Just made one this weekend as my supplies were a fathers day gift from my kids and wifey. I made the top rail 13 feet with 2 sections of fence post and the 2x2's were cut to 78". I used the angled top trick and that works like a champ as it seems very solid. I have a concern though as the stand seems a bit "tippy". The bottom of the legs are measured at 48" apart from each other. What seems to be a decent separation? Should I lower the stand to an even 6' or lower the top rail to help with that?
It seemed fine for me, then my middle daughter sits in as I sip my coffee and my youngest gave her a push like nobody's business and in seconds she was under the toothpick pile half laughing and crying. So I am hoping to reduce the chances of that, although if I see it coming next time I will have the camera ready to share the humor...
Thanks in advance for the help and the cool ideas and input of this stand.
Some say I'm apathetic, but I don't care. - Randy
Umm, yeah...they're hammock stands, not playground equipment.
Dave
"Loneliness is the poverty of self; solitude is the richness of self."~~~May Sarton
spinkid you could try running a line from the pole where it hangs from the tripod down to the ground and anchoring it to something like one of those dog chain cork screws. Still wont make playground equipment out of it but that should make it less tippy even for children. I would think that would also help if you are camped out with your tarp deployed and a strong wind kicks up. Still waiting for someone to report that they were out in their turtledog stand and got blown over in the middle of the night. (This is not an original idea. I read it somewhere in this thread or another. Just dont want to take credit for it and I am to lazy to look it up.)
Pete.
The opinions expressed by this user are not those of a competent individual. If they were that would mean I know what I am talking about.
Thanks for the replies. I know it's not playground equipment, just wanted to through out my kids findings for a good chuckle (as long as nobody is hurt its a chuckle). And with kids, you turn your head for a minute and everything becomes a playground. I might try and knock 6 inches off tonight and see how it goes. It actually wanted to tip when I got out once, so I will lower it just a bit and see what happens. Other than my slight tweaking necessary, this thing is seriously strong for what it is. I will post back after some tweaking. Thanks again.
Lowering it will only help if you keep the same 48" spread on the legs. Leaving the height the same and increasing the spread on the legs will have the same effect.
FWIW...I have been fearful that someone will set up a turtledog stand with the "angled top trick" on a slick surface and have the legs slide, splay out and split at the bolts. This design gives the legs a lot of leverage at the bolts. Personally, I would only use a turtledog stand with spread limiting cordage, etc., low enough to provide little leverage. It make a much stronger setup....especially when kids start horsing around.
I've had my original one for about 9 months or so and sleep in it a lot. It's really stable, especially with the rubber feet but I am always careful when loading or unloading it. That's when it's vulnerable. Once loaded, my weight makes it solid.
Get in and out of it slowly and watch what's going on with the stand. As far as kids go, I know you were only telling a story but there is serious potential for injury with these things.
Some say I'm apathetic, but I don't care. - Randy
gmcttr, I wasn't responding to you above.
I took my design cues from tripods and tipis, both of which I have used many times. This is what led me to a more vertical tripod with a narrower footprint. This puts the force where I think it should be, on compressing the length of the 2x and less on the hinge joint. And you're right, the wider stance design should have spread limiters for that reason IMHO. The forces act to spread the legs the wider the stance is. With my more vertical style I don't think the force on the hinge is nearly as great, but in theory it would be more tippy.
However you do it, be careful!
Some say I'm apathetic, but I don't care. - Randy
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