rriiiiiippp...thud...##$@^!

[rjcress]

Thanks Dan. I used the 2nd diagram and a tape measure to check the hang of my freshly shortened hammock tonight. I'm in the hammock for the night as I type this (on my iPhone).

Surprisingly, after this very hammock failed and dropped me on my back last night, my six year old insisted on sleeping in it tonight. I assumed that she meant she wanted to join me in the hammock. However she just told me he wanted to sleep out here by herself. Too late, we are both out here now. She insisted on putting her head at the opposite end as mine, so she is sort of squishing my feet. Oh well, she's a bit less than 50Lbs, so not too bad.

the good news is that we've got my 190 + her 45 for over 230 Lbs, and no ripping sounds yet.
Also have a z-lite pad, a sleeping bag (used as OQ) and two small fleece blankets, as forecast is for mid 40s tonight.

Fingers crossed

My wife commented as I left the house and headed for the hammock that we are brave to try again after last nights incident.
I reminded her that there is a fine line between brave and stupid