The TurtleDog stand

[slugbait]

Lying there watching those fish swimming around would be very relaxing.

[daveyjazz]

Us northern folks like to tinker in the winter....Standard turtle dog with an ancient sailboard mast... Attachment 161140

[Draketake]

Okay folks thinking of getting this made next set of days off. I have an 11 foot hammock. I was going to use the 2 inch x 2 inch X 8 foot boards for the tripod. I was going to make the legs 7 foot in length. The legs will be bolted to the 6 inch gate hinge.

How long should my Ridgepole be? I am thinking 13 - 15 feet ish. My Lowes store has 10.5 foot sections of the 1 3/8 inch toprail. Is this what most people are using?

Do I figure out the ridgepole length and then cut the top rail in half? Do I then insert one of the tapered sections into the other half of the ridgepole? Or should I use the section joiners for joining the 1 3/8 inch top rails. Can anyone show me a picture of how you connect the two pieces of top rail? I am having a hard time trying to figure out the safest, most secure way to do it. I think I read where Turtlelady fits the tapered end into a regular end and then covers the joint with duct tape, in order to keep the joined ends from slipping out. I am thinking that the friction fit should be enough or should I also take this added measure?

Thank you all for any help.

Bob

[oldpappy]

Bob, I have 11 foot and 12 foot hammocks and use the standard size top rail cut in half. This gives me a 10' ridgepole that works fine if you do not plan to use a tarp with it. FYI - this is a good inside stand, but not stable if unloaded and breezy outside - nor does it do will if the ground isn't level.

Turtledog works well inside.
This one works better outside:
http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...+hammock+stand

[Draketake]

oldpappy,

Thanks for the input/ideas. had not heard of the bipod stand before. Also looks good.

Why is the bipod more stable outside than the Turtledog? Is it due to the weight and/or the leg design?

Thanks again.

[oldpappy]

I have both of these stands and use them both often (my TD even has a serial number from the early days of design). Based on my stands:

The TD stands on 2 hinged tripods while the 'bipod' stand is built like a swingset - you tighten up the 1 3/8" Open L pieces to make it stable and the legs can be spread wider for more stability or to compensate for unstable ground. The TD tripod hinge design will fold up when unloaded and breezy. The bipod could tip over if the wind is strong enough - but it is more stable with the distribution over the entire structure vs the TD balancing the weight on 2 tripods.
There are things you can do to make the TD more stable like adding solid 1x1 boards between the legs to keep them from folding up, but the original intent of the TD was for use inside and easy to fold up to transport or store out of the way.

They are both great, inexpensive, easy to build stands with their own pros and cons - that is why I have both (and the toprail is the same for both - can be used on either).

[Texas Hanger]

I too have made and used both stands. Oldpappy is dead on with his assessment...

[Draketake]

Cool guys thank you.

Can someone show a picture on how to construct the setup to keep the tripod legs from splaying outwards?

Do I just drill small holes in the legs and run cord through?

Thank you in advance.

[Scarecrow]

Cool guys thank you.

Can someone show a picture on how to construct the setup to keep the tripod legs from splaying outwards?

Do I just drill small holes in the legs and run cord through?

Thank you in advance.

Yep, that's how many of us do it.



Sent from my LGMP450 using Tapatalk

[Draketake]

Thank you scarecrow. Thought that was how it was done but wanted to make sure.

If you use eyebolts, on the toprail to hang off the gate hinge, what size are they? I am thinking 3/8 inch is that about right?