How to suspend grand trunk ultralight?

**ippon** · 07-26-2011, 16:55

Hey there,
I just got my first hammock, grandtrunk ultralight, looks nice for $20. It didnt come with suspension cords, I think thats what theyre called.

I heard that rope hurts the trees so its better to use straps, where can I get these, do they need to be a certain type?

I happen to have some amsteel cord, is there anyway to incorporate this into the suspension for this hammock?

Thanks for helping a novice.

**DaleW** · 07-26-2011, 17:17

The GTUL was my first hammock-- a few weeks ago. I replaced the stock suspension with Wild Country Nitro carabiners, Amsteel Blue whoopie slings, and Arrowhead Equipment black polyester tree straps, connected to the whoopie slings with Camp Nano caribiners. I made a Dynaglide structural ridge line for it this afternoon.

I was cloning the Grand Trunk Nano 7 using the Wild Country 'biners. It may seem like making a silk purse out of a sow's ear, but I like the GTUL a lot. I think it is a perfect day hammock and can be used like any other gathered-end hammock. The fabric is super breathable and there are no seams to rub the back of your head. With the high performance suspension line and lightweight straps, you get a one pound package for day hiking and/or hot weather lounging. I would keep sharp stuff out of my pockets

Anything you add, like suspension, tarp, or under quilt, can be transfered to another hammock in the future.

I was chicken and used the biner's but I have read of people just lark's heading the whoopie slings right into the suspension channel on the GTUL. If you do that and use tree straps with toggles using a marlin spike hitch, you will have a super light and inexpensive hammock.

It if isn't obvious, I like carabiners. They make me feel.. sexy

**Joey** · 07-26-2011, 17:19

www.whoopieslings.com and a few others will have all what you need.

I love my GTU, and have whoopies with tree hugger straps and toggles as my suspension. Light, simple, no fuss that works well with this light hammock!

**Shug** · 07-26-2011, 22:07

I recommend watching Grizz's Videos on suspension......great intel
Shug

http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...ead.php?t=8843

http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...ead.php?t=8939

http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...ead.php?t=9996

**dragon360** · 07-27-2011, 07:50

+1 On whoopieslings through the sewn channel.

**R00K** · 07-27-2011, 08:43

Originally Posted by dragon360

+1 On whoopieslings through the sewn channel.

+2 on this. It's such an easy mod and shaves the grams away.

A GTUL with amsteel whoopieslings is one of my favorite grab-and-go hammocks.

**ippon** · 07-28-2011, 16:20

That sounds great, but I'm still a little lost, is there a video showing the mod your describing? And I'm not sure specifically which products I need to buy. Thanks.

**jbphilly** · 07-28-2011, 19:20

Putting whoopie slings through the sewn channel wouldn't put potentially harmful pressure on the fabric? Seems like having all the weight on such a skinny thing would concentrate the pressure somehow. Or, maybe it's that I have no clue how that stuff works.

I'm about to replace the stock suspension from my Skeeter Beeter (same hammock with a bugnet) and am probably going for whoopie slings. So what's the simplest way to do it? Just thread the whoopie slings through the channels, and then tie them to the tree huggers somehow? Or do I need another pair of carabiners for that attachment? Also, I'd like something that makes any rain running down the suspension drip off instead of continuing down to my butt - would I need to add anything to make that happen?

**Jakerock** · 07-28-2011, 19:53

If you watch Shugs and or Grizz's videos on hammock suspension, you will know about all there is to know!

Heres a video making it clear how easy it is to convert to whoopies thru your channel end...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSch3xvRKWI

Heres grizz's suspension primer video #2
http://www.youtube.com/user/Professo...26/jPpndtQKWH4

At about 6 minutes, he shows how to use the extremely elegant and simple "Marlin Spike Hitch" to attach a cord (like a whoopie) to a tree.

And the wonderful Shug, who makes learning about hammock stuff as fun as it can be....

http://www.youtube.com/user/shugemery#g/u

Search for "Hammock how to" and there are about 9 fantastic videos there.

**ippon** · 07-29-2011, 09:02

Thanks Jake, I'm beginning to see things better. Good videos, thanks for pinpointing that one part. All this hammock stuff looked so complicated I'd been putting it off for months.

So I run the whoopie sling directly through the end channels, check.
I need 2 tree straps, 2 slings and 2 toggles, what else?

I see different setups using d-rings, dutch clips, carabiners, do I need any of these?