Has anyone heard/seen/used tarp tensioners made from a length of surgical tubing? Someone was telling me there is a video out there but I have been unable to find it.

Yes there is or at least there was, but can't find it now. Here are some pictures. Welcome to the site.

Tarp Tensioner

Go to www.hammockforums.com for many helpful pics and explanations on this topic. Simply do a search of "tarp tensioners". I've made my own, but from smaller bungie cord, not surgical tubing. It was easy really.
Hope this helps.

I usually connect shockcord off my tarp to regular guy-line (zing-it or whatever) and then put a prussik on that so I can just attach the prussik to my stake.

pvanvoor - WELCOME to the board!! With line tensioners, remember that if camping in winter temps, the cold does affect elasticity. Some folks have indicated that surgical tubing works better than other types over a wider temp range,

JRB also sells some made out of those exercise stretch bands.

O.k. I'm pretty handy myself, but I don't get it. How does this work? I am missing something...

Basically they keep tension on the tarp when it gets wet or in higher winds. The shock cord/tubing is set tensioned to the stake holding to tarp. As the sil-nylon gets wet it stretches. The tensioners begin to retract keeping the tarp tight. I hope I explained that right...

As stated the silnylon stretches when it gets wet. The line tensioners aren't really necessary for regular nylon since it does not stretch nearly as much.

I made my own line tensioners based on Jeff's. I did add a prusik loop to the line. I attach the prusik to the tarp with a NiteIze S Biner and attach the other end with the theraband loop to the stake. This allows me to adjust the tension on the line from under the tarp when it is raining. I used the green Theraband.

I tie my loops used in the prusik, so that they look like a bow tie. I then use one of the bow tie loops for the prusik and the other for the attachment point. I also loop the prusik back on itself, so that it stay cinched on the line. Lastly, I tie a stop knot on the end of the line. Maybe the pics will help.

ECp-there is loose extra cord curled up INSIDE the rubber tube. As the tube stretches the extra cord pulls tighter until it is completely taut.

Yes, it was the picture not forming in my brain. I got it now.

I'm just clever enough to figure out what the engineers do, never quite smart enough to think of it myself.

Just s simple loop of shock cord will do also. Cheap and easy, no need to over-complicate things.

quote KevinL: "Yes there is or at least there was, but can't find it now. Here are some pictures. Welcome to the site.


Tarp Tensioner "

Thank you for your response.

quote jcavenagh: "pvanvoor - WELCOME to the board!! With line tensioners, remember that if camping in winter temps, the cold does affect elasticity. Some folks have indicated that surgical tubing works better than other types over a wider temp range,"

Thank you, glad I found this place. It is an excellent room that combines hammocks and the BWCA.

quote The Lorax: "Just s simple loop of shock cord will do also. Cheap and easy, no need to over-complicate things."

I'm with you on the shock cord loop. Simple and effective.

I still know that I have seen video like what you are looking for, but I can't find it. Here is one on making with shock cord.

Tarp Tensioner

Here is a link to the surgical tarp tensioners Tarp Tesnioners.

As far as tensioners go you can do some cool stuff or you can just use a bungee. Whatever suits your taste. With most fabric tarps a tensioner will be useful. If you get a cuben fiber tarp the tensioner is unnecessary as that material does not stretch.