The TurtleDog stand

[seadad9903]

The main reason I did the stands when we were car camping (besides the cool factor. I had at least 3 people come ask me about them) was because the site, Prince William Forest Park, didn't allow anything hanging from the trees when I called to ask. Turns out that they changed that policy after I called and before I got there (it was a couple of months) to allowable if the straps are 1 1/2" and up.

Anyway, the biggest advantage I think is that if your rig is dialed in before you get to camp, a 9 year old can set it up. The only hitch we had was that my daughter's (she's the 9 year old) loops used to hang the ridge pole got left at home. So I had to hang it higher than normal. I have to admit it was nice not having to look at the site and try and figure out a compromise between livability and a good hang set up. We just threw them up where ever seemed good.


I didn't think of doubling up hammocks to reduce the number of tripods. I might play around with it some.

I have also had my set up blow over in a high wind in the yard. But at the Park, it stormed from 3p until the next morning. It was bad enough the rangers considered closing the campground. But with all the trees blocking the winds we didn't feel it much at all. I think if the campground is at least semi sheltered there wont be much worry of getting it blown over.

[olddog]

I haven't used my stand outside so just wondering. Is it the hammock or the tarp that is allowing the wind to affect the stand? Thought is that if the tarp is staked it should hold the stand down. If no tarp is in place the hanging hammock in a breeze would surely catch the wind and become a sail. Recalling my short lived sailing days, a few short lines tying the hammock to the top rail when the hammock is not in use should solve the problem when the hammock is unoccupied.

[samsara]

Anyway, the biggest advantage I think is that if your rig is dialed in before you get to camp, a 9 year old can set it up. The only hitch we had was that my daughter's (she's the 9 year old) loops used to hang the ridge pole got left at home. So I had to hang it higher than normal. I have to admit it was nice not having to look at the site and try and figure out a compromise between livability and a good hang set up. We just threw them up where ever seemed good.

I see that as a big benefit for anyone no matter their age. If you are car camping at a campground then having the TD means you can set up quickly and be the most comfortable campers in the campground in a matter of minutes... in style. I remember my tent camping days when you would try to find the spot that didn't have big bumps or a root sticking out. The only time you didn't care about the bumps and roots was if you had an inflatable mattress... until now

I just can't wait to see the DetailMan clan set up using 4 TD tripods and 5 ridgepoles for 5 hammocks in the MAD777 double triangle configuration

I haven't used my stand outside so just wondering. Is it the hammock or the tarp that is allowing the wind to affect the stand? Thought is that if the tarp is staked it should hold the stand down. If no tarp is in place the hanging hammock in a breeze would surely catch the wind and become a sail. Recalling my short lived sailing days, a few short lines tying the hammock to the top rail when the hammock is not in use should solve the problem when the hammock is unoccupied.

Mine went in to light sail mode a few times before I got it pegged down. The one time that I had a tarp set up on it I thought that that would be an added benefit... it will hold the entire rig in place (as long as your stakes held). This almost makes me want to camp at a big campground... almost

Dave

[Just Jeff]

Here's a video of a bushcraft version of this stand...just made with lashings instead of hinges.

[samsara]

Here's a video of a bushcraft version of this stand...just made with lashings instead of hinges.

That's the beauty of the original turtlelady design... it is simple and easy to build and can be made using varied materials (thus the TurtleDog version).

In other TurtleDog news...

Originally Posted by olddog
The question was posed by old4hats about the number of turtledog stands that had been built. Went back and reviewed a few threads, the Turtlelady stand, the TurtleDog stand and a thread by domromer. Here is what I was able to find and assume that there may be others.

#1- Olddog
#2- flashbang009
#3- hppyfngy, with first angled ends
#4- linuxhack
#5- mys4sllc
#6- samsara
#7- letstieoneon
#8- Cole
#9- Fontana Horseman
#10 & #11- olzeke and wife
#12 & #13- CamRuns and brother
#14- carmen2kayak
#15- Troy64
#16- Throkda
#17- OldMart
#18- Spiffguy
#19- Aven
#20- hppyfngy for nephew
#21- Mundele
#22- meanmoe
#23- Chuck Gravy
#24- spinkid
#25- samsara's daughter, version 2.0
#26- old4hats
#27- CptAhmadKnackwurst
#28- Fish<><
#29- Shortbus
#30- Clarinath
#31- Silvertitan
#32- NoahWhey
#33- trhang
#34- TheKid
#35- Suburban
#36- gp_griz
#37- Sidewinder
#38- wattson
#39- thehappymailman
#40- Datahiker
#41-#43- seadad9903
#44- samsara (another TD 2.0)


If you have built a TurtleDog and are not on the list please feel free to add yourself.

Now I need to rearrange a bunch of furniture to get it to fit in my house so that I can hang my big Mayan hammock for sleeping in.

Dave

[Jafo]

Try this. Beef up the ends of pipe with a piece of wood dowel and drill a 7/16 in. hole thru pipe and dowel insert a 3/8 in. eye bolt with a eye nut. Should be able to setup with "S" hooks or carabiners.

[sleestac]

Try this. Beef up the ends of pipe with a piece of wood dowel and drill a 7/16 in. hole thru pipe and dowel insert a 3/8 in. eye bolt with a eye nut. Should be able to setup with "S" hooks or carabiners.

Where can I get eye nuts and how much are they? The only places I've found are on line and their expensive. I think the site I found was an arborist site.

[samsara]

Try this. Beef up the ends of pipe with a piece of wood dowel and drill a 7/16 in. hole thru pipe and dowel insert a 3/8 in. eye bolt with a eye nut. Should be able to setup with "S" hooks or carabiners.

That was suggested a while ago by oldgringo (I think). Quite a few seem happy to use the end caps and for me, at least, I need the flexibility to move the hang point to accommodate different hammocks. I think that eventually there will be a group that will start doing the dowel/eyebolt method because it really seems like a good idea

Dave

[olzeke]

This weekend I set up one of the stands to use as a closet rod for an outdoor yard sale. I was surprised when no one said anything about it. How often do we see a tri-pod in a yard?

[hppyfngy]

This weekend I set up one of the stands to use as a closet rod for an outdoor yard sale. I was surprised when no one said anything about it. How often do we see a tri-pod in a yard?

In my yard, pretty often!

Tripods, tipi, tents, bamboo tripods, turtledog stand, ...