When camping with a tent it is a very good idea to utilise a ground cloth to assist in protecting your tent. Most current design tents utilise a heavy material for the base of the tent. The heavy material is water-resistant to help forestall water from coming into the tent. An additional layer of a tarp is a thin but awfully useful barrier that helps to separate the bottom of your tent floor from ground. However , a tarpaulin will do little to stop a sharp object from poking thru the tarp or tent floor. Always clear away sharpened rocks and sticks when you preparing your camp area.
Tarpaulins will take the brunt of any minor tent-floor scratch caused by you moving within your tent. Your tentbase will last longer if you add a layer of protection under the tent floor. When using a tarpaulin as a ground cover there are a few straightforward rules to remember to get the best use out of your tarpaulin ground cover.
Your ground cover should be smaller than the floor of your tent. You do not want the tarpaulin to increase past the sides of the tent. If it rains, water will run off the rain fly and hit the tarpaulin or the rain will simply hit the tarp. The water would then go on top of the tarpaulin and under your tent. The water could finally work its way up thru the base of your tent, particularly if you happen to have a tent which has stitched seams in the base.
If your tarpaulin is larger than the bottom of your tent fold the tarpaulin back and under the tent so no part of the tarpaulin goes from under the tent. Do not forget to lay the tarpaulin flat so there are no bumps or raised areas that may act as a wear point on the tent floor.
If you are using a tarp with grommets, take away the grommets. The grommet is a hard point which will wear away at the tent base especially if the grommet occurs near a high traffic area,eg the doorway.
The other advantages to camping with a tarp as a ground cover are when you break camp, a ground material offers you a clean surface where you can fold and roll your tent. Most ground-level condensation that forms overnight sticks to the tarp not the tent. This helps keep your tent dry and safe from mould; you can live with a little moisture on your inexpensive tarp.
Happy Camping!
Tarpaulins will take the brunt of any minor tent-floor scratch caused by you moving within your tent. Your tentbase will last longer if you add a layer of protection under the tent floor. When using a tarpaulin as a ground cover there are a few straightforward rules to remember to get the best use out of your tarpaulin ground cover.
Your ground cover should be smaller than the floor of your tent. You do not want the tarpaulin to increase past the sides of the tent. If it rains, water will run off the rain fly and hit the tarpaulin or the rain will simply hit the tarp. The water would then go on top of the tarpaulin and under your tent. The water could finally work its way up thru the base of your tent, particularly if you happen to have a tent which has stitched seams in the base.
If your tarpaulin is larger than the bottom of your tent fold the tarpaulin back and under the tent so no part of the tarpaulin goes from under the tent. Do not forget to lay the tarpaulin flat so there are no bumps or raised areas that may act as a wear point on the tent floor.
If you are using a tarp with grommets, take away the grommets. The grommet is a hard point which will wear away at the tent base especially if the grommet occurs near a high traffic area,eg the doorway.
The other advantages to camping with a tarp as a ground cover are when you break camp, a ground material offers you a clean surface where you can fold and roll your tent. Most ground-level condensation that forms overnight sticks to the tarp not the tent. This helps keep your tent dry and safe from mould; you can live with a little moisture on your inexpensive tarp.
Happy Camping!
About the Author:
About the Writer Bob Langdale has been a camping fan his whole life. On his web site he has more articles to give ideas on camping and camping tarps. His internet site is meant to help both newbies at camping and those with more experience set on learning new tricks.
