Quote:
Originally Posted by Surfmore72
Assuming because you have two of them you like the Noah tarp?..Could you review the tarp system including the poles and stakes you use and how you use it?..
|
Greetings and THX for the Q on tarp use, happy to share what we are doing.
So we have utilized Noah Tarp 16's (two of them) for several years around camp. Only recently have we used NTs attached to the van by way of the newly installed awning rail seen below (1.5" x 10'8" aluminum) :
As mentioned elsewhere we had several close calls with the (well built) Fiama F45 and chose to go with a simpler and hopefully more wind-resistant tarp setup.
We used the NT16 as seen below for a handful of trips.
Set up with gear ties to rail and then supported by a two or three folding/adjustable 8ft poles (we got ours from REI and Sportman's warehouse...we have 6 of them and 2 of the smaller 6' poles). We set up the NT16 so that about 6ft is behind the end of the rail so we can cover the aluminess galley box that swings toward the curb/camp side. This worked fine but...
We pondered the advantage of the NT20, thinking the extra 4ft would allow us to drape ~4feet from front of rail over windshield...which we were able to do as seen below:
One thing we noticed right away over the NT16 in its grey color was the NT20's green actually was cheerful in tone/mood. That and it is like a circus tent under the 20!!! And we had winds one afternoon of about 35 and it just flapped and poles hopped up and down a few times relieving wind pressure. We would have been awning-less if only with the F45 as it can not be used in much of anything over ~20 that we've attempted before rolling it up.
OK, so why the Noah Tarp 9 in the mix? Well, doing my pondering/what-if game if do, I thought of the times when we set up for a trailside meal and would appreciate cover over the camp kitchen setup area. The NT9 is so easy for one person to setup, and I could have done the below test with only one pole had I tweaked things a bit. So even simpler than the ~5min this two pole set up took.
=====and just to mention the other tarp in the mix... We have a 12ft x 20ft "
Snow White Cool Tarp"
We use the CT on trips that we would have to park the rig in direct sun and want some shade and cooler temp under cover. The CT does just what it is advertised to do. We actually used it on a trip where the weather went from high 80's (it was wonderfully comfortable under the CT) to a low 60 by week's end and we had to have coats and beanies on it was noticeably "cold" under the tarp compared to simply walking out from under it. We're used to mid 60 weather and it is _shirtsleeve_ temps to us, but it was COLD under that thing. So unless the weather calls for temps in the 80's or higher we will not be using the CT.
This tarp is a bit on the heavy side at ~15lbs so we sort of tossed lines over the top of the van and did not utilize the awning rail as an anchor. Winds simply lift if up off roof a few inches to relieve pressure and it works great even in rain storms (it got really bad that afternoon).
a parting shot of the CT in use (I posted this back on pg20 with more detail)...
Feel free to ask any clarifying Q's, always happy to assist.
: ) Thom