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 Topic: tarp for an all weather pitch
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08/7/2014 at 7:18am
Location: Leicestershire
Outfit: Karsten 380 Veranda
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Hi all
I am looking to buy a tarp to beef up the protection for my tents SIG, as we are planning to use an all weather pitch in August. A google search reveals there are loads of different thicknesses available, can anyone recommend what sort to go for. The PVC coated ones are very pricey, are they the only sought that will do the job?
Thanks
Jim
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08/7/2014 at 8:07am
Location: Derby.
Outfit: T6 Hi-Top & Karsten
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Ideally, they'd need to be waterproof, yes.
As for thickness, the thicker the better, I'd say, once you come off grass, and pitch on AWP's or Hardstandings. Or, of course, multiple thinner ones.
Main considerations would (should?) be weight and/or space in the motor, rather than budget.
It's very difficult for anyone to recommend a perfect solution, as it is very much dependant on the exact surface you are pitching on.
When we first went on a hardstanding, using one standard footprint (From Vango Icarus) it left a million tiny pinholes in the footprint. No damage to the SIG, I hasten to add, other than "dimples".
For that surface, I'd now put that same (pin-holed) footprint down first, then at least another footprint on top, if not two, before sitting my tent on it.
(The best I could describe it was stone and pitch (tar) all dry mixed, and rolled. Looks like messy/stoney tarmac, and breaks up a little when you peg into it. Can't think what it might be called!)
... CINDER TRACK? Is that it?
Personally, I'd call and discuss with the site first. It's not uncommon for them to offer to lend/hire such items, if it's a problem they've come up with before. And at the very least, they may just be happy to advise.
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08/7/2014 at 10:36am
Location: Devizes Wiltshire
Outfit: MWB2BVW2BCrafter2
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Mine is only a cheapo one that cost about 11 GBP including P & P in 2011, nominal size 3m x 4m, from the budget range at
Tarpulines Direct Budget Range
It is still going strong after a few years, and provides sufficient protection for my PVC ZIG, with no issues on an all weather pitch.
I have been advised to have some sort of protection against the furnitures digging into the ground, such as the plastic lids of Pringles.
I used plastic lids for pet food and most of the time they were fine, however, not when the ground was really soft e.g. soggy grass pitch, and they ended up broken.
Nowadays, I use mainly metal lids instead, with no reported issues.
Ideally the surface area of the tarp should be slightly less than the footprint of the groundsheet in order to minimise the risk of water ingress into the space between the tarp and groundsheet.
It bothers me whenever I see peeps using a tarp that is bigger than the footprint of their tents. When the weather is good it is fine, however, if the weather is wet, then they'll have 2 wet groundsheets to pack up!
Each to their own I suppose!
DK 
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08/7/2014 at 12:11pm
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I bought my tarpaulin off an ebay shop and it is quite a thick one. I can't now remember the name of the shop but I think I may have paid around £24 for one around 420 cm square, green on both sides. It folds up quite flat and easy to find a space in the car.
Just one tip when buying a tarpaulin...the actual size is often a few cm's short of the size stated because the size stated is before they hem and eye it.
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08/7/2014 at 12:28pm
Location: Scotland
Outfit: Nevada3 Evo 600DL Andorra Elzas
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Pond liner. Tbh we havent used it on an all weather pitch but nothing is going to push its way through.
Rainbowfairy, I will need to chevk out the tarp in Costco, never thought to look for that in there, so thanks.
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08/7/2014 at 7:46pm
Location: Leicestershire
Outfit: Karsten 380 Veranda
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thanks everyone for the suggestions, the pond liner is something I had not thought of. We already have the Outwell footprint for the tent (got it for free), but that only really serves to keep the bottom of the tent clean, I suspect a hard standing would cover it with little holes as Mucker found. Could put the pond liner down with no need for eyelets and peg the Outwell sheet over the top. Quality wise I think it needs to be something like the zig of a Bear Lake 6 if anyone has seen one of them, either plastic coated or rubberised. Space and weight is not a problem as we use a trailer.
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