I have a CCS Ridgeline bag for my CCS 10 x 10 tarp and am wondering what length of ridgeline and what lengths of guy lines you all set it up with.

Also, if there are any other tips available for setting this system up.

Thanks,

Pack Rat

Hi Pack Rat,

Have you seen this video?

-rdg

Hi rdg,

Yes, it is excellent with great info thanks for sharing it though... I watched it again. I guess my question should have been is there any need for a ridgeline longer than the 80 ft that come with the bag? Any suggestions on the length of the six guy lines shown in the video?

First, for setting up my 10x12 pre-strung on a ridgeline with attached guyouts: Attach one end to tree with Siberian Hitch, attach opposite end to tree, position tarp on ridgeline, tie out/stake down four corners and middle of sides. This way can be done solo fairly easily and quickly even if windy.

Length of ridgeline needed varies and length of tie outs varies based on setup - flat, A-frame, other - depending on conditions, site, personal preference. If longer than needed you have to deal with a lot of extra "tail" and if shorter you'll have to attach additional length. I think there is a lot of individual variance and many have probably changed during process of using. I think my ridgeline is 40-50' and tie outs are 10-20' feet with some additional lengths of cordage if needed. You'll eventually discover yours. Note - the longer the ridgeline, the more sag. Eighty feet would be really long . . .

Start with the longest you think you'll need/want generally for ridgeline and tie outs and shorten as needed. Keep the extra for additional.

I used that video as a basis for my setup. I used the Dutchware Ridgeline that is 50' of Zing-It, a small hook, and wasp tensioner along with prusik loops at each end. I also have some NAMA Claws alternative to the prusiks, but they're a little finicky. Using 8' of paracord at all the guy line locations pre-attached like the video with figure-9's at each for tensioning. I'm using a regular stuff sack for the tarp with the brass eyelet added. Would probably consider something like the Dutchware two-sided stuff sack as an alternative.

Overall it has all worked well enough so far. Always have a wad of paracord or zing it to add more length if needed.

You are going to absolutely love that tarp. Personally, I use a continuous ridgeline that is 40' feet long. I can always add cordage to it if needed based on conditions in the field, but this is rarely necessary. My corners each have 20' hanks of CCS reflective cordage and these never come off the tarp. I carry an additional 160' of CCS cordage in 20' hanks that can be used to extend the corner tie-outs or attach to the side tie-outs proper. The three knots that I find really helpful for tarp setup are the truckers hitch, the bowline and the prussik loop.

unshavenman: "You are going to absolutely love that tarp. Personally, I use a continuous ridgeline that is 40' feet long. I can always add cordage to it if needed based on conditions in the field, but this is rarely necessary. My corners each have 20' hanks of CCS reflective cordage and these never come off the tarp. I carry an additional 160' of CCS cordage in 20' hanks that can be used to extend the corner tie-outs or attach the the side tie-outs proper. The three knots that I find really helpful for tarp setup are the truckers hitch, the bowline and the prussik loop. "

Almost exactly my setup - both the permanently attached pieces, and my stash of additional cordage.

Pretty similar to what others use. My ridgeline is 75 feet of amsteel blue, attached first with a Siberian hitch and then a tuckers hitch on the other end. Every year I think about dropping the ridgeline down to 50 feet, which I think would be plenty. I use 20 foot guylines and have found that works better in most sites than 12-15 feet, which was what I started with. I tie the guylines with truckers hitches as well.

Last year was my first with a tarp (CCS 10x12), and I just have the original bag, not the nice ridgeline bag. My setup was heavily influenced by that video though, and I never had any trouble getting the tarp up in the BWCA or in camping trips.

I set up a 50' ridgeline with the CCS yellow cord, leaving out the end loops and adding prusiks on both sides, as was in the video. I bought a 180' spool of red zing-it and made 6 20' guylines and attached them around the tarp, using the hair tie trick from the video. The difference in color makes it easy to isolate the right rope when starting to set up. There were a couple occasions when the 20' lines wouldn't all reach to anything useful, but I don't normally tie all 6 down anyway, and could always get enough to shape the tarp in a way that would direct water in good directions.

In case I ever need more length, I keep the spare zing-it (cut into 10/20/30' lengths) and CCS cord (25') in the bag, except for whichever length is in my pocket for emergencies or attached to the canoe for lining. I also have some cheapo tent stakes from amazon in the bag. They served me well enough and weigh very little.

I use a 10' x 14' and 50' of amsteel 3/16" diameter ridgeline. I use the CCS yellow guy line ropes in 20' lengths for the corners with a hair tie looped onto the guy-out loops for managing the rope when packing it up. I carry extra rope in case I need to extend one of those corners. I use some shorter ones in the middle of the longer sides in the event I set up an A-frame pitch.

Timely question for me as I am just finishing sewing a new 10x12 tarp today and will be cutting my new lines tonight or tomorrow. For my last tarp - 10x10 - I started with 80' of the yellow CSS cord but found that way too long almost all of the time. I think I cut it down to 50' and that worked well. I would typically carry the other 30' section as a utility cord for drying clothes or airing sleeping bags or such. Boonie mentioned that if you go longer you may have problems with sag. I'll add to that that in winds, the longer your lines the more flutter you will get.

For the tie outs, I use green REI utility cord typically cut into 10-12' sections and normally have 4 on each side. This length will reach whatever tree or tent stake I am going for 90% of the time. I also carry about 3-4 10 foot "extensions" in case I just can't quite reach that tree. Seems like most set ups that is about 1 of the 8 tie outs. I'll add extra tie outs to have 5 on each side if a storm is likely, but most of the time 3-4 is enough.

These lengths have worked well for me for years. I'd much rather tie on an extension here or there rather than have to pull 10-15 feet of extra tail through a taughtline hitch every time I tie it (or whatever knot I am tying).
Tying the occasional square knot extension is fast.

BTY, I intentionally use different colors for the tie outs to make it easier to visually distinguish them when setting up. Good luck with your new tarp - you will love it.