How To Make A Rain Fly For A Screen Tent

If you're wondering how to make a rain fly for a screent tent to save you a few bucks,which I certainly can't argue with that.

I did the same thing.I made a home made rain fly for my screen tent.

Now I have an Older Eureka Screen Tent.It has 5 sides,and was a model designed to handle high winds,buy trying to distribute the wind to a 1/5th of the tent with direct winds,instead of the traditional wall tents,where in some cases a storm hit head on,thus putting all the wind pressure on one side.

Does the five sided screen tent do better?..I don't know,but the four walled screen tents did me well,in some of the same circumstances as a fived side screen tent.

Anyways,this article is not about 4 sided,or 5 sided tents.It's about making a home made rain fly for a tent.A screen tent in this case.

Before you bother reading any farther.Please inspect your tent now,and see if there is flap of fabric,about 1-2 inches long,that's at the top of the screen,and thus is on all sides of your tent.This flap is on the outside.

Many of the older Eureka Screen Tents have this flap.

Now if your screen tent DOES NOT HAVE THIS FLAP -->

Your options are to glue a seam of fabric around the tent above the screen,and re-inforce stitch is possible,but not necessary,opinions go both ways on this.

You need a flap of fabric over the screen,and this is needed to attach your home made rain fly to.

So go to the hardware store,ask the folks there for a great glue for fabrics,tarps etc.

Can this hurt the original fabric on the tent?..Using a heavy duty permanent glue,to attach another piece of fabric to it?

Yes it can.

But ..It's no more different than patch glue for a tent.

I have had branches fall on the roof of my screen tent during severe weather,thus putting major holes in my tent.From fist size holes,to where geese could fly in.

I found some used heavy duty nylon fabric to use as a patch,and got some fabric glue at the hardware store.

Going on 10 years now,and the glue still holds,and has NOT caused any damage to the original tent fabric as a bond.

So it's up to you.If you have a cheap tent to begin with,then go for it,

Cut some heavy duty fabric..a heavy nylon,or even tarp for that matter,but use the blue tarp material,not the clear plastic as mentioned above.The blue tarps have actual width of strands.

Cut 1 foot wide vertical lengths for each side of the tent,the length of what the screen is on that side.

Fold the cut piece in half,so it's just 6 inches wide,then glue,and safety pin,use weights,or rocks,or what have you to make it a double layer piece of tarp.

Then when that's sealed,and the glue has done its thing..Overnight.

Then attach each piece above the screen vertical of course...Use the fabric glue,and that stuff sticks right away.

As a matter of fact...Use a canvas glue,or a glue good for canvas.That's a quick note I wanted to add.

But attach each piece applying the glue to the top 3 inches,use some big safety pins if you like,but the glue does stick and hold,and allows some adjustment sliding it around.

Believe me,this aint kids glue,or elmers..It holds right away,and don't worry about slidding it around,and glue getting on other parts of the tent..It won't do anything..just dries,and becomes part of the tent.

Glue the tarp attachments on,let them dry,and believe me,they are now part of the tent.

Now figure out if you want to use the heavier duty blue tarp plastic we all see,or go with a clear roll of painters plastic for your screen tent.

I'd go with the blue.It's more heavy duty.

Now..When you buy a big blue tarp at your hardware store,make sure it can incircle your whole screen tent,and then some.

If you have a 20 foot diamater,then make sure the tarp you get is 25 feet,perhaps even 30 feet.

30 X 10 feet..40 X 10 feet.

Now that you have a good understanding of how strong canvas glue holds,it does the same miracles of tarps.

Attach the tarp around your screen tent,using HEAVY DUTY STATIONARY CLIPS...THOSE BIG BLACK CLIPS...Yes,camping stores carry them too,or should,and I'll be adding an image of this clips when I update this post,so don't worry.I will be adding images of all this.It's so easy,just takes a 1000 words to explain 3 minutes worth of crap..hahahaha :)

The cut,and glue with a scissors,and mage the tarp a good fit...BUT..BUT..BUT!!

Leave 3 feet for the bottom on the tarp,because it helps to be weighted down.Make sure you cut it,so it goes to the ground,and 3 EXTRA FEET so it lays.

You can always attach a bottom fabric,but more clips,more work.

However..This gives you a good idea on the start of a home rain fly for a screen tent.It's the walls we want to cover.

We a screen tent with a rain fly is in action,this things are the ultimate base camp.A screen tent with rain fly is a winter tents as well.

Why?

Because the material used to make a rain fly is more heavy duty,not as breathable,but holds heat almost that of a portable fish house.

One more note,when you use the heavy duty meatal camping clips to attach the tarp,fold the tarp under,and over the home made flap,over lap etc..Don't just attach it like you would a cloths pin..Don't worry,you'll figure it out,but do a roll on the flap..I'll add a pic of this to,because it looks confusing on paper..hahaha..:)



I'll be updating this article weekly,with pictures.

A rain fly for a screen tent is a must!!