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Subject Topic: how to make your own footprint? Post Reply Post New Topic
08/12/2014 at 7:04pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: None Entered
View sharky9193's Profile View Profile   Reply to sharky9193 Reply   Quote sharky9193 Quote  
Joined: 12/8/2014

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Ok, so some of you may know i have been looking for a canvas family tent and have recently bought a De Waard Albatros with 3 side screens and sun canopy etc,etc.

 

Now the Albatros has a really thick/strong ground sheet but i always like to put down some kind of footprint for the extra piece of mind of not puncturing the tents own ground sheet.

Now i have looked at the usual blue tarp's on fleabay but they all look too thin and would tear at the first instance.

The Albatros i have has a 4mtr x 4.2mtr base,does anyone have a better product/tarp/damp proof membrane which really works?

Have also scoured the usual suspects for footprints to suit tents by Outwell and Vango with a similar area as the Albatros but the price is between 40-60 notes if i'm lucky.

 

Any ideas??

 

Regards.

Sharky.



08/12/2014 at 7:11pm
 Location: Wiltshire
 Outfit: Eureka Lone Tree 4
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Not sure if helpful but I bought this one for my Obelink Alaska.

HERE

They don't seem to have many left but it's very thick, good quality and just over £20 for the 4x5m


08/12/2014 at 7:25pm
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View Bob61's Profile View Profile   Reply to Bob61 Reply   Quote Bob61 Quote  
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I believe I bought mine from this place and it is a good tough tarpaulin without being too heavy or bulky.


08/12/2014 at 10:21pm
 Location: Devizes Wiltshire
 Outfit: MWB VW Crafter PVC
View dk168's Profile View Profile   Reply to dk168 Reply   Quote dk168 Quote  
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Tarpulines Direct has different grades of tarps available to suit one's needs.

I got one of their budget one as an additional groundsheet to protect the thick PVC ZIG of my tent, and it is still going strong after 3 seasons's of good use.

Remember to get a tarp slightly smaller than the footprint of the tent to minimise the risk of water ingress when it rains.

DK

-------------
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09/12/2014 at 9:30am
 Location: Derby.
 Outfit: Karsten 350+Awnings
View Mucker1884's Profile View Profile   Reply to Mucker1884 Reply   Quote Mucker1884 Quote  
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The problem is, only you know what protection you want to give your tent's SIG, and what price you put on it.

There are some wonderful looking tarps out there, some thicker than the SIG itself, but they don't come cheap. But, for example, is £60 - £100 expensive, when compared to the cost of the tent you are trying to protect? Maybe not!

I recently bought one similar to This, but 3.5 x 3.5, for a total of £8.24 inc. delivery.
My thinking was...rightly or wrongly... my tent's SIG is up to the job, (touch wood!!) providing I pitch on grass, not hard standing... and I (thoroughly!!) check the pitch for sharps and stones etc first!
Ergo, my footprint is merely to keep my SIG clean, and not particularly to offer any protection against damage.
I'd guess, in theory, to protect the SIG from damage, you'd need a footprint thicker than the SIG itself?


As my tent is "one of the more expensive ones", I'm still in some doubt as to whether I have done the right thing... and often struggle to sleep at night wondering if I should get something a little more sturdy!!   

I may still change my mind, and purchase something "better", be that a heavy duty tarp, or pond liner of some sort, but for now, I'm tempted "to risk it".

I've made my decision... which I may well live to regret.
Now it's your turn... How much do you value your tent, and how much are you prepared to pay to protect your SIG?

Not easy, I'll concede that!

Let us know what you end up with... and ultimately how satisfied you are with it.

Cheers... and good luck.

-------------
2024: 38 nights thus far...
2023: 47 nights
2022: 40 nights
2021: 30 nights
2020: Just 24 nights
2019: A personal best 50 nights
2018: Just the 30 nights
2017: 34 nights
2016: 32 nights
2015: 38 nights
2014: 34 nights
2013: 36 nights
From July 2012: 23 nights


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09/12/2014 at 9:54am
 Location: Derby.
 Outfit: Karsten 350+Awnings
View Mucker1884's Profile View Profile   Reply to Mucker1884 Reply   Quote Mucker1884 Quote  
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Just been speaking to our scaffolders (sister company) who have "Mono-flex", which is similar to the tarps in the above link by "FOAM".
Ours is only 2m wide though, so I may cut two pieces at about 3.4m long (smaller than the 3.5 of my SIG) then lap them when we are in the Pod only, and butt them up (giving 3.4 x 4m) when we have the awing on, thus leaving about 0.5m protruding into awning.

