I just bought my first CCS tarp, a 1.1 oz 10x14, which comes with its 80 feet of cordage.

I have done some searches on this forum for recommended lengths to use for both ridgeline and corner tie-outs. It seems like 50 feet is the average consensus for the ridgeline. DanCooke himself says that's the length he uses, so that probably should be good enough for me... And, it appears that there was some agreement on around 20 feet at the corners, but don't recall if some felt a lot more could be needed.

I did get some additional CCS cordage but wondered how much to anticipate using, especially if I would want to also tie-out at the midpoints on each long side. Seems like I could wind up wanting up to 3 lengths of Dan's rope. Of course, more is probably better in this case anyway.

Thoughts?

Rope configurations are endless, pack space is not! :)

I use the standard 50' for a ridgeline and I bring two just in case. I like 10' to 12' for the four corners. I bring a bunch of 6' to 8' lengths to put around as needed. The cordage for CCS works great and is what I prefer.

No matter the length, you will find yourself short occasionally.

Make sure you have a way to keep your ropes neat when packing.

No matter which way you do it, sometimes they'll be too long, and you'll have a long tail to mess with; sometimes they'll be too short, and you'll need to add some, or move it which may be less suitable. I still don't know which length is perfect. :)

I'm sure that's not much help, but think back over the sites you've stayed, and options. If you have options around home, you can try it out. I have 20 on the sides, but thinking of shortening them and carrying the extra to add, but worse trying to add them in the rain than dealing with what's there . . . ? I don't remember how long the ridgeline is, but it's at least 50.

Did you get the ridgeline stuff sack?

I like the 50 and 20 foot lengths, but will double up on each piece. 2 50 foot 8 20 foot.
Always extra use for cordage, and adding line together is easy for extra long stretches.

butthead

I have the same tarp. Last year used a 80 ft amsteel ridgeline. Cut it to 50 ft last week. Will keep the 30 ft section in the bag just in case. FYI I cut the cordage up that came with the tarp into 6 equal lengths for use as guylines for the corners and mid loops.

boonie: "Did you get the ridgeline stuff sack? "

Yes. I've been admiring the advantages for a long while. I look forward to having it rigged that way in the next stiff breeze.

Perhaps this is where I bring up another stupid question. (One that may become more obvious when readying things for the first time...) What's with the two separate draw corded sections to the ridgeline bag? The deeper one for the tarp and the near one for the ridgeline cordage? I may have answered it myself: while playing a bit with the slipperiness of the silnylon, I'd guess that having the stuffed tarp closed off would be a big advantage while wrapping up the ridgeline and getting that stored away.

butthead: "I like the 50 and 20 foot lengths, but will double up on each piece. 2 50 foot 8 20 foot.
Always extra use for cordage, and adding line together is easy for extra long stretches.


butthead"

I like the way you think. I'm convinced. I actually have four CCS 80 ft lengths now (like I said, I have been considering this for a long time...), so I have plenty to make such a plan work:

Regular yellow for 50 ft ridgeline + extras
80 -> 50 + 20 + 10 ft
80 -> 50 + 20 + 10 ft

Reflective yellow for 20 ft corners/sides + extras
80 -> 20 + 20 + 20 + 20 ft
80 -> 20 + 20 + 20 + 20 ft

The ridgeline set up with the stuff sack simplifies it the wind, especially when doing it solo. The extra on the stuff sack makes it easier to stuff, and that's the way I do the cordage. I actually hung mine from the ridgeline with small biners and hung the two end ones from prusiks. You probably have already come across that. Once I learned the Siberian Hitch, I like it for anchoring the end. It goes on pretty easily, holds tight, and comes apart with an easy pull.

schweady: "

boonie: "Did you get the ridgeline stuff sack? "

Yes. I've been admiring the advantages for a long while. I look forward to having it rigged that way in the next stiff breeze.


Perhaps this is where I bring up another stupid question. (One that may become more obvious when readying things for the first time...) What's with the two separate draw corded sections to the ridgeline bag? The deeper one for the tarp and the near one for the ridgeline cordage? I may have answered it myself: while playing a bit with the slipperiness of the silnylon, I'd guess that having the stuffed tarp closed off would be a big advantage while wrapping up the ridgeline and getting that stored away.
"

You’ve answered it yourself. But I’d add that it also helps when setting the ridgeline up as well. The tarp never needs to touch the ground.

plander: "The tarp never needs to touch the ground. "

Right. I should have said, "I look forward to not being lifted into the air while trying to handle it in a stiff breeze." Actually happened once, trying to control a Guide Gear tarp and miles of paracord while taking it down in a gale. I wound up just wadding it up as best I could and tossing it into the car... :-)

"Give a man enough rope and it will still come out 6 inches too short. That is the nature of rope, if not the nature of man." Pat McManus in "Tying One On", September 1987.

