Two hammocks - one tarp?

**Moel Siabod** · 02-03-2015, 06:05

I'm planning a trip with my wife and hoping that we can both hang under my HG CF 4D tarp.

My current thinking is to hang the two hammocks from the same two trees and improvise a spreader bar at the head end from a stick. (I'm too cheap to buy any gizmos and I don't want to carry extra weight).

Can't seem to find anything written on this kind of set up on the forum so does anyone have any experience to share?

**Kleinpm** · 02-03-2015, 07:08

I don't think I would trust a stick picked up from the forest floor as a spreader bar. Hanging bunk bed style might be your best bet.

Patrick

**Richard Tipton** · 02-03-2015, 07:28

Originally Posted by Kleinpm

I don't think I would trust a stick picked up from the forest floor as a spreader bar. Hanging bunk bed style might be your best bet.

Patrick

Also, with a spreader bar, you'd feel every move, twitch, and breath of the other person.

**2ply** · 02-03-2015, 08:18

Check out the end of part 3 of Hillbilly Hangers Frozen Butt Hang to see the way he set up his and the wife's hammocks to use one tarp and 3 trees.

**Comet_Seeker** · 02-03-2015, 08:18

You could also share one tree and then each have a separate tree for the other end. It usually allows enough space to not need a spreader bar, but you can be side by side and under the same tarp (if it's large enough).

**Moel Siabod** · 02-03-2015, 09:17

I was thinking something like the way Detail Man does it in this video.

**Fronkey** · 02-03-2015, 12:00

At the 10 minute mark of this video I show how to do it.

Fronkey

**cottontw** · 02-03-2015, 15:50

I did this a few weeks ago by just hanging from some larger trees (approx. 3'-4' diameter). I hung my suspension off of one "side" of the tree and hung the girlfriend's suspension off the other "side". I hung the tarp from the "middle" and had no issues at all. I hung my hammock ~3 inches lower than hers, but since I am heavier, I hung about 8 inches lower and didn't have any problem with bumping into her when in the hammock. Getting in and out, I am sure I disturbed her although she said she didn't wake when I woke up for my midnight "flower watering". If the "perfect trees" didn't exist, I would have tried to fashion a spreader bar out of a stick just as you are suggesting. I don't see any idea why that wouldn't work.

**Moel Siabod** · 02-03-2015, 16:32

Originally Posted by cottontw

I did this a few weeks ago by just hanging from some larger trees (approx. 3'-4' diameter). I hung my suspension off of one "side" of the tree and hung the girlfriend's suspension off the other "side". I hung the tarp from the "middle" and had no issues at all. I hung my hammock ~3 inches lower than hers, but since I am heavier, I hung about 8 inches lower and didn't have any problem with bumping into her when in the hammock. Getting in and out, I am sure I disturbed her although she said she didn't wake when I woke up for my midnight "flower watering". If the "perfect trees" didn't exist, I would have tried to fashion a spreader bar out of a stick just as you are suggesting. I don't see any idea why that wouldn't work.

Fatter trees... What could be simpler! I love this idea.

And as you say, if the" perfect trees" don't exist where I want them, then I think one of my trekking poles might work as a spreader. I'll experiment tomorrow.

**Moel Siabod** · 02-03-2015, 16:37

Originally Posted by Fronkey

At the 10 minute mark of this video I show how to do it.

Fronkey

Thanks Fronkey. It's great to see that the HG CF tarp is plenty big enough for two if pitch very low.

Do you find it's sometimes a chore to find three trees in just the right place?