HH Hex pole mod

**CajunHiker** · 09-27-2010, 11:21

So I had an cheap old dome tent that my son has gotten soaked in the past two times he's used it. Needless to say, it won't be used again. He still hasn't become a full-time hanger, so I'm looking at modding the HH Hex to become more tent-like for when he wants to ground pitch. This is still a work in progress, but the goal is to create an easy setup providing a tub floor and netting while leaving the tarp relatively unmodded.

Step one was to remove the HH Hex tarp ridgeline guylines and use a seperate 30' dynaglide ridgeline. Next, tarp is attached to ridgeline with dynaglide prussiks. Place tarp over ridgeline. Attach pole to corners, move pole center to ridgeline and secure with prussik. Slide prussik to tension tarp. Repeat for other end. This configuration provides an almost flat tarp. (Still trying to figure out how to convert to a stunt kite

).

Next, I took one of the side guylines and crossed over the opposite corner and attached. Tighten up to a circular shape, and re-adjust the pole at the ridgeline for tightness if neccessary. Repeat for other end.

This is the current state of the project. I may slightly shorten the poles to allow the pole to locate more towards the end of the tarp instead of the center. I'm hoping this will provide enough vertical support so the ends can be staked out without the need for hiking poles on the ends similar to a tunnel tent. We'll see. Next will be a floor (most likely tyvek) and netting that will clip to the poles for support. Also still playing with the pole end attachment. Currently using the ring&pin from the old tent. I'm thinking about using something adjustable instead that would allow the tarp to ride higher or lower on the poles, allowing for ventilation control on the sides. In order to do this, the length of the poles will have to remain longer that the width of the tarp. Tarp side height would be adjusted by changing the angle of the pole. This will also help to keep the tarp off of the ground, something that wouldn't be possible if using a pole pocket.

Clear as mud?

For me, I'll try a single pole on my next hangout.

**Jsaults** · 09-27-2010, 13:00

And I just happen to have a Hex tarp that is itching to be modified. Thanks for the inspiration!

Jim

**bigbamaguy** · 09-27-2010, 13:31

I have been trying to figure out a way to attach the poles to the trap with out sewing a loop at the ridgeline.........thanks for the prussick idea, let the pole modding begin!

**Silverlion** · 09-27-2010, 15:02

I'm going this weekend and buying some poles at wally world. Thanks for sharing. Kudos!

**lattie11581** · 09-27-2010, 15:14

how much does it add to your total weight?

**CajunHiker** · 09-27-2010, 15:26

This is what I'm temporarily using to connect the poles to the tarp.

I clipped the rings to the hooks of the tarp. I don't really care for this as I don't want to store the rings & pins within the skinned tarp, and I don't want to attach to the poles. I may try to drill a hole in the endtip of the pole and then maybe attach paracord with several loops at predetermined points. The poles will pass through the corner rings of the tarp to help placement and the hooks will attach to the loops in the paracord.

**bigbamaguy** · 09-27-2010, 15:30

What is you were to use a Dremel and cut an L shape notch in the pole sections? This would allow you to slip the tarp tie-out point into the notch. No extra hardware.

**CajunHiker** · 09-27-2010, 15:32

Originally Posted by lattie11581

how much does it add to your total weight?

Total of adding the poles to the tarp? I haven't weighed the additions yet. The poles are from a cheap dome tent so I'm sure they're not light. I'll do a length and weight measure tonight.

As far as the interior bug tent will weigh, only time will tell.

**CajunHiker** · 09-27-2010, 15:43

Originally Posted by bigbamaguy

What is you were to use a Dremel and cut an L shape notch in the pole sections? This would allow you to slip the tarp tie-out point into the notch. No extra hardware.

You mean the metal tip of the pole? I think if I were to do that, I'd just connect the tarp's hook directly over the end of the pole tip.
But, doing so would take away the ability to adjust the side height. Again, I'm talking about a ground setup. For a hammock, I think that would work fine.