Garda Hitch on HH with no modifications

[bonsaihiker]

Thanks for the welcome, everyone. Kinda weird, though--I've been reading this forum for almost a year and I feel like I know you all pretty well already!

Anyway, thanks, Javaman, for that description. Makes a lot of sense. I think, though, for your technique to work for me I'd need to move the rings onto the hammock suspension rope, instead of the treehuggers they are currently mounted on, but maybe I wouldn't need to do that--I have a pretty long reach. I went that way mainly to have as much adjustability as possible. I also tried to pull a bight through the rings, but the line twisted as I pulled and the kinks that formed would not go through the rings no matter what I did.

I'll have to hang it again and try it out. Won't get to do that again until Saturday, though.

[Javaman]

Originally Posted by bonsaihiker

Thanks for the welcome, everyone. Kinda weird, though--I've been reading this forum for almost a year and I feel like I know you all pretty well already!

Anyway, thanks, Javaman, for that description. Makes a lot of sense. I think, though, for your technique to work for me I'd need to move the rings onto the hammock suspension rope, instead of the treehuggers they are currently mounted on, but maybe I wouldn't need to do that--I have a pretty long reach. I went that way mainly to have as much adjustability as possible. I also tried to pull a bight through the rings, but the line twisted as I pulled and the kinks that formed would not go through the rings no matter what I did.

I'll have to hang it again and try it out. Won't get to do that again until Saturday, though.

The rope does twist around sometimes. That's why I don't always pull that bight all the way through. I'll get it most of the way pulled through and then just open up the rings and take it out.

Try it out and see if it works any better for you. Let us know what you learn!

[Alan]

Awesome thread, JJ!
I've now updated my HH rig using this method.

[bonsaihiker]

Ok, I'll play with the hang a bit. I'm sure that will make a big difference. I may have been expecting a bit too much from this system, though it is indeed a very nice system...

I just got back from Harbor Freight with some ratchet straps that will be soon cannibalized for the webbing, and while I was there I noticed the "Big" Figure 9's. I had no idea that they came that "Big." 300 pound capacity--now THAT might hold me. I picked up a couple, and might experiment with that as well. There would be no difficulty undoing that suspension, that's for sure. But, I would not be able to keep everything together as one piece.

Thanks again, everyone, for your time.

[Javaman]

Originally Posted by bonsaihiker

Ok, I'll play with the hang a bit. I'm sure that will make a big difference. I may have been expecting a bit too much from this system, though it is indeed a very nice system...

I just got back from Harbor Freight with some ratchet straps that will be soon cannibalized for the webbing, and while I was there I noticed the "Big" Figure 9's. I had no idea that they came that "Big." 300 pound capacity--now THAT might hold me. I picked up a couple, and might experiment with that as well. There would be no difficulty undoing that suspension, that's for sure. But, I would not be able to keep everything together as one piece.

Thanks again, everyone, for your time.

Be careful! I used those big Figure-9's exactly ONE (1) time and had to send my hammock back to Hennessey to have the ropes replaces. The teeth chewed right through my main suspension ropes. That's how I came to the garda hitch with rings. There are plenty of big threads here on modifying the figure-9's to not have teeth, but it became easier for me to just do the garda hitch.

[bonsaihiker]

Wow, that's good to know, thanks for the heads-up. I did read the Figure 9 thread--well, most of it--and I saw all the modifications. FWIW, what I picture is attaching the ring to the HH suspension rope, and using another line of some kind from the tree hugger to the "teeth." I was going to experiment with it, but I'm really hoping to get the rings/garda hitch working for me. I may consider going with webbing to the rings, however. That sounds easier to remove.

So . . . what line would be good for me to use with the Garda hitch? I would attach the rings to the hammock support, and run the line from the huggers to the rings. I'm 250 lbs, BTW. Any suggestions? I've seen lots of names thrown around, but I'm not sure what would be best. Would there be a good line to use with the fig. 9? A good one that would work for either?

Thanks!

[Javaman]

Originally Posted by bonsaihiker

Wow, that's good to know, thanks for the heads-up. I did read the Figure 9 thread--well, most of it--and I saw all the modifications. FWIW, what I picture is attaching the ring to the HH suspension rope, and using another line of some kind from the tree hugger to the "teeth." I was going to experiment with it, but I'm really hoping to get the rings/garda hitch working for me. I may consider going with webbing to the rings, however. That sounds easier to remove.

So . . . what line would be good for me to use with the Garda hitch? I would attach the rings to the hammock support, and run the line from the huggers to the rings. I'm 250 lbs, BTW. Any suggestions? I've seen lots of names thrown around, but I'm not sure what would be best. Would there be a good line to use with the fig. 9? A good one that would work for either?

Thanks!

I have not tested any other suspension ropes than those that came with my HH. I tried webbing but it was heavier and bulkier for me. I know there are some threads about different suspension ropes . . .some about amsteel blue. Try a broad search for that or maybe another member will chime in. Also check the JRB site, and the Speer site for some other ideas.

[GrizzlyAdams]

Originally Posted by bonsaihiker

Wow, that's good to know, thanks for the heads-up. I did read the Figure 9 thread--well, most of it--and I saw all the modifications. FWIW, what I picture is attaching the ring to the HH suspension rope, and using another line of some kind from the tree hugger to the "teeth." I was going to experiment with it, but I'm really hoping to get the rings/garda hitch working for me. I may consider going with webbing to the rings, however. That sounds easier to remove.

So . . . what line would be good for me to use with the Garda hitch? I would attach the rings to the hammock support, and run the line from the huggers to the rings. I'm 250 lbs, BTW. Any suggestions? I've seen lots of names thrown around, but I'm not sure what would be best. Would there be a good line to use with the fig. 9? A good one that would work for either?

Thanks!

I've tried unsheathed woven cord (Vectran 12 and Amsteel Blue) through the garda hitch. In both cases the pinching of the rings flattens the cord. Really flattens it. I don't like the looks of it when applied in the same spot time after time (back yard hang), although I don't know that it necessarily weakens the cord. So I use instead a sheathed core cord---Spyderline---in the 3.8mm diameter size. It is heavier than the woven braids I listed, but does not appear to be damaged by the pinching.

Grizz

[bonsaihiker]

Cool--thanks for the replies. I'll probably check into the spyderline. Maybe it would be easier to deal with.

I got a chance to hang the hammock again last night, and tried different configurations, and different techniques. The Hennessey cord is definitely hard to undo, even before sitting in the hammock, with any bit of tension at all, and I just can't figure out the knack for loosening with one hand while I pull on the hammock with the other. The main frustration is the lack of the ability to easily readjust the position of the hammock while setting up.

I also tried using the Harbor Freight webbing from tree to rings (rings attached to hammock support line with anchor hitch) and this seemed much simpler, and easier to release, though still harder to undo than the hammock cord. I tried pulling the webbing 90 deg. and still couldn't release it easily, but it was definitely easier. I haven't weighed the different systems, but that webbing seems pretty light weight.

Anyway, I really appreciate the help, everyone. What a great forum!