i've thought about doing one w/ metal tubing, but not sure about the best way to secure the cross pieces/legs on bottom.
what did you have in mind... drill two holes in the cross piece for the u bolt to go through?
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This Byer uses bolts to attach the cross-pieces. It comes disassembled and you have to put it together with a wrench. There are a few welded parts but you could probably work around that for a DIY version.
I was thinking of two u-bolts on each leg. The kind with a bracket on the back like how a backboard of a basket ball goal attaches to the pole. Take the two u-bolts and and kind of lash the poles together with them. Or you could drill two holes in the leg, and the u-bolt go over the main support pole, and through the two holes. That should be sturdy enough.
I am thinking of one way that would be great, but don't know if I can explain it, but will try. Get 4 u-bolts with a flat piece that goes on the back of them like the basketball goal setup. The u-bolt goes over the pole, and the flat piece goes up against the other side, and the bolt goes into two holes in the flat piece. As you tighten the nuts the flat piece is drawn up against the pole and tightens it up. Well, put two u-bolts on each end of the main support pole. Put a leg between two of the bolts where you want it to attach. Then take a flat piece and put the end of one u-bolt though one of it's holes. Then put the end of the other u-bolt through the other hole. Should keep things flat. http://www.hammockforums.net/gallery...php?i=1190&c=4
In the drawing the thick black lines are the u-bolts, and the small rectangles the are attached to on each ends are the flat pieces they connet to. Same concept used in a lot of backet ball goal, and they are very sturdy, yet easy to take down for transport.
Oh, good point. That slipped my mind. I wouldn't trust it then since it relies completely on friction. I just think a single bolt through the middle of both poles wouldn't hold. Maybe the bracket like I was talking about for overall strength, and a bolt or cotter pin through the middle of both for the swinging stability. Of course, it could grip the center piece enough by itself. Worth a try. After all, who hasn't taken a fall in the name of hammocking science?