Slumberjack58755517 Roadhouse Tarp

I have to say, the Slumberjack 58755517 Roadhouse Tarp has become one of my favorite outdoor accessories. Not only do I love using it, but it also garners compliments from everyone who sees it. It has truly become an essential part of my outdoor adventures.Setting up the Roadhouse Tarp is a breeze. It provides quick and efficient protection from the sun and the elements. Whether I need shade in the Tennessee sun or shelter during a sudden rainstorm, this tarp has got me covered. Its versatility and ease of use make it a reliable companion for any outdoor excursion.However, there is one small hiccup that I encountered - getting it back into the bag. While I wouldn't fault the tarp itself for this, I do wish the process of packing it away was as effortless as setting it up. Perhaps it's just a matter of practice, but I found it a bit challenging to neatly fold and pack the tarp back into its original bag. It's likely a minor inconvenience that I need to work on, but it's worth mentioning.Despite the slight difficulty in repacking, the Slumberjack Roadhouse Tarp remains a fantastic product. Its durability and reliable performance in protecting me from the sun and the elements outweigh the minor hassle of putting it away. Plus, the positive attention and comments I receive from others only add to its appeal.If you're looking for a versatile and easy-to-use tarp for your outdoor adventures, I wholeheartedly recommend the Slumberjack 58755517 Roadhouse Tarp. Embrace its practicality, and don't let a minor folding challenge deter you from enjoying all the benefits it has to offer.

Super great tarp. I have used it on many occasions and it always travels with me in the truck or UTV.The video is a solo setup using telescoping tarp poles. I usually don't use the 8-ft poles that come with the Roadhouse Tarp (I mistakenly said 7 ft in the video). Occasionally for a center pole, but I prefer telescoping poles for the corners and other locations.While the SJK poles are extremely durable and easy to use, they are fixed height only. You could get creative and disconnect a section and zip tie it back onto itself, but this isn't practical. Before I purchased telescoping poles, to lower the height I had to slant the SJK fixed height poles to create a lower height and profile. It just gets in the way of people and equipment and not practical. I bought some adjustable telescoping poles for tarps and they work great and allow you to setup up each pole vertically which optimizes gear placement and mobility under the tarp.Overall the best off grid, overlanding, camping tarp I have used. Lots of applications.Practice at home in the yard before you try and set up in the field. Lots of setup videos out there. I have attached mine to this review.

Ok, so I rarely write reviews but this sun shade has been amazing and I felt obligated to share and help this company. It often times really hard to find high quality camping gear on amazon and you never know what you're gonna get, so hopefully this helps reassure someone considering this shelter.First - the quality. Yes this is manufactured in Vietnam (better than China) but it's an actual Colorado company so you're supporting local with these guys and the quality really shows. One example - the cords are a really high quality, thick chord, not just the cheap parachord but the real deal and it's thick. Stakes are super sturdy too.I had this up in a MASSIVE deluge in Grand Teton and we stayed totally dry under neath.Second is versatility - you can set this up in just about any way you need or want. It works really well off the back of a truck or SUV (I use mine off the back of a tear drop trailer) but it can also stand on it's own without any vehicle.I can't think of any downsides but there's a few things to consider - it's not a super quick popup shelter. It helps to have one other person hold the poles while you stake it down and for sure the first couple of times you set it up it will take a few extra minutes. But I have it down and I can set it up with my son in about 5 minutes.The size can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on what you are looking for. It's quite large, we were able to cover a full picnic table which was still about 5 feet behind my trailer and sitting at the table we all stayed dry. It's tall too, I think the poles must be close to 7 feet tall?? However, if you're solo camping and just need a small bit of shade, then this might feel a bit overkill.Also, if it's exceptionally hot with intense sunshine then you'll notice this doesn't block the heat quite as good as the really thick blue square sunshades. With intense sun you can feel some heat, but it does at least keep you in the shade.Lastly - it packs down really easily. I'm able to get the poles in and simply stuff the thing into the stuff sack. It's not too heavy but obviously you wouldn't be backpacking with this thing.

I've had a lot of experience with different tarp setups over many years. I rate this high. VERY high winds in Death Valley, days of rain in the mountains.Well built seams with reinforcement points.Straps with good buckles sewn with reinforcement to tarp.Tarp material has not stretched or deformed. (hallmark of cheap material) This tarp can be stretched TIGHT. Essential for wind and snow loads.Supplied poles are of very good quality (shock cord with chain at fold point to prevent wear on cord) but made with heavy gage steel (very weighty) Not adjustable. Replaced with aluminum.The geometry is pretty specific to attaching to a topper. Good because it fits beautifully and has double material over topper contact area for rubbing wear. Does make free standing setup a chore due to variable geometry.Variable geometry means that the tarp is not a square, flat piece of blue plastic. It creates peaks and valleys in the tarp which creates curves. Essential for "shedding" wind and channeling rain. Oldest example is Bedouin tents. (also see Moss/MSR "Quantery" designs)Sorry to go on a bit. Yes buy it.

Like some others, I took a chance on this item, as it is priced well below other offerings of similar or smaller size. I am very pleased now that I’ve received it and deployed it.Setup is easier than folks have described, even if it’s just you setting it up. You just need to adjust the guy lines and pole locations a few times to get everything nice and taught. Quality of material is well within the acceptable range. It’s not the thickest nor is it the thinnest. If you’re careful, this should last for many seasons.When tied down securely, the awning is able to withstand more wind than you’d think. It seems to be waterproof, although I can’t testify to how long it will remain so. When I poured some water on it, the water did run off without soaking into it. You may find that you need to reapply some Nikwax waterproof coating once a year, just to be safe.The stakes are as described: beefy. They are not the typical tent pegs you get with a smaller tent. They will not bend out of shape, and can be safely hammered on to drive them in hard ground without fear of deforming any portion of them.The guy lines are not the cheap, thin lines you sometimes get with other tents and tarps. They are a nice bright yellow to help you see them BEFORE you trip over them (hey, it happens to us all). However, the triangular-shaped devices supplied and attached to the guy lines for adjusting the lines are plastic. Not sure how long they will last. But it’s nothing that can’t be replaced with a couple of metal washers.The poles are stout and will indeed last longer than the awning itself. They are made of steel and probably are responsible for most of the weight of this kit. They will not collapse under tension. They are, however, not adjustable. It’s 96 inches or nothing. Then again, those 96” do afford you a huge opening when deployed in the 2-pole configuration. I bought other adjustable poles, so again, no big deal.The attachment points are conveniently located at the one end of the awning, making it very simple and easy to affix to a vehicle or tent or what have you. The stitching is very satisfactory, especially for the price point. Guy line attachment points and grommet areas for the poles are reinforced with extra material.It’s a well thought out design that will shield you and your companions/gear from sun, wind and precipitation. Listen, for the money, the Roadhouse Tarp from Slumberjack SJK is extremely difficult to beat. Overall, it’s a 5-star no-brainer. You might say it can’t be “topped.”