Hammock stand for car camping

**GroundHog** · 04-26-2008, 19:53

Here is the one Harbor Freight sells. I have one, it is made of very thin wall tubing so it may not take the strain. But it may give you some ideas.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=39168

**slowhike** · 04-26-2008, 21:50

here's a drawing i posted a while back. it didn't involve the hitch, but that sounds like a good idea to me.
http://www.hammockforums.net/gallery...5/P7100095.JPG
it would be nice to have a hammock stand that could be set up quick & easy.

**alex30808** · 04-27-2008, 08:00

I like that. I just looked at the HF Bed Extender...if you were to make the one I drew out...you'll have to leave the tail gate up...or...add another 2 or 3 feet of tubing comming from the hitch. this would allow you to open the tail gate with the hammock in place...

**fin** · 04-27-2008, 08:55

I was thinking that it could be something as simple as this:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0001HACGE?...0&linkCode=asn

For one tree and hitch, you could use this as is. To use alone, you take two of these, weld another receiver on to the existing bar, add an extenstion bar, stabilizers, and a new upright, and you get this:

http://www.hammockforums.net/gallery...hp?i=3165&c=14

That way, it's usable on it's own for one tree to truck, or at the in-laws or group camping/National park/wayside/?? on it's own where no trees are available.

You would probably need to move the tripod supports up higher on the outer upright, but you get the drift.

**slowhike** · 04-27-2008, 18:58

good ideas! i sure hope someone will be able to do some experimentation.
it would be grand to see a couple versions commercially available some day.

**Miguel** · 04-27-2008, 20:17

Funny this should come up right now. Last night I was headed to a campsite where I knew finding two appropriate trees would be tough. My plan was to buy a 2x4x4...notch the top...run my hangstrap through the notch and down to the trailer hitch on my Element. The other end would go to a tree or any other appropriate object I could find. There are pics of this set up floating around somewhere on Hammock Forums but I'm not sure where. I've always wanted to try that set up but have never taken the time. It might have been Peter Pan but I'm not sure. It seems to defy logic, as it's not anchored in the ground....but they say it works.

I already have a really heavy duty bike rack but I'm not sure of the weight limitations. It seems like any quality bike rack would work. They all come straight off the hitch and T at the top. Seems like it would be ideal.

Miguel

**fin** · 04-27-2008, 23:06

Originally Posted by Miguel

I already have a really heavy duty bike rack but I'm not sure of the weight limitations. It seems like any quality bike rack would work. They all come straight off the hitch and T at the top. Seems like it would be ideal.

Miguel

That was my thought. The canoe carrier is a little taller, but a bike rack or a hitch extender should work as well.

**gunn parker** · 04-27-2008, 23:26

I tried a one pole system and I could not get it to work. I cut a V in the top of a section of wood and went up and over it and down to a tree. The other end of the hammock went to the spare wheel of my car, but the piece of wood kept falling over side ways and without any guy lines (which I have not tried yet) it would not stay upright.

Gunn

**ryaex** · 04-27-2008, 23:50

I've used the roof rack of my wife's SUV with no problems what so ever. I tied on to the edge where the crossbar and the roof rail meet. I was leery at first but it held fine and no ill effects to the roof rack or hammock.

I also used the roll bar(edit: I didn't have the factory roll bar in my jeep but a full 6 point roll cage) on my Jeep several times with great results. For that matter a Jeep is probably the perfect multi-hang vehicle out there. Lots of roll bar to tie off too on all sides.

I've been wanting a canoe carrier for my truck and I think this would be just as successful for a good hang as the other ways I've tried.

**Miguel** · 04-28-2008, 01:10

Originally Posted by gunn parker

I tried a one pole system and I could not get it to work. I cut a V in the top of a section of wood and went up and over it and down to a tree. The other end of the hammock went to the spare wheel of my car, but the piece of wood kept falling over side ways and without any guy lines (which I have not tried yet) it would not stay upright.

Gunn

I'll try and dig up that series of photos and article tomorrow. I was hoping someone would do it for me....guess not.

Miguel