Ensuring that your tarp is secure is critical not only for what you are protecting but also for ensuring the longevity of the tarp. If the tarp is not secured correctly, it will result in the tarp’s movement. This movement can create weak spots around the tarp and eyelets, eventually resulting in damage/tearing of the tarp. If this occurs, it will expose the items that the tarp was protecting and result in damage to those items.
We cannot stress the importance of securing tarps correctly enough. Poorly secured tarps can severely damage personnel around the tarp and the items being covered or protected by the tarp.
What are the options?
You can use a few different options to secure your tarp correctly. We will discuss the three most popular ways to secure a tarp.
Rope
One of the most popular ways to secure your tarp is using a rope. While it may seem simple to use a rope to tie down or secure your tarp, there are some things you should consider. First, you must use all of the eyelets. While this may take a little longer to do, it is worth the effort – trust us. Thread the rope through each eyelet to evenly distribute the load of the wind across the tarp.
Second, you must always put ropes across the top of the tarp. This can be done in a criss-cross fashion going from one eyelet to the opposite eyelet, or you can put ropes over the belly of the tarp.
ARK Tarps supply rope as well! Check it out here.
Check out our blog about “5 knots you should know how to tie” to help with rope knots!
Springs
Springs are great to use on tarps when you are leaving something covered for an extended period. Once the rope is attached to the eyelets, we recommend connecting the spring to the rope and then to the mounting point. We don’t recommend hooking the spring directly to the eyelet as it can put strain on the eyelets and can result in damage.
Springs are also a good option because they enable the tarp to lift slightly when the wind gets under the tarp and then move it back into position. While springs are great to hook the eyelets down, you still need to put ropes across the top of the tarp to prevent it from becoming a mini parachute against solid winds and taking off! Springs can only hold on for so long – ultimately, either the eyelet will pop off, or the spring will come loose if there is no rope across the top of the tarp holding it in place against strong winds.
Pegs and Bolts
Screw pegs, metal pegs, and bolts are all great options to secure your tarp properly. Essentially with pegs or bolts, what you want to ensure is that they fit through the eyelet. You would end up hammering or drilling the peg to the ground through the eyelet of the tarp, which keeps the tarp in place.
Once again, it would be best if you put a peg or bolt in each eyelet. Don’t be lazy and think she’d be alright, mate – She will most certainly not be alright. Once you have pegged down or bolted each eyelet, you must put ropes across the top of the tarp to hold it in place against strong winds.
As you can see, there are different ways to secure your tarp and ensure that it lasts you for a long time. Two things to always keep in mind are – 1. Engage all the eyelets to distribute the pressure on the tarp and 2. Put ropes across the top of the tarp to keep it in place and prevent it from becoming a mini parachute against the wind!
With ARK Tarps you don’t have to worry about peeling/cracking, UV damage, or the tarp losing its waterproofing. All you have to worry about is securing the tarp correctly.
Our tarps are made to last and will not peel/crack or lose their waterproofing due to UV exposure and will remain 100% waterproof for the life of the tarp!
Check out our tarp range here!
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