Whether it's your first Bonnaroo or you’re a music festival veteran, we welcome you to Inforoo.
Here you'll find info about artists, rumors, camping tips, and the infamous Roo Clues. Have a look around then create an account and join in the fun. See you at Bonnaroo!!
A heavy tarp will only trap heat if you restrict air flow. As long as there is some breeze (likely) you'll be okay. Of course the lighter colors (or reflective) should be cooler.
The thing is how to attach tarps and what to attach to. You can attach to the vehicle (drape over car and shut in the doors) but the other corner could pose a problem.
I always use wire tie (aka zip ties) to attach but duct tape can also work.
Post by macaroniandtuna on Apr 28, 2007 17:06:24 GMT -5
Personally, I wouldn't recommend sleeping in your car even with a tarp, unless you wake up every morning before the sun comes up. I think it's too risky; if somehow the tarp comes unattached and doesn't shade the car anymore, you'll roast as you sleep, way more than in a tent even; the interior of the car might become dangerously hot, and quickly too. Even with a shade tarp I'm not sure the inside of the car would stay cool (cool being a relative term in TN summer heat), unless you have all the windows down all the way (in which case your stuff can get stolen, if you keep any valuables in your car). Overall, it'd be too much risk and hassle for me, I'd just as soon sleep on the bare ground (which some people do, mind you - there's no problem there, and if it rains, you've got your tarp, so you're fine ).
That said, a canopy is better than a tarp simply because it has a frame. Airflow is imperative; you can't have the tarp pressed right up against whatever it's covering or else it won't do any good at all. There has to be a few inches of airspace between the tarp and whatever it's covering (the car, you, a tent, whatever). And yes, lighter colors or reflective stuff will make it block the sun better.
I agree with mac. Do not use a tarp to cover car unless there is airspace. Without a foot or so it's useless. I was thinking of using the tarp for shade OUTSIDE the car.
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You can sleep in the car but leave the windows all the way down for a breeze.
Last Edit: Apr 28, 2007 17:19:25 GMT -5 by troo - Back to Top
Shi.... Water Flows down, payday's on thursday. if you have to have a lean on your tarp, have it lean toward East, so when the sun rises, it wont shine on you. (you'll be going to bed at night so it doesnt matter where it leans then. . A line tied from a tall post, Friends Tent, Car. about 8 feet across to the ground. can have a tarp draped over and hammerd down, you'll have a little Pitch tent looking thing.
Zip ties work wonders, (be sure to get a tarp with RIVETS (rivots?) on the ends, if not, you're boned!. Shoe laces work well too.
It's also a good idea to make sure it drains to the dowhill side of your camp so the runoff from a storm won't run back into your site. Also, if you use your car doors to hold a side make sure water doesn't leak into the car.
Post by oatmealschnappz on Apr 28, 2007 22:02:30 GMT -5
^Great advice! Last year, we just used the hard plastic stakes that came with our tent. They quickly bent and broke in two as I tried to hammer them into the hard, rocky surface of our unfortunate campsite. And the wind can get pretty bad at times, despite the weather.
Last Edit: Apr 28, 2007 22:03:02 GMT -5 by oatmealschnappz - Back to Top
Krogers had this 10x10 for $30. I've had one and used it for several years. I seen them a Big lots for $20 at times. (Make sure they're the one with the plastic going down the legs for stability.)
Last Edit: Apr 29, 2007 7:27:06 GMT -5 by troo - Back to Top
Ok now I'm starting to get screwed up. How much space you do really have! Thats a huge canopy (The white one) and we are going with another couple. We planned on separate tents of course and did want a shade tent. Can we fit all that on our space?
Each vehicle will have at least 10x10 (officially). In the 4 Roos I've been to I've had no less than 10x15 and as much as 20x30. The further out you get (BFE) the more room you get generally.
A 10x20 canopy can work even in a small site if you cover part of your vehicle or share with neighbors. Of course, if your bringing 2 cars your okay too.
So in other words, you really have to jam two tents together tight! 10x10 isn't much room at all. Ahhh I'm not going to worry about tent space. I figure if I can't set up the canopy, then so be it. You gave me a great idea though, I'm going to shop for the canopy in the States when we cross the border. Much much cheaper in the states to buy one of those things! Up here they are 50 normally.
I'd plan on having about 15x20 per car. Could be less, could be more. This is how I typically set up my site. I sleep in a hammock and only set up a small tent to store stuff.
Last Edit: Apr 29, 2007 9:14:39 GMT -5 by troo - Back to Top
I got lucky this year. I won an ebay auction this winter for a huge lot of silver tarps (about 50lbs. of them) and they were about 20 miles away so I picked them up (no shipping). All in all cost me about $12. I still haven't unfolded them all but they are all sizes and some are huge (20x30). Ebay is great.
Post by masshysteria on May 5, 2007 20:45:36 GMT -5
All right, I have heard a lot of people putting the tarp underneath the actual tent. My question is what does this do to help, and are there any other tarp secrets out there?
"That's the big thing about education. People can be book smart, but not really intelligent about anything else. A lot of times they just taking in all this information and regurgitate it. It's much more important to process it and personalize it. To apply it to your world, to your life. You have to walk the walk, or you can't really report about it honestly."
Tarp under the tent helps keep water out if it rains HARD and the ground gets saturated. I rarely do it. If I expect that much rain I'll dig a trench around my tent.
All the tips I can think of are in this thread already.
Last Edit: May 5, 2007 21:06:59 GMT -5 by troo - Back to Top
alyroo
Bonnafunky Dirtyroo Princess of Blinkytown and moonpie expert
...and one more thing. remember that water will puddle on top of your tarp if it rains. Make sure you have a point on top. House roofs are shaped that way for a reason.
I'm not sure now if I'm going to have time for a flag but I am goint o purchase some huge tarps to cover between our tent and our friends tent who are travelling with us. If Roo wants you to carpool into Roo, then why do they only limit your space to a small 10 x 10 (Official size of course!!)
We wanted to bring a couple of 4 man tents and a canopy thinggie but I think we are saying "NAY" to the canopy
Post by electraonyx on May 6, 2007 19:29:18 GMT -5
Does anyone have some good tips on knots to use when tying down canopies, tarps etc. And which kind of rope is the best to use. Thanks for all the good tips everyone.
Obviously use the best rope you can afford. No need to get expensive rope but twine or kite string won't hold if a storm comes. I decent nylon rope should work. You can but it anywhere (Lowes, Walmart, local hardware.) Buy 50-100'
I good place to see video on knots is listed below. I always use the simple half hitch and repeat it several times. It holds anything. Other knots also demonstrated.
Post by electraonyx on May 6, 2007 20:25:53 GMT -5
I knew I could count on you Troo. I was thinking about a bowline on at least one end and then maybe rolling hitches on the other? I'm going to check out the website...I'm a former sailor and I love me some knots. Favorite knots: flying bowline and highman's cut-away
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