How to Use a Tarp for Shelter
A tarp is one of the best pieces of survival gear you can carry out into the field. It can be used for a variety of shelters and packs easily. Be it a simple blue tarp, or an expensive light weight nylon model; you can't go wrong with considering including one in your survival gear.
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Instructions
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Basic tent style shelter
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1
Run a line between two trees. Lay the tarp over the top of this line so that the two sides coming down to the ground are equal. If your tarp has lines attached to it use these instead of draping the tarp over a line stretched between trees.
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2
Pull the sides of the tarp out so that the shelter looks like an inverted letter V. Stake or tie down the corners of the tarp. Make sure the fabric is taut, loose material will catch the rain and collapse in the wind.
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3
Block up one end of the shelter with brush or branches. This windblock will help keep the shelter warmer.
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4
If the tarp has grommet holes in it stake the edges down to the ground to keep the wind from lifting it up. Alternatively weigh the edges down with smooth rocks.
Lean-To Shelter
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5
Once again tie some line or the middle points of your tarp between two trees. When constructing this shelter, make sure that the wind or weather is blowing perpendicular to the middle line of the tarp.
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6
Drape the tarp over the line. Draw back the two low edges so that they are tied down into the wind.
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7
Tie both of the low edges of the tarp down securely. If the tarp has grommet holes stake it to the ground as well. If not, use smooth round rocks to secure the bottom edge of the tarp to the ground. Use smooth rocks so they don't tear a hole in your tarp.
Hot Weather Shelter
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8
Start by digging a trench or finding a natural depression in the ground. The US army survival manual recommends the trench be at least 18 to 23 inches deep.
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9
Cover the trench with your tarp. If you have a big enough piece of material double the tarp over so that there is a bit of an air space between the material, this will help the shelter stay cooler.
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10
Use the material from digging the trench to weight down the tarp.
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