This post is by Bernie Carr, apartmentprepper.com
A few weeks ago, we took a day trip to a wilderness area for a picnic. There was no rain in the forecast that day, and there were no clouds in the sky when we set out. After an hour’s drive, we arrived and scoped out a spot by some trees. A couple of hours later, the clouds started coming in. Pretty soon the sky was dark and you could just feel a slight cool down in the temperature, which signifies rain. The wind came in and we knew we were about to have a downpour. We didn’t want to leave just yet, so Mr. Apt Prepper rigged up a tarp into a makeshift shelter. Paracord came in handy for tie-ups.
It was not a very attractive set-up but it kept us from getting drenched. The rain lasted for about 45 minutes then the sun came out.
I was glad we had the tarp and paracord to build a makeshift shelter. I have written about paracord before, but not about tarp.
What is tarp? Tarp is short for tarpauline, a strong material, generally canvas or polyester, that is coated with urethane, or made of plastic. It is water-resistant, or waterproof, it’s flexible and easy to fold. These are just a few uses for tarp:
- Barrier under a tent floor to protect you from sharp rocks or critters
- Blanket to keep warm
- Picnic blanket
- Use as a hammock
- Improvise a stretcher to carry an injured person
- Use as a surface to field dress game
- Make a shelter to protect from rain or to get some shade
- Protect your car’s seats from messes
- As a wrapping for stuff
- Assemble into a backpack with paracord straps
- As a covering for items carried on top of your car or truck
- For camouflage if it is has the right colors
- Make a sail
- Catch rainwater: dig a hole in the ground, line it with tarp and collect water. It can also be used to direct the flow of water into a container
- Protect your floor while doing a paint job
- Use as a way to signal – if you are lost somewhere, find an area to spread out the tarp so it can be seen from above.
- Makeshift shower curtain
- Privacy screen for an outdoor toilet
- Make an indoor fort for kids to entertain themselves during a power outage
- Covering for windows
Recently, we used tarp to protect camping gear on top of the truck on a long road trip, using heavy duty cord to secure the bundle. The tarp held up very well and the contents stayed dry in spite of heavy rain. If you try this, use tarp close to (or complements) the color of the top of your vehicle to make it look as unobtrusive as possible, and make sure to use several heavy cords or straps to secure it properly.
Keep some tarp, along with paracord and some duct tape in your car survival kit. While you’re at it, might as well keep one at home and in your bug out bag.
© Apartment Prepper 2016
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