Premature Strap Wear w/ Dutch Clips

[GvilleDave]

I have noticed a problem with my hammock suspension. A few months back I switched over to Dutch clips from biners. When I did I replaced the straps on my set-up with the camo strap material that AHE sells. Since then I have two nights in the hammock and 2-3 afternoon test hangs. When I pulled my gear down from my test this weekend I noticed an alarming amount of wear on these straps. Is anyone else seeing this problem? With Dutch clips and/ or the camo AHE strap material? Prior to this I used a similar set-up that used Biners to connect the strap end at the tree and never noticed wear issues.

I also found that the Dutch clip slipped partially out of the strap and punched through the strap at one end but I chalk that up to operator error...

[oldgringo]

That second picture...if anyone doubts the pressures that hammocks exert...Yikes!

[bigbamaguy]

I have also noticed this happening with some Strapworks straps that I was using at the house. It was happening I think because I was always setting them up at the same position, same distance and same tree/strap set. Once I started rotating my my straps the wear was negligible. Had the dame thing happen to me in pic 2, those straps have since been retired.

[MacEntyre]

GVilleDave, your wear is mostly at the edge... I'm wondering if you could avoid it by taking a little time to be sure the strap is pulling evenly through the DC. Also, try turning the DC upside down, so the luck runs out. You could stand to lose the luck, if you also lose the chafe!

Do you put the DC at the side of the tree, or right in the center? At the side, there is less force on the DC, and maybe less chafe on the strap.

Those are polyester straps, like mule tape, which will show wear like that. But they are very strong for the weight!

[MAD777]

Are you setting up in the woods or at home on a hammock stand or other permanent mount? If you are in the woods, I can't see the Dutch Clip resting on the same spot twice (sort of like getting hit by lightening twice).

[GvilleDave]

I am setting the DC on the side of the tree, not the center. I will try flipping the DC upside down if that reduces chafe.

Since several of the times (4-5) that this set has been used was in my yard testing the set-up was on the same tree in the same position so that could be a factor.

Does the amount or wear shown require me to replace the straps? At this point I am planning to unless I hear that I am being overly cautious.

[Rain Man]

I am setting the DC on the side of the tree, not the center.

Which side? Think of the DC as a pulley. You know that a properly-positioned pulley can double the weight (pull) you can put on a rope (webbing), right? The proper position for a pulley would be the exact wrong position for a DC (I think). Physics play a major role in proper rigging, or maybe I should say in wrong rigging.

Rain Man

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[Ken]

Of the three nights I stayed at Linville back in October, the first was extremely windy. The wind was coming in waves, and sounded like a jet approaching. I was hanging between two hardwood trees about 8" in diameter on the downwind side of the slope. The tree tops were going in all directions and the hammock was moving up and down and actually dropping suddenly at times. The second night was fairly calm, and the third night was windy again, but not like the first.

I was using Paul's camo webbing with dutch clips, properly attached at the side of the tree where the webbing leaves toward the hammock. I found no visible abrasion at all, and just rechecked the webbing yesterday. I "think" (can't remember) I did polish my clips some with emery cloth when I first received them. I would be looking at the edges of the clips very closely.

Ken

[JerryW]

I'm with Ken and OutandBack - I'd CAREFULLY use a small file or emery paper to break the edges of the Dutch Clips. If you round those edges over I bet you won't see much, or any, more damage to your straps.


Jerry

[BlazeAway]

Why not go like this. Would save you some weight.