The TurtleDog stand

[Manchego]

Manchego, do you mean to have the suspension lines go around the ends of the ridge pole and over top as to meet in the middle above the ridge pole?

No, they have to actually connect vertically to transfer the vertical loading to the suspension line. Right now, when the hammock is attached at the end and there's a loop some distance from that end, the pole has to carry the vertical loading from the end to that point. This isn't a problem of the strength of the pole, it's a problem in that it induces a moment to do it. This means that the entire pole now acts like a beam, causing it to bend in the middle, up in this case as you're outside.

If you made the verticals connect at a hinge, the hinge (in this case a shackle for example) would prevent a moment (bending) building up in the pole, and the vertical load would flow directly to the stand. The pole would be in pure compression, resisting the horizontal force of the hammock attachment. It may buckle due to eccentricity, true, but the moment forces should be a lot less so if it does so it should be less.

Of course it's probably not worth worrying about, but I'll still probably play with it when I have some time.

[hppyfngy]

No, they have to actually connect vertically to transfer the vertical loading to the suspension line. Right now, when the hammock is attached at the end and there's a loop some distance from that end, the pole has to carry the vertical loading from the end to that point. This isn't a problem of the strength of the pole, it's a problem in that it induces a moment to do it. This means that the entire pole now acts like a beam, causing it to bend in the middle, up in this case as you're outside.

If you made the verticals connect at a hinge, the hinge (in this case a shackle for example) would prevent a moment (bending) building up in the pole, and the vertical load would flow directly to the stand. The pole would be in pure compression, resisting the horizontal force of the hammock attachment. It may buckle due to eccentricity, true, but the moment forces should be a lot less so if it does so it should be less.

Of course it's probably not worth worrying about, but I'll still probably play with it when I have some time.

Right. I misread your original on a tiny screen...

This is certainly a factor, depending on the material of the ridge pole and the weight of the occupant. The TurtleDog stand though, using the ridge pole we are using attaches only a couple of inches from the hang point and the ridge pole inserts about three inches at the center coupling and is pretty tightly fit.

But of course you're right. I'll be interested to see what you come up with as an alternative connector.

I am not an Engineer, although I have ridden on many trains.

[samsara]

I am not an Engineer, although I have ridden on many trains.

I thought you were going to tell us that you stayed at a Holiday Inn (or whatever the hotel was that ran those commercials)

[Detail Man]

I have now. Some day I'll work on getting it under a 12' ridgepole. I used about 13' of pole for these pics.

OES McCat Deluxe...Attachment 36624Attachment 36625Attachment 36626

This setup looks really nice. I've been following this thread for a while and realy want to make one, but time is limited right now for "research" .

What is the size of the overall footprint of this setup? This seems like a great way to utilize campgrounds for a road trip. I'm curious how much space would be required to setup 3-5 of these for a family.

Has anyone thought of hanging tandem with spreader bars with one of these stands? A parent and child, or two children?

Great work gmcttr.

[MAD777]

I'm curious how much space would be required to setup 3-5 of these for a family.

DM, you could put 3 tripods in a triangle with 3 poles between them and hang 3 people. Separate stands would require 6 tripods & 3 poles. Now add one more tripod with 2 more bars going to it, and you have a 5 hammock setup for your whole family using only 4 tripods.

Here is a feeble attempt at an illustration. Each line represents a bar. There are 4 tripods, one at each junction.
<|>

[Manchego]

The TurtleDog stand though, using the ridge pole we are using attaches only a couple of inches from the hang point and the ridge pole inserts about three inches at the center coupling and is pretty tightly fit.

Right, but to resist moment you have to have tension on one side, compression on the other. As there's a joint, you can't have tension on one side, so it ends up bearing (pressing, crushing, whatever) on the top of the inserted piece instead of pulling along the top edge of the pole. Practical difference is that it will cause a much more significant deflection, but probably wont' cause failure unless you're loading the hammock a lot.

But of course you're right. I'll be interested to see what you come up with as an alternative connector.

So will I as soon as I get 'round to it After mulling it through, probably the best thing would be to bore a hole through on each end, a few inches from the end, and put a shaft through horizontally. Then, take an amsteel loop from the connector to a shackle/biner/whatever, figure 8 type loop is better still, so the top loop goes round the ridge pole and bears on the shaft, transferring the load to the midpoint of the ridge pole with no vertical component. Connect the shackle or whatever to the lower loop and hang from that.

I am not an Engineer, although I have ridden on many trains.

It is quite hard to get lost on railroad tracks, though I've occasionally been successful in losing the trail.

[wilder setx]

hello HF
im planning on making a stand like this any day now. my biggest concern is getting that 30* angle on the tieouts. i have a wbbb which i believe is 10 feet long. so how long does the "pole" need to be to get that. what are you using and are you getting the right angle

thanks

[olddog]

Cookie, my pole is 10' and my DIY hammock is 10', with short whoopies on each end it gives just the right sag with very little adjustment needed.

[RootCause]

Engineer in me has to say...I understand the upward deflection referenced, it's caused by inducing a moment with the horizontal distance between the hanging line and the hammock hanging line. Will have to build a set of these, but will instead put a shackle in the top rail cap, with screw vertically oriented, and the hanging line and the hammock line (where the suspension connects to) both off the same shackle. That, in theory, should eliminate the moment component as the vertical force is transferred through the shackle which can move in relation to the top rail so no vertical force (beyond friction) can transfer. This should put the top rail in pure compression. Only issue would be the shackle "flipping" to the side and being somewhat off center, inducing a lateral moment, but I don't think that would be substantial and could be countered by moving the stands a bit out.

It sounds good at least

Dear god, what's wrong with me. I think I actually understand this.

[gp_griz]

OK. Got it done this evening.
In time to tweek it before our vacation trip next week.

The tripods are 5.5' total length each.
The pole is two 5.5' sections.
5.5' is important, because that's how long my truck bed is.

I still need to drill some holes in the legs for spread limiter ropes.

And I need to finalise some hanging loops; so far i'm using a couple of doubled up ratchet straps looped through the quick link and larks-headed around the pole.
But my regular suspension straps will work for attaching the hammock.

I tried it out, then callled out son number 1 to check it out. He wound up staying in it until it was time to go in. the little booger!
Then he starts saying stuff like "where's the tarp?" "where's the pillow?"

Anyway...I'm pretty stoked!

Like they say...pics or it never happend.
Please ignore all the backyard work/chores that need doing...




cheers!
Geoff.