is there. Separate tarps supported by poles, in our case painter poles and tied down, lots of flexibility in how it can be erected. In our case I used Kedar rail on three sides of the tear and have four tarps. When bad weather crops up drop ends...

[McDave]

Go take a look at these guys.
https://www.creativeshelters.com/
They have all kinds of fittings and bungees etc. They even have a tool for planning your project. Good luck and keep us posted if you move forward. Thanks.

McDave

[absolutsnwbrdr]

Yup, we hook a tarp to the roof edge on our teardrop, and tie the other end to a tree or post or whatever is available. We used 'airline track anchor point tie downs' with stud fittings.
http://www.uscargocontrol.com/Ratchet-S ... Round-Base

And we use tarp clips, because a grommet never seems to be where you need it.
https://www.amazon.com/8Pc-Heavy-Duty-T ... 01KTULL80/

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