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Subject Topic: Footprint Help? Post Reply Post New Topic
Persontentadventurer
01/7/2015 at 9:52pm
 Location: Suffolk
 Outfit: Vango Keswick 600 + 2 others View tentadventurer's Profile View Profile   Reply to tentadventurer Reply   Quote tentadventurer Quote  
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The footprint for our new tent (vango keswick) is £35 + postage. We only looked at it to keep the grounsheet clean so not worried about a perfect fit and, baring in mind the price, have decided to just buy a tarp. Have checked and the tent groundsheet is 5m x 3.8m.

I know the footprint should be a few inches smaller but the closest tarp and can find is 4.5m x 3.5m the .3m difference should be fine but i'm wondering if the .5m difference is too much??

What do people think?


Persondmsplat
01/7/2015 at 10:08pm
 Location: North West
 Outfit: Obelink Familia 6; ESVO Bedouin 280 View dmsplat's Profile View Profile   Reply to dmsplat Reply   Quote dmsplat Quote  
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Not perfect, but I'd be OK with that.

Personally, I would consider getting a bigger tarp and folding it back, but that's just me.


Persontentadventurer
01/7/2015 at 10:34pm
 Location: Suffolk
 Outfit: Vango Keswick 600 + 2 others View tentadventurer's Profile View Profile   Reply to tentadventurer Reply   Quote tentadventurer Quote  
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This is where i'm torn... the next size up is 5 x 4. So the 5 will only need to be folded by about 18cm which i think is going to make it awkward as it's not quite enough to hold itself in place if you know what i mean?

My worry with the smaller one though is that the eyelets are going to be in an area that will be walked on more often and i would worry about them making a hole in the groundsheet.


PersonBob61
01/7/2015 at 10:38pm
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Don't forget that 0.5 metres will only be 0.25 metres (25cm about 10") each side. You are not likely to walk to within 25cm of the flysheet except at the doors. The eyelets themselves are unlikely to damage the groundsheet but don't use pegs as they could.


Personjelboy53
02/7/2015 at 4:36am
 Location: Cumbernauld Scotland
 Outfit: Monty 6Icarus 500 Halo 300 View jelboy53's Profile View Profile   Reply to jelboy53 Reply   Quote jelboy53 Quote  
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I have never bought a footprint so I am no expert but my understanding is its basically a hardwearing durable sheet to go under and protect the G/sheet in the areas of the tent from all the constant comings and goings in and out of the tent and protect the G/sheet fabric from stones/twigs etc as well as providing a bit of insulation underfoot.....

To this end I have one or two bits of heavy duty plastic sheeting that fit more or less under my bigger tents and a small tarp to go under my small dome tents...

My system is more or less a one size fits all approach...There are areas in my tents that never get walked on on as they have things like tables/chairs/cooker stands etc around the edges...

I concentrate on protecting the main areas where I walk...Through from the sleeping pod to the living area...And from the living area in/out of the particular door I am using...

So the main area covered by my sheeting is basically right up the middle of the tent from the pod to the door with a fold here or there to fit the particular tent I'm using....

Have never pegged this sheeting down(though I have seen this done) If it's a bit windy I weigh the sheet down with the mallet/peg bag/pole bag etc till I get the tent down on top of it and rolled out ready to erect...

Your tarp should be fine with a bit of folding back to fit in the areas needed...Maybe at the rear of the sleeping pod which would leave the area in the living area/door nice and flat to cope with foot traffic..

Jelboy.

-------------
Campers of the storm,Into this world are born

Some days are Diamonds...Some days are stone...


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PersonMucker1884
02/7/2015 at 5:25am
 Location: Derby.
 Outfit: Karsten 350+Awnings View Mucker1884's Profile View Profile   Reply to Mucker1884 Reply   Quote Mucker1884 Quote  
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Get the bigger one, but keep the eyelets to the outside.
I did this by folding as per below diagram, and taping both top side and underside with Gorilla tape (although that in itself ain't exactly cheap, in all fairness!). Before taping, I weighted it down, then "walked the line" to flatten the fold with a nice sharp crease.




Worked for me, and the Gorilla tape is more than good enough to stay put!


EDIT:
For the record, this was on a "proper" Vango footprint, that needed reducing for my Kampa tent. No idea how the tape would stick to a more standard polythene, if used.

-------------
2024: 38 nights thus far...
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From July 2012: 23 nights


Personphathamster
02/7/2015 at 10:36am
 Location: None Entered
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big roll of duct tape would hold it surely?

by you do need to be careful to not have any pockets where water could sit.

very useful things footprints, help big a good spot to pitch and protect the tent well.

have a look on ebay you may be able to get a custom size cut fairly reasonably, i had a 3x3x2 trailer cover made out of 800sgm for only 45£


Persontentadventurer
06/7/2015 at 8:54pm
 Location: Suffolk
 Outfit: Vango Keswick 600 + 2 others View tentadventurer's Profile View Profile   Reply to tentadventurer Reply   Quote tentadventurer Quote  
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Thanks for the advice everyone.
Have risked it and gone for the smaller tarp. At £8, if it's no good i can always get the larger one and it'll still only be half the price of the proper footprint.


PersonBob61
06/7/2015 at 10:03pm
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I am sure you will find it ok...good luck


Personpurplebean
07/7/2015 at 10:20am
 Location: West Yorkshire
 Outfit: Karsten 350 CA FW RA :) View purplebean's Profile View Profile   Reply to purplebean Reply   Quote purplebean Quote  
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I use plastic mushroom pegs on my footprint, cannot imgine them doing any damage to a ground sheet especially if well banged in


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Personflowerpower
07/7/2015 at 6:25pm
 Location: Clowne Derbyshire
 Outfit: Conway Countryman Folding Camper View flowerpower's Profile View Profile   Reply to flowerpower Reply   Quote flowerpower Quote  
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My Father in law cut us some thick pond liner and we fold any longer bits under the tent (the 'footprint' is rectangle whilst the tent shaped.

-------------
Boootiful Norfolk <3


Personmighty-mondo
07/7/2015 at 9:39pm
 Location: Scotland
 Outfit: Vango Icarus 500 View mighty-mondo's Profile View Profile   Reply to mighty-mondo Reply   Quote mighty-mondo Quote  
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Im sure you will be fine with a tarp, they are so cheap you can afford to replace them if they get knackered, i have a Vango footprint that came with my tent (Icarus) - it is heavier duty polythene than a tarp but saying that a tarp would have done just fine given the good quality of our pitch.

I have heard people mention pond liner before and I am considering this for in our awning as it has a loose groundsheet which we didnt use on our last trip as it was too noisy & crinkly


Personflowerpower
07/7/2015 at 11:35pm
 Location: Clowne Derbyshire
 Outfit: Conway Countryman Folding Camper View flowerpower's Profile View Profile   Reply to flowerpower Reply   Quote flowerpower Quote  
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We've been using the same piece for about 3 years (albeit only for 2 weeks per year) and its done us well.

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Boootiful Norfolk <3



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