Hi all,
I thought I'd start a little thread on the various little tricks, ideas, devices, etc that people have used while camping/hunting in the woods and have found to be successful. I'm thinking along the lines of improvised shelters, secondary uses for various items, tricks used for hunting certain game etc. Hopefully this will give people the opportunity to learn a few new tricks, I'll start out by describing a method of constructing a bed/shelter out of a tarp.
Name: the Tube Cot
Background: I initially read about this in either an SAS or US army survival guidebook (can't remember which), so any of you military folks may already be well versed in it. It works well in areas where you don't want to sleep on the ground but there isn't any really practical way of hanging a hammock there is no real way to. I've added a couple of pics to aid in my description
Tools required: axe/machete, line, tarp/blanket/thick plasic bag ~6'x6' (or larger)
Method of construction:
Please note, the lengths that I've used here are pretty rough. More or less gauge them while in the field
1) Cut four logs ~4-5' long (and maybe with a 4"-6" diameter) and make 2 A frames a distance of ~6'-7' apart. Secure them to the ground by tying to a tree, or driving them into the ground - basically whatever works for you where you are. The base of the A frames should be >4' (basically wider is better)
2) take your tarp (or whatever you have) and fold it in half. Then tie, or stitch the ends together to make a tube ~3' wide. If you happen to have a large tarp, don't fold it exaclty in half. The loose end can be used as a rain shelter later. tarp that is wider than
3) cut two more logs (again maybe 4" diameter at the thicker end) a length greater than the distance between the two A frames, and run them through the tube so they stick out on both ends (basically you've just made a stretcher).
4) Rest the ends of the cot on the two A frames. If everything is securely tied, you should now be able to lie on this cot
5) If you have extra material (as mentioned in step 2), tie a piece of line (or another stick) between the tops of the two A frames and fold the extra material back over it to act as a rain shelter.
Summary: I have used this method of shelter construction mulitple times, and have had great success with it. Once, myself and my 110lb dog both weathered a wicked thunderstorm on one of these cots (I had made it ~' long so we could both sleep on it). The cot which was quite similar to the one in the pictures below easily held me, the dog, and my gear (roughly 350 lbs total). Another time I was kayaking and the only beach I could land on was one that would be underwater when the tide came in. I constructed one of these to support me directly over the water and it worked great.
In addition, it's really comfortable. I've spent time sleeping on bough beds, hammocks, air mattresses (and yes on the ground
, and I can honestly say that some of my most comfortable nights in the woods have been using this type of shelter.
Once you get used to doing it, construction doesn't take all that long. Although you may find yourself having to adjust the spacing of the A frames to ensure you don't touch the ground while lying on it. Pictured below is one of my first ones, and I think it took me maybe an hour from start to finish. It should be noted that you don't need to be felling HUGE trees to build this. A lot of times, I have been able to scrounge my materials from previously felled trees and would encourage anyone who wants to try this to do the same (yeah, yeah, I'm a bit of a tree hugger
Although I've never actually tried this, I'm thinking that moss, grass ( or whatever) could also be stuffed into the tube to act as extra insulating material.
Please feel free to post any comments or questions
A finished tube cot
the same cot, but with an additional tarp added for a shelter
I thought I'd start a little thread on the various little tricks, ideas, devices, etc that people have used while camping/hunting in the woods and have found to be successful. I'm thinking along the lines of improvised shelters, secondary uses for various items, tricks used for hunting certain game etc. Hopefully this will give people the opportunity to learn a few new tricks, I'll start out by describing a method of constructing a bed/shelter out of a tarp.
Name: the Tube Cot
Background: I initially read about this in either an SAS or US army survival guidebook (can't remember which), so any of you military folks may already be well versed in it. It works well in areas where you don't want to sleep on the ground but there isn't any really practical way of hanging a hammock there is no real way to. I've added a couple of pics to aid in my description
Tools required: axe/machete, line, tarp/blanket/thick plasic bag ~6'x6' (or larger)
Method of construction:
Please note, the lengths that I've used here are pretty rough. More or less gauge them while in the field
1) Cut four logs ~4-5' long (and maybe with a 4"-6" diameter) and make 2 A frames a distance of ~6'-7' apart. Secure them to the ground by tying to a tree, or driving them into the ground - basically whatever works for you where you are. The base of the A frames should be >4' (basically wider is better)
2) take your tarp (or whatever you have) and fold it in half. Then tie, or stitch the ends together to make a tube ~3' wide. If you happen to have a large tarp, don't fold it exaclty in half. The loose end can be used as a rain shelter later. tarp that is wider than
3) cut two more logs (again maybe 4" diameter at the thicker end) a length greater than the distance between the two A frames, and run them through the tube so they stick out on both ends (basically you've just made a stretcher).
4) Rest the ends of the cot on the two A frames. If everything is securely tied, you should now be able to lie on this cot
5) If you have extra material (as mentioned in step 2), tie a piece of line (or another stick) between the tops of the two A frames and fold the extra material back over it to act as a rain shelter.
Summary: I have used this method of shelter construction mulitple times, and have had great success with it. Once, myself and my 110lb dog both weathered a wicked thunderstorm on one of these cots (I had made it ~' long so we could both sleep on it). The cot which was quite similar to the one in the pictures below easily held me, the dog, and my gear (roughly 350 lbs total). Another time I was kayaking and the only beach I could land on was one that would be underwater when the tide came in. I constructed one of these to support me directly over the water and it worked great.
In addition, it's really comfortable. I've spent time sleeping on bough beds, hammocks, air mattresses (and yes on the ground
, and I can honestly say that some of my most comfortable nights in the woods have been using this type of shelter.Once you get used to doing it, construction doesn't take all that long. Although you may find yourself having to adjust the spacing of the A frames to ensure you don't touch the ground while lying on it. Pictured below is one of my first ones, and I think it took me maybe an hour from start to finish. It should be noted that you don't need to be felling HUGE trees to build this. A lot of times, I have been able to scrounge my materials from previously felled trees and would encourage anyone who wants to try this to do the same (yeah, yeah, I'm a bit of a tree hugger
Although I've never actually tried this, I'm thinking that moss, grass ( or whatever) could also be stuffed into the tube to act as extra insulating material.
Please feel free to post any comments or questions
A finished tube cot
the same cot, but with an additional tarp added for a shelter