McManus Quotes

Our paddling trips always have a Patrick McManus book among the gear...

TZ

schweady: "

plander: "The tarp never needs to touch the ground. "

Right. I should have said, "I look forward to not being lifted into the air while trying to handle it in a stiff breeze." Actually happened once, trying to control a Guide Gear tarp and miles of paracord while taking it down in a gale. I wound up just wadding it up as best I could and tossing it into the car... :-)
"

:) Thanks, I look backward to something I no longer have to do. Soon you will too.

I actually set up my CCS tarp using just the cordage Dan sent with it. Yes, that means I often come up short. However, I carry a small bag with 10 foot lengths of cordage that can be added when I need it. I like this system because most of the time I can get by without extra length on at least half the tie-off spots. So managing the permanently mounted cordage on the tarp is quicker and easier.

I've got 80' for the ridgeline and 20' on each corner, extra in the CCS Ridgeline bag as well.

I travel with a 60' ridgeline and 20' of reflective cord on each corner. I also bring an additional 160' of cordage in 20' hanks that allow me to extend my lines accordingly. It's all CCS cordage.

I travel with a 60' ridgeline and 20' of reflective cord on each corner. I also bring an additional 160' of cordage in 20' hanks that allow me to extend my lines accordingly. It's all CCS cordage.

.

I bring a stuff sack that’s about the same size as my tarp stuff sack. I fill that with as much cordage as i can, from the 80’ that comes with the CCS to >50’ lengths of various diameters of cord from 4-6mm. Several shorter lengths from times i’ve cut to fit. The lengths and amounts needed vary so much from site to site and are unpredictable. The ridgeline trees might be 60’ apart. So i figure better to bring too much than too little.
Help me, i can’t ...stop.....buying...rope!

You will need less for some configurations too, like an "A" with the sides down close to the ground. There are a lot of variables and the more cordage, the more flexibility.

I'm sure most have seen this but just in case.... below is the link to the video reviewing the CCS Ridgline stuff sack. A complete set up and take down is demonstrated, etc.

CCS Ridgeline Stuff Sack Video

YetiJedi: "Rope configurations are endless, pack space is not! :)

I use the standard 50' for a ridgeline and I bring two just in case. I like 10' to 12' for the four corners. I bring a bunch of 6' to 8' lengths to put around as needed. The cordage for CCS works great and is what I prefer."

This is right about where I am too. About 50' ridgeline and about 12' for corners. In addition to the corners, I have cords on 2 of the 3 other tie out loops in between. The corners and middle are usually enough, but I'll tie out a 4th or maybe 5th if the wind is bad. I also keep 2-3 10 foot "extensions in my cargo pocket in case I can not reach. I'd rather have to add an extension on one or two places than always deal with a lot of excess - just my preference.

One additional thing I do differently is I use Dan's cord for the ridgeline, but green REI utility cord for the sides. Its not that I like the cord any better, but having different colors helps me grab the right bundle fast when setting up.

Jaywalker: "

YetiJedi: "Rope configurations are endless, pack space is not! :)


I use the standard 50' for a ridgeline and I bring two just in case. I like 10' to 12' for the four corners. I bring a bunch of 6' to 8' lengths to put around as needed. The cordage for CCS works great and is what I prefer."

This is right about where I am too. About 50' ridgeline and about 12' for corners. In addition to the corners, I have cords on 2 of the 3 other tie out loops in between. The corners and middle are usually enough, but I'll tie out a 4th or maybe 5th if the wind is bad. I also keep 2-3 10 foot "extensions in my cargo pocket in case I can not reach. I'd rather have to add an extension on one or two places than always deal with a lot of excess - just my preference.


One additional thing I do differently is I use Dan's cord for the ridgeline, but green REI utility cord for the sides. Its not that I like the cord any better, but having different colors helps me grab the right bundle fast when setting up. "

Good tip, Jaywalker...going to switch my side cords now! :)

Jaywalker: "One additional thing I do differently is I use Dan's cord for the ridgeline, but green REI utility cord for the sides. Its not that I like the cord any better, but having different colors helps me grab the right bundle fast when setting up. "

Seems to me (especially if you are using the ridgeline bag) that you'd already have that line running through the tarp's loops. Also, are you knotting or clipping your corner and side loops each time, and detaching when stowing away? Seems like leaving these attached and bundled with an elastic tie would be more time-efficient.

schweady: "

Jaywalker: "One additional thing I do differently is I use Dan's cord for the ridgeline, but green REI utility cord for the sides. Its not that I like the cord any better, but having different colors helps me grab the right bundle fast when setting up. "

Seems to me (especially if you are using the ridgeline bag) that you'd already have that line running through the tarp's loops. Also, are you knotting or clipping your corner and side loops each time, and detaching when stowing away? Seems like leaving these attached and bundled with an elastic tie would be more time-efficient.
"

Yeah, I leave my ridgeline and corner lines on the tarp and stow it that way. I wouldn't want the hassle of rigging it every time I deployed it.

I keep mine pre-rigged with the ridgeline and the sides - corners and middle - and either secure with "hair thingies" or figure 8 them. I usually have a couple of extra stakes too.

schweady: "

Jaywalker: "One additional thing I do differently is I use Dan's cord for the ridgeline, but green REI utility cord for the sides. Its not that I like the cord any better, but having different colors helps me grab the right bundle fast when setting up. "

Seems to me (especially if you are using the ridgeline bag) that you'd already have that line running through the tarp's loops. Also, are you knotting or clipping your corner and side loops each time, and detaching when stowing away? Seems like leaving these attached and bundled with an elastic tie would be more time-efficient.
"

Oh I definitely leave it rigged with corners and ridge line in place, it’s just that I sometimes move or add some of the extra lines on the side. When I put it away I bundle the cords doing figure 8s, wrap, and tie a slip knot so it’s super fast to undo. I can typically have my tarp up in about 60 seconds in rainy situations.

I do leave my ridgeline through I think 5 loops on the tarp, but not through the 2 loops on the edge. There I have a short 24 inch line (yet another color by the way) with a prusik attached to the ridgeline. This allows the edge to be pulled down slightly, which I believe makes it better at shedding wind.

I do not have a ridge line stuff sack. I know a lot of people love them, but I like having my stuff bag stay dry so if I put my tarp away wet my stuff sack (silnylon) holds all the moisture inside when in my pack.

Having the different colors just makes it super fast to spot which bundle of cord to grab when setting up.

HowardSprague: "I bring a stuff sack that’s about the same size as my tarp stuff sack. I fill that with as much cordage as i can, from the 80’ that comes with the CCS to >50’ lengths of various diameters of cord from 4-6mm. Several shorter lengths from times i’ve cut to fit. The lengths and amounts needed vary so much from site to site and are unpredictable. The ridgeline trees might be 60’ apart. So i figure better to bring too much than too little.
Help me, i can’t ...stop.....buying...rope!
"

Absolutely. I really think there's no way to come up with some perfect scenario.
Many times I pitch my tarp as an A-tent over my hammock. In that case the sides are down 12" -16" off the ground. The guy lines are very short. So I have a dedicated set of light reflective yellow guylines...about 4' each, pre-rigged to stakes and Nite-Ize Figure-9 caribineers. Then some odd small bits and carabineers to close up "doors " on the ends and a couple lengths to tie up to tree for panel-pull-outs.

But if I rig for hangout/picnic table cover, that's going to be way different. Often times those corners need to go out 30 or 40 feet! and the ridge needs to be pretty heavy duty to avoid sagging.

So I have a whole assortment of stuff in a ditty-bag. I'm monitoring how I use it and hopefully by next year I will have a decent idea of what is enough and what is really extra.
There are so many different conditions that it's hard to be prepared for everything. I guess if I had to plan it all out...Id have a 50-75 foot ridgeline, half dozen 6' and half dozen 12' with bowline on one end. And a bunch of lighter 24"-48" for misc. And I'd probably keep a full 100' hank of 550 paracord just in case.

Then you can gang them together if needed via loop to loop. two 12 footers...or a 12 and a 6....etc, as needed. Invariably you need to get to a tree 55' away....so the 100' paracord would work. Or you start to come up with solutions like a branch/stick "tent pole" and guy to ground close by. This is what I do when I want to get my A-tent tarp over the hammock into "porch mode" by lifting one side up.