Ultralight hammock suspension, DIY UCRs for less than 1 ounce per line

**SGT Rock** · 01-03-2013, 03:55

Originally Posted by jerzybears

Would this modification be suitable for those vets who were...hehehe..chaptered under Chapter 18??

Probably not. But maybe.

**Risk** · 01-03-2013, 21:53

Originally Posted by SGT Rock

other experienced hikers like yourself finding the fiddle factor with the knot too much (do you leave the knot tied? You should) while I find the knot liberatingly the easiest way to do it.

I did find it difficult to untie the larks head around the marlin spike when the strap was Mule tape. I had resisted going full bore and using Dutch hooks for the Mule tape, so I had to undo the knot to take the strap off the tree.
From what I now understand, you just leave the UCR attached to the Marlin spike for most hanging situations and all you have to do is loop the tree with the Mule tape and a Dutch hook. That makes sense. All I have to do is write away for another pair of Dutch hooks.

**SGT Rock** · 01-04-2013, 18:48

Originally Posted by Lupus

Can you post some pictures of how you attach this to your hammock? Thanks for the help sarge.

I planned to do a video today, but I was jammed up with contractor and building inspector issues for my porch project. So hopefully these will do.

Normally I just run the short section of dynagide I demonstrated making through the channels on the ends of my hammock and then tighten them down good. Here is a picture of the foot end of my hammock:

If you have the ends of your hammock already whipped, then you can use that same piece in a larks head around the end of your hammock:

**Lupus** · 01-04-2013, 19:25

Originally Posted by SGT Rock

I planned to do a video today, but I was jammed up with contractor and building inspector issues for my porch project. So hopefully these will do.

Normally I just run the short section of dynagide I demonstrated making through the channels on the ends of my hammock and then tighten them down good. Here is a picture of the foot end of my hammock:

If you have the ends of your hammock already whipped, then you can use that same piece in a larks head around the end of your hammock:

Ok, thanks. I understand now. I appreciate the photo's. I thought that was the case, but I wasn't sure.

**funkho** · 01-06-2013, 17:09

I am looking to put together the parts to run this project, but I wanted to confirm something.

There is no adjustment at the hammock end of the mule tape. Is that correct? The adjustments for the suspension are all done via the UCR coming from the hammock. So there is no cinch buckle or anything like that. Is that right?

Also, there is a whoopie hook at the tree end of the mule tape, replacing the dutch hook.. And then there is a whoopie hook at the other end of the mule tape which is attaching to your UCR. So a total of 4 whoopie hooks for a complete hammock suspension. Is that right?

Thanks!

**SGT Rock** · 01-06-2013, 17:20

Originally Posted by funkho

I am looking to put together the parts to run this project, but I wanted to confirm something.

There is no adjustment at the hammock end of the mule tape. Is that correct?

Correct. Although you may find you need to do an extra wrap or two around the tree to take up some slack.

The adjustments for the suspension are all done via the UCR coming from the hammock. So there is no cinch buckle or anything like that. Is that right?

Also right

Also, there is a whoopie hook at the tree end of the mule tape, replacing the dutch hook. And then there is a whoopie hook at the other end of the mule tape which is attaching to your UCR.

Not exactly. You are right that there is a whoopie hook at the tree end of the mule tape ro replace a dutch clip (http://www.outdoortrailgear.com/featured/dutch-clips/). This is what you use to hook back onto the mule tape instead of running the mule tape back through itself.

The UCR (the long end, the part I call the head) attaches to the end of the mule tape via a larks head. At the other end of the UCR (the short end, the part I call the tail) is the other whoopie hook. On the hammock you larks head that short piece I made with two loops so that you have a loop to connect to the UCR woopie hook.

So a total of 4 whoopie hooks for a complete hammock suspension. Is that right?

Thanks!

Yes that is right.

**SGT Rock** · 01-06-2013, 18:22

**Risk** · 01-07-2013, 08:12

Nice laboratory, Sgt Rock! The video helped me to understand how you are using the Mule Tape. Looks good.

**SGT Rock** · 01-07-2013, 08:26

It is sweet. I just spend my first night out in it last night. It got down to 24F which is a good temperature for sleeping. FWIW that rig last night you saw in the video:

Ghost Hammock with modified foot box - 5.76 ounces
2 UCR & mule tape lines with dutchware - 1.97 ounces
Cuben Fiber tarp and lines and dutchware - 5.44 ounces
4 arrow stakes - 0.66 ounces
Phoenix 0F underquilt with dutchware - 20.88 ounces
Burrow 20F top quilt - 21.04 ounces
JRB Down-to-earth converter pad - 4.49 ounces
Butt pad/UL pack frame - 1.94 ounces
Total winter rig = 62.18 ounces or 3.89 pounds.

**FireInMyBones** · 01-07-2013, 16:42

I just received some Mule Tape today and I'm waiting for two more whoopie hooks to come in. I've already got some dynaglide whoopies made so this is going to be great.

Three questions, SGT Rock:
1. Is the loop hosting the hook that replaces the Dutch clip a continuous loop of dynaglide or is it something else knotted?
2. How do you get your tarp to be so light weight (dimensions, ridgeline, guylines...)?
3. Do you still use your pole mod for your tarp and is it working well?