Cargo straps

[Dead Mule, John]

Greetings Hangers - I've just joined the forum. I've been hanging since the early 90s using a surplus navy hammock & the faithful blue tarp. Had some beautiful experiences but that's for another day. What I haven't seen in all the sites I've been to is someone using cargo straps - the ratchet kind in case there's any doubt. It's as simple as it gets, it doesn't stretch and I've yet to see any damage to bark as a result of using them. Granted, if weight is an issue you might think twice but for short trips or if you tend to use a vehicle, why not? Even if the ratchet breaks as mechanical things are want to do when your furthest from the nearest hardware store, throw it into your trash bag, run the strap back to the eye of the other hook and tie it off. I don't even get fancy even though as a sailor I love to tie knots. In fact, if weight isn't that great an issue, just go without the ratchet.
Oh yeah, I'm getting ready to do a coast to coast run on the Harley and upgrading my hammock to a Hennessy Explorer. The bugs are fierce back east and I'm sure I'll hit some pretty good precipitation. Later.

[DemostiX]

Cargo straps are a staple. Especially cheap ones, since the cheapest have just about the strength, by weight, folks want.
How so many folks pry or pound the heavy ratcheting stop off is something I used to be curious about until a sewing machine meant a knife and one less already-sewn loop was the alternative.

[MDSH]

As a newby I was going to use some cargo straps on hand but they had been stored for years in the tool box on my truck -- baked brittle and faded -- I didn't trust them so bought some inexpensive nylon straps from Hammock Bliss. I really like them but wish I had known about Strapworks first, which is even more economical. All that being said, SGT Rock does the best thing by bar-tacking his straps.

The manila rope in the tool box looked like new, BTW. I am also glad to have a recovery chain instead of straps. Thermoplastics are great but have their limits, huh?

[Comet_Seeker]

I thought about doing the cargo straps but the whoopies just come across as easier to adjust. It'd be a pain if you ratchet too tight then have to loosen it for a better hang IMHO.

[nothermark]

Greetings Hangers - I've just joined the forum. I've been hanging since the early 90s using a surplus navy hammock & the faithful blue tarp. Had some beautiful experiences but that's for another day. What I haven't seen in all the sites I've been to is someone using cargo straps - the ratchet kind in case there's any doubt. It's as simple as it gets, it doesn't stretch and I've yet to see any damage to bark as a result of using them. Granted, if weight is an issue you might think twice but for short trips or if you tend to use a vehicle, why not? Even if the ratchet breaks as mechanical things are want to do when your furthest from the nearest hardware store, throw it into your trash bag, run the strap back to the eye of the other hook and tie it off. I don't even get fancy even though as a sailor I love to tie knots. In fact, if weight isn't that great an issue, just go without the ratchet.
Oh yeah, I'm getting ready to do a coast to coast run on the Harley and upgrading my hammock to a Hennessy Explorer. The bugs are fierce back east and I'm sure I'll hit some pretty good precipitation. Later.

I would look into a bigger tarp along with the one that comes with your Hennessy. You can handle the weight so something like a 12x12 coated nylon tarp will give you room to park under in the rain or heavy sun. ;-)

[Fish<><]

Greetings Hangers - I've just joined the forum. I've been hanging since the early 90s using a surplus navy hammock & the faithful blue tarp. Had some beautiful experiences but that's for another day. What I haven't seen in all the sites I've been to is someone using cargo straps - the ratchet kind in case there's any doubt. It's as simple as it gets, it doesn't stretch and I've yet to see any damage to bark as a result of using them. Granted, if weight is an issue you might think twice but for short trips or if you tend to use a vehicle, why not? Even if the ratchet breaks as mechanical things are want to do when your furthest from the nearest hardware store, throw it into your trash bag, run the strap back to the eye of the other hook and tie it off. I don't even get fancy even though as a sailor I love to tie knots. In fact, if weight isn't that great an issue, just go without the ratchet.
Oh yeah, I'm getting ready to do a coast to coast run on the Harley and upgrading my hammock to a Hennessy Explorer. The bugs are fierce back east and I'm sure I'll hit some pretty good precipitation. Later.

Where did you get your surplus navy hammock? And would you be kind enough to post up some pics? Thanks.

Fish<>< (also another navy dude)

[WV]

Welcome, DM John. Like others, I use the yellow straps from Harbor Freight, Northern Tool, etc., but only as tree huggers. I don't trust the ratchet mechanisms, and they're heavy. Don't forget all those tricks you figured out yourself over the years, and be sure to share them. Sometimes we get stuck in "the usual way of doing things", and all our setups start to look the same.

[Dead Mule, John]

also ordered the hex fly - seemed to be enough to cover me and the Harley if I don't bring it down tight. Should be good just to keep the sap and dew off. Got a plastic sheet to cover the bike if necessary.

[Dead Mule, John]

I would look into a bigger tarp along with the one that comes with your Hennessy. You can handle the weight so something like a 12x12 coated nylon tarp will give you room to park under in the rain or heavy sun. ;-)

I posted this below before I figured out how this thing works but anyway, I did order the hex fly, I've only seen pictures but seems it would cover me and the bike if I tie one side out far enough. If weather is really bad, I have a plastic sheet to cover the bike. I'll be out for a month so I'm trying to keep some of the weight down although it isn't a huge issue.

[Dead Mule, John]

Where did you get your surplus navy hammock? And would you be kind enough to post up some pics? Thanks.

Fish<>< (also another navy dude)

Hey, Fish. I got this thing from a friend of a friend who worked in supply - you know how it goes. I also had an Army jungle hammock with mosquito net and fly which worked OK. I'll try to dig out some old pics and scan them in to post.