Disadvantages seem to include it not being sealed at the joint, so may let water in. So I may need to consider Gorilla taping the two pieces together, which I have done previously on a folded tarp (successfully), but not two separate tarps? Another is that it would only have eyelets along the rear and front (and the centre/lap) but not the sides. This also wouldn't come with reinforced corners.

Advantages, however, seem to include having two, smaller tarps, which may prove advantageous for transporting, and cleaning up. It also seems rather thick/strong (it has that reinforced "string" in it).
The main advantage is that it is totally free, and comes as a limitless supply!!

Hmmm... seems I haven't made my decision afterall!!

-------------
2024: 38 nights thus far...
2023: 47 nights
2022: 40 nights
2021: 30 nights
2020: Just 24 nights
2019: A personal best 50 nights
2018: Just the 30 nights
2017: 34 nights
2016: 32 nights
2015: 38 nights
2014: 34 nights
2013: 36 nights
From July 2012: 23 nights


09/12/2014 at 9:59am
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For our Cabanon we have a cheapy Tarp 5m x 4m but the real protection for the ZiG comes from a sheet of Butyl Rubber Pond Liner 1mm in thickness also 5m x 4m, kindly given to me by a friend who does ponds, although Butyl Rubber can be bought of the roll at many garden centres, at around 50p per square foot.

With the added protection of re-modelled Outwell Tent carpets for inside the tent our ZiG has remained as new since we got the tent back in 2008.

Some of the pitch's we have been on in the South East of France during July, have been hard baked, and I am sure the ZiG would have been damaged, had we not had the added protection.



09/12/2014 at 2:28pm
 Location: norfolk
 Outfit: vango tempest 200 icarus 500
View ladycake's Profile View Profile   Reply to ladycake Reply   Quote ladycake Quote  
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mines just a cheapy from b and q or somewhere!! does the job nicely!

-------------
gym bunny hugs!


09/12/2014 at 7:56pm
 Location: Notts Derbyshire
 Outfit: Soulpad 5000tribe Vango 450
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We've been using the same blue tarp 4m x 5m for the last 6+ years and its still in very good condition. Its not need to protect the ground sheet but keeps it cleaner making packing up easier . I'd never buy a branded footprint there just a marketing rip off.


10/12/2014 at 10:06am
 Location: norfolk
 Outfit: vango tempest 200 icarus 500
View ladycake's Profile View Profile   Reply to ladycake Reply   Quote ladycake Quote  
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lol mines blue too!

-------------
gym bunny hugs!


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10/12/2014 at 10:15am
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Yep same here, always used a reasonable quality tarp. Even if you only got a couple of years use it will cost less than £10 to replace if you shop around.

-------------
It is a wise man who has something to say.
It is a fool who has to say something.


15/12/2014 at 9:14am
 Location: Kent
 Outfit: 5m Bell Tent & Olpro Pop Tent.
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Mines green and round and sewn all round, then eyelets added.



19/12/2014 at 5:01pm
 Location: norfolk
 Outfit: vango tempest 200 icarus 500
View ladycake's Profile View Profile   Reply to ladycake Reply   Quote ladycake Quote  
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nice garden

-------------
gym bunny hugs!


14/6/2015 at 8:04pm
 Location: Surrey
 Outfit: De Waard V. Zilverme
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Quote: Originally posted by sharky9193 on 08/12/2014

Ok, so some of you may know i have been looking for a canvas family tent and have recently bought a De Waard Albatros with 3 side screens and sun canopy etc,etc.

 

Now the Albatros has a really thick/strong ground sheet but i always like to put down some kind of footprint for the extra piece of mind of not puncturing the tents own ground sheet.

Now i have looked at the usual blue tarp's on fleabay but they all look too thin and would tear at the first instance.

The Albatros i have has a 4mtr x 4.2mtr base,does anyone have a better product/tarp/damp proof membrane which really works?

Have also scoured the usual suspects for footprints to suit tents by Outwell and Vango with a similar area as the Albatros but the price is between 40-60 notes if i'm lucky.

 

Any ideas??

 

Regards.

Sharky.





Hi Sharky - I am looking for something like this for my De Waard - what did you finally decide to buy?



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