lovely campers, please help me find a canvas tarp or awning for my bell tent

[ReshapeWhileDamp]

There are a few around marketed as specifically for bell tents, but do I need one that says it's specially for bells? (for instance, I'm sure I've seen one that attaches to the spike at the top of the A frame, but surely that's just an eyelet in the middle of one side of the tarp? )

There's the one sold by Bell Tent co and Obelink (obelink is selling it for 55 euros - I can't work out if it's one of the things they won't ship to the UK) but I'm not sure how large it is compared with others. There's this pretty thing, but £225?! And the one from Tortuga Tents is pretty expensive too, and only comes with one pole. But I just don't know what is reasonable for a cotton canvas tarp.

Ideally, we'd like to be able to have a pitched 'roof' extending from the entrance, for boots, outdoor storage, and so on, but it'd be useful to use the tarp alone in various configurations for picnics, etc.

Glampy sites and companies aside, does anyone else make cotton canvas tarps for camping, or are they likely to be all synthetic now? Could I even make my own, or would I need an industrial sewing machine for working with heavy fabric?

Thanks for any pointers!

I got a Beige tarp from Obelink 2 weeks ago.
this one but in beige.

I emailed them as on the UK site they only have the grey version, they replied saying that they are not able to ship the beige to the UK. So I went onto their French site (hoping my GCSE French would help!) and ordered it through that site and crossed my fingers.

It arrived 3 days later. Total cost 69 euro including delivery.

According to those in the know on UKCS forums it is identical to the Belltent Malu awning (although obviously a fraction of the price)

mine has been dispatched now so will hopefully get it this week

Mollie, it's an Outdoor Revolution

www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/tarp-3243880/#

so can i make this tarp into a stealth bomber one, or doesn't it work like that?

Well, I held my breath and ordered in Dutch, and have received emails saying it's gone through! Let's hope it arrives... Thanks for all the help on this thread!

Aitch I reckon it depends how handy you are at pitching. I'm rubbish hence the one I've ordered comes pre-shaped.

Aitch you can make a standard square or rectangular tarp stealthish by pitching it in diamond formation rather than square on iyswim.

I have awning envy! I desperately want that Obelink tarp too. Will wait until both of yours have arrived safely though, mel and Reshape, as not to alert their attention. A sudden rush of tarps to the UK may raise eyebrows.

I still have one for sale. £65 plus postage.

mine came today, i will put the bell up again tomorrow to take some photos, our coleman event shelter came as well today (£99 from amazon) might see how that would fit on the front of the bell.

According to the tracking mine is on its way. I didn't have any problems ordering mine. Seems very quick so far.

I am ridiculously excited to see mel2005's bell and tarp photos!

chimchar- is your tarp new and unused with poles and whatever else? And it's the Obelink beige one?

Actually, I think I've replied to you about another topic on the Camp Bestival thread!!

Would you have room for it it in your car?

It is winefairy! All new and poley and Dutch! And yes, am happy to squeeze it in to go on a jolly to besti!

Just so long as you promise not to out me as a big fat hairy bloke trucker!

chimchar...I promise not to out you as long as you could throw in a quick tarp demo! This will be our first proper camping with the bell tent and we are, quite frankly, clueless!

Are staying in Camping Plus so in effect have a Besti address. We are actually leaving tomorrow morning though as have a mammoth schlep down from Edinburgh and are staying somewhere obscure overnight.

Will pm you Besti address and mobile no.

I love it when a plan comes together

Yayyyy! I'm in campervan field complete with bell tent. It's lush. I love it. I am actually in love with my tent. Lush! Cited now!

at Chimchar and Winefairy and Bestival-tarp-rendevous.

I got my Obelink tarp yesterday, so they are clearly letting them through the firewall occasionally. Pretty lucky I didn't know about this before we got the tent from Soulpad, really, or we'd probably have to cram an Emperor into the car...

blowninonabreeze how easy was it to but it from the french site? How big is the pack size? We have serious space issues in our car but we just got back from 5 days camping in our bell tent and we were suffering without any shade on hot afternoons! Thank you for your help....

i meant to type buy it from the french site!

oh, and blowninonabreeze have you had yours arrive yet? x

ReShapeWhileDamp, how much did you pay for your Obelink tarp?

Reshape- the Bestival-tarp-rendevous went very well and I too am now a proud owner of said Obelink awning courtesy of the lovely chimchar who bravely trudged through fields to deliver the goods! Very pleased.

And I can confirm that chimchar is not a big hairy bloke but an absolute bundle of gorgeousness.

my photos are here, i couldnt find this thread so did another
www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.256648101014449.75994.100000077844726
i think yours is much bigger winefairy, what did you use over the point of the door pole? i used a cup from the kids pretend kitchen but am on the lookout for something better

mel, those photos are just lovely! Looks like a great set up and I once again have bunting envy! I had missed the photos so thanks for re-linking.

I think our tarp is bigger at 4m square although I didn't actually use it at Camp Bestival as was too hectic. Only returned today and so haven't had an opportunity to try it out so can't quite visualise what you mean about the point problem except to say I still have the clear plastic point cover for the pole and the tarp has pretty sturdy looking reinforced eyelet doodahs (technical term).

At this point feel free to mock my naivety! I'm sure the minute I actually put the tarp up it will be blatantly obvious what you mean.

my point cover goes over it to stop drips getting through the eyelet but doesnt cover the point, if that makes any sense? i wonder if there is a different one? so its a bit of metal sticking up effectively above the door where my tarp is and the wind rubs the tarp on the point.
off to google tent pole point covers...