Newbie...What mods should I be thinking about?

[canoecountry]

I have a Hennessey Explorer Zip and I am wondering what mods if any I should be thinking about?

I am thinking I would like to change out the suspension but not sure to what. I like the idea of doing DIY Whoopie slings but then after reading on the forum that there are some special circumstances around the Hennessy and Whoopies I am not sure. I don't know what that special consideration is or if it is something I can compensate for and get a set made up. I am also not sure how to incorporate the ridgeline with the Whoopies.

Any advise or help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
CC

[Boothill]

CC

a hennessy is very easy to convert over to whoopies, here's a video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysukekQgSCU

and there's lots of info on here if you look for it, another mod you might want to start out with that is very easy is making your own tree straps, the 42" one that come with the hammock are a bit short imo

boot

[Oxblood]

As Boothill mentioned, the Hennessy is very easy to convert to whoopie slings. I am using them, and they are awesome.

Other mods? Not many to the hammock itself. Get a good underquilt. I love my Mt. Washington 3 from jack's R Better. Very comfy. And get a better tarp than the stocker. I like the Hennessey hex tarps myself. But any larger silnylon, or spinnul tarp will do you much better than the stock Hennessy tarp.

[ChrisH]

The difference between whoopies for a HH and say a WBB is that the locked brummel end of the whoopie (the end that ties to your hammock) becomes your whipping on the HH. That means you have to start the bury for the adjustable loop up further to account for the whipping. On a WBB, you just larkshead the locked brummel end onto the hammock. It's super easy to do and I would recommend doing it soon!

As far as other mods, you could send it to 2QZQ to have a zipper put on the other side. That's what I'm going to do, eventually.

[sonnyg]

I had 2QZQ add a 3 zip to the other side. Now I can completely unzip the bug net for fresh air afternoons. Also allows me to adjust my UQ after I'm in the hammock.
I would like to add Whoopies but I'm afraid I'll screw it up.

[WV]

I am wondering what mods if any I should be thinking about?

Any advice or help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
CC

Well, these are the ones I'd watch out for:

Just Jeff, angrysparrow, Cannibal, headchange4u, NCPatrick, slowhike

Of course you don't want to avoid them entirely, because they're also up there in the list of members likely to offer that advice and help you're seeking.

[Rob3E]

I had 2QZQ add a 3 zip to the other side. Now I can completely unzip the bug net for fresh air afternoons. Also allows me to adjust my UQ after I'm in the hammock.
I would like to add Whoopies but I'm afraid I'll screw it up.

The nice thing about doing the whoopie sling mod is that you don't have to permanently cut or damage any part of the original equipment other then the two zip ties that hold the covers on to the ends of your hammock (which are easily replaceable). The only tricky part would be recreating the knot that the original cords were tied on with. That may not actually be a tricky knot, but I didn't really pay attention to it, so I it would take some research to recreate it.

But really, if you had any inclination, start by doing the two locked eyes that will go on the hammock ends of the whoopie slings. If you can get those done, you'll have no problem with the rest of it. And if you buy the slings ready-made, it's a simple swap. There are some YouTube videos that show you how it's done, and it really isn't much hassle at all.

[Boothill]

I had 2QZQ add a 3 zip to the other side. Now I can completely unzip the bug net for fresh air afternoons. Also allows me to adjust my UQ after I'm in the hammock.
I would like to add Whoopies but I'm afraid I'll screw it up.

one other thing

if you decide to add whoopies you need to make sure you run it through your ridgeline when i added them for the first time i forgot this on one end and the ridgeline pulled out, super simple to fix though just undo the whoopie (there's no permanent knot) and run it through the ridgeling and re-attach

don't worry about screwing this up, it's a really easy deal

boot

[Knotty]

Putting whoopies on and off a HH is easy (as others have noted). So, I'd recommend making the fixed eye first and installing it on the hammock. Make the eye small but use a proper bury for security. Once installed it will show you how much line is used up attaching to the HH. Mark the line, remove it from the hammock and then proceed with the adjustable eye.

[ChrisH]

Yep, whoopies on a HH are really easy! I was a little afraid at first as well but there's so many videos on it I got it done and have made many more WS's since then. Just go for it!