Best tarp for side by side hammocks?

**Dublinlin** · 08-24-2017, 11:10

Is there a specific tarp that works well with two hammocks hung side by side using the Dutch spreader bar?

I tried my SuperFly yesterday and I can probably make it work but it looked kind of iffy, to my surprise.

**Dutch** · 08-24-2017, 11:12

JRB has a good sale right now on their 11 x 10 rectangle tarp.

**Dublinlin** · 08-24-2017, 11:16

Originally Posted by Dutch

JRB has a good sale right now on their 11 x 10 rectangle tarp.

Awesome! Thanks!!!

**robertjackson** · 08-24-2017, 11:39

Look at UGQ Winter Dreams
When pull outs or pole mods are used, these are Huge.

**sqidmark** · 08-24-2017, 11:49

If your superfly has pullouts it should work fine with the addition of external pole mods. My DIY xenon is nearly identical to a SF's dimensions and we use it almost exclusively for hanging double.

**Dublinlin** · 08-24-2017, 12:18

Originally Posted by Dutch

JRB has a good sale right now on their 11 x 10 rectangle tarp.

Just came back from looking at the JRB web site. I can't find any sale prices. Looks like the 11 x 10 is still $144...?

Originally Posted by sqidmark

If your superfly has pullouts it should work fine with the addition of external pole mods. My DIY xenon is nearly identical to a SF's dimensions and we use it almost exclusively for hanging double.

I was using a pole mod yesterday with my SuperFly and it worked (barely) for the side by side hammocks except when one hammock was loaded and the other was empty...then the end of the bar from the empty side swung too far up. Maybe I could circumvent that issue by raising the tarp higher but that is challenging for me since I'm under 5 feet tall.

My problem isn't WIDTH in the BODY of the tarp, but rather the width at the far head end of the tarp.

**Dutch** · 08-24-2017, 12:46

Originally Posted by Dublinlin

Just came back from looking at the JRB web site. I can't find any sale prices. Looks like the 11 x 10 is still $144...?

I thought their sale was for all month but it must have ended.

**Dublinlin** · 08-24-2017, 13:16

Originally Posted by Dutch

I thought their sale was for all month but it must have ended.

Oh well!

Might have to sell one of my SuperFlys and get a Cloudburst in its place!

**Dublinlin** · 08-24-2017, 14:30

Originally Posted by robertjackson

Look at UGQ Winter Dreams
When pull outs or pole mods are used, these are Huge.

I think the UGQ Winter Dream and Warbonnet's SuperFly are the same size. I have 2 SuperFlys, both outfitted with the pole mod. And the SuperFly will work in a pinch, but it's not ideal as it is a tight fit on the head end and I worry about wear and tear on the tarp since the Beatle Buckles and tip of the spreader bar come in contact with the sides of the tarp. I had a blunt hiking pole that was elevating the shelf of my Blackbird XLC wear a hole in one of my tarps just from incidental rubbing over a three day hang once. Since then I've been squeamish of anything rubbing my tarp sides.

**sqidmark** · 08-24-2017, 15:30

Originally Posted by Dublinlin

...I was using a pole mod yesterday with my SuperFly and it worked (barely) for the side by side hammocks except when one hammock was loaded and the other was empty...then the end of the bar from the empty side swung too far up. Maybe I could circumvent that issue by raising the tarp higher but that is challenging for me since I'm under 5 feet tall.

My problem isn't WIDTH in the BODY of the tarp, but rather the width at the far head end of the tarp.

I'm a giant at 5'4", though I still feel your pain.

Well, I made my tarp specifically with double hanging in mind, so the pull outs are shifted toward the head end a bit. You can always add another pair yourself or get someone else to do it for you.

In any case, use dogbones just long enough to move the bar outside the tarp. The cords may still contact the tarp, but at least the bar ends won't poke a hole. For those times when you HAVE to have the bar inside (trees too close), make yourself some bar end tarp protectors out of 1/2" pipe insulation. I have a thread around here somewhere with photos, but it's simple enough to figure out on your own.

There are a couple of things I do to make spreader bar life more pleasant. I keep a small pc of gorilla tape stuck the each half of the bar so that I can stick one on the joint once the bar is assembled. Two because one will get lost and or become unsticky at some point. You'll find out why when it gets really windy and the hammocks aren't weighted down or staked. For the same reason, I make a shock cord dogbone to stretch across the bar to help keep it from popping out of the mount holes in the suspension. Alternatively you could use short pieces of rubber hose on the pins, but I haven't tried that yet.

The dogbones used here are way too long for this, but it's what I had on hand at the time. This is a 12x14 SLD Winter Haven which I modded with three internal poles.

I know I have photos of my DIY tarp around here somewhere, from last years fall MAHHA. I'll see if I can scare 'em up for ya if ya want.

EDIT> Forgot to point out that the longer the dogbones used to move the spreader outside, the closer the hammocks will converge.

If you can, buy an extra one or two female bar sections so that you can experiment with different lengths. Commons sense would indicate that the shorter it is the less likely it will be to damage the tarp if it's inside. Find the minimum length that YOU'RE comfortable with. For us, it's about 30", we kinda like each other anyway.