Looking for advice on guying tarps.

[ged]

I have a couple of tarpaulins which were originally used in marquees. Very heavy duty PVC coated nylon.

The edges are finished by fixing a cord about 8mm diameter to the tarp, and then gluing to both the rope and the tarp, along the whole length of the tarp, a strip of heavy woven nylon fabric about four inches wide.

So the rope and a couple of inches of tarp are encased in this heavy fabric. You can slide it into an extrusion which has a narrow slot in it and the extrusion will hold it fast in anything short of a hurricane. They do something similar on caravan awnings.

So to my question. I'd really like to find some sections of extrusion, or maybe something like a really heavy duty foldback clip, so that I can attach guy lines to the edges of these tarps at intervals. Otherwise I'll be punching holes in them to thread cords through and I really don't want to do that.

I haven't been able to find anything which quite fits the bill, but I feel sure that I can't be the first person to look.

Is there a name for what I've described?

 

[Broch]

Have you considered something like these? or the screw versions?
I've used them in quite windy conditions. I normally roll the tarp corner around a small twig to improve clamping so your rope would be ideal - you may have to search out some that have a larger 'mouth' though but at the price it may be worth just trying.

12 PCS Heavy Duty Tarpaulin Clips Set, Tarp Clamps with Crocodile Mouth Design – Durable Plastic Tent Clips for Camping, Boat Covers, Awnings, Shade Cloth, and Outdoor Use : Amazon.co.uk: Sports & Outdoors

12 PCS Heavy Duty Tarpaulin Clips Set, Tarp Clamps with Crocodile Mouth Design – Durable Plastic Tent Clips for Camping, Boat Covers, Awnings, Shade Cloth, and Outdoor Use : Amazon.co.uk: Sports & Outdoors

amzn.eu

 

[John Fenna]

Have you considered something like these? or the screw versions?
I've used them in quite windy conditions. I normally roll the tarp corner around a small twig to improve clamping so your rope would be ideal - you may have to search out some that have a larger 'mouth' though but at the price it may be worth just trying.

12 PCS Heavy Duty Tarpaulin Clips Set, Tarp Clamps with Crocodile Mouth Design – Durable Plastic Tent Clips for Camping, Boat Covers, Awnings, Shade Cloth, and Outdoor Use : Amazon.co.uk: Sports & Outdoors

12 PCS Heavy Duty Tarpaulin Clips Set, Tarp Clamps with Crocodile Mouth Design – Durable Plastic Tent Clips for Camping, Boat Covers, Awnings, Shade Cloth, and Outdoor Use : Amazon.co.uk: Sports & Outdoors

amzn.eu

That would be my suggestion also ...

 

[crlthrn]

I second the tarp clips suggested, and would add that you might consider using (in your particular case) stout bungee cord as tie downs. They'll stretch and lessen the eventuality of anything pulling or tearing out catastrophically. Moored boats and yachts use this concept to soften and ameliorate the sudden pull when a gust of wind occurs. I use a slimmer bungee cords to peg my hammock's tarp out.

 

[ged]

Thanks all!

They look a bit too small for the very heavy tarps, but at that price definitely worth a punt - even if they don't do this job I'm sure I'll find a use for them.

Keep those ideas coming!

 

[Toddy]

Those look like the clips that Market Traders use for the tarps that cover the roof and back of their stalls. They take a lot of bad weather and hold fine.

Failing that, I can attest that the self punching eyelet sets work well, especially if the tarp has ripstop lines through it.

M

 

[Bhod]

Holdon clips, I've used them many times on various tarps, absolutely brilliant.

Holdon

We are dedicated to the manufacture of our unique Holdon® Clips, designed to replace eyelets and offer instant alternative fixing points on any flexible material - by hand without the need of traditional eyelets /grommets, hemming, hole punching or any tool usage.

www.tamarackoutdoors.co.uk

 

[ged]

Thanks again all.

Toddy, as I said in my OP I don't want to punch holes. I have used and still do use eyelets on these tarps but they're what I'd call high maintenance and obviously once they're fitted permanent, so the leak that you've made is permanent too and thesedays the job is frequently temporary.

Bhod, the holdon clips look at least as good as the tarp clips mentioned by Broch, maybe stronger but if anything they look smaller. They claim anything up to 5mm for the 'Midi' which won't fit over the ~8mm+2mm rope+webbing bonded to my tarps. I've struggled with their Website with two different browsers, but failed to find anything bigger than the 'Midi'. I'm sure it's the right sort of idea though.

 

[crosslandkelly]

Sounds like you need short sections of "Rope Rail" channels. Try Here. https://kederextrusions.com/collections
No connection, but have used their products in the past.

 

[ged]

Sounds like you need short sections of "Rope Rail" channels. ...

That's it! Rope Rail. Never heard that term before but that's exactly what I'm looking for.

Thank you!

 

[Broch]

In caravan suppliers it's called awning rail. The only problem I had with the stuff is you have to feed it on at the end and can't just add a tie-down in the middle easily.

For an awning I put up on the 110, I drilled a hole through the piece of rail, then countersunk the hole in the channel, and used a countersunk bolt to attach to an eye-nut such as these. It works well.

Amazon.co.uk