When going outdoors, you don’t always have to count on good weather. An ordinary tent can protect from rain and sun, but it will not save the barbecue grill and the entire surrounding area from it. A tarpaulin canopy will best cope with this task. To simplify installation, we suggest using the following solution.
We stretch one rope with two 30-centimeter loops for fastening the canvas between two trees at a height of 3–4 meters. We throw the tarpaulin over it, unfolding it diagonally. We secure two opposite hanging corners with braces. Installing such a canopy will take no more than 10 minutes.
Benefits of the solution
The main advantage is the maximum simplicity of design and the possibility of quick installation. But this is not all the advantages of the solution; we note some of them:
- You only need 3 ropes and a tarpaulin of any size.
- The gable shape does not create conditions for the accumulation of water, which drains at only two points.
- Possibility of using panels of any size, including large ones.
At the same time, you do not clutter the area with pillars, which makes it more convenient for relaxation.
How to make such a canopy on the beach
In this case, you will need one or two support posts. The easiest way to make them is from three-quarter-inch steel pipe. So that such a support can be transported in the trunk, we make it collapsible from segments 1.2–1.5 meters long. As a connecting element we use two head-welded bolts with a diameter of 16 mm. A regular stud of the same cross-section with a nut screwed onto it will also work. To ensure that the connector fits tightly into the pipe, you can wrap it with several layers of electrical tape. To make it easier to secure the rope to the pole, we insert a similar adapter made of bolts with a diameter of 10 and 16 mm into the upper part.
Some useful tips
For such a canopy it is not necessary to use a large cloth; it will be difficult to pull it up in the forest. In tight spaces, it may be possible to use one or two small pieces of tarp to cover only the areas you need. If you still decide to use a large-sized canvas, for the central support you will need a thicker rope that can withstand the load.
To speed up assembly, the ropes can be left tied to the panel, especially in cases where you will be attached to poles rather than trees. Before assembly, it is worth tying the ropes to the supports and installing them so that there is not much sagging.
The rectangular tarpaulin can be rotated along the central rope to select its most convenient position. We advise you to first spread it on the ground and figure out how you can cover the maximum area of the site.
How to tie a rope at height
It is not at all necessary to climb to a height of 3-4 meters in order to secure the central rope to the tree.You can simply tie a stone or any stick to the string and throw it over the branch at the required height. And you can tie a knot at a level that is convenient for you. If there are no suitable branches, then the rope is simply wrapped around the trunk several times and secured, for example, with a boat oar. By the way, such an oar with a T-shaped handle will be convenient for removing the rope from the branch when dismantling the canopy.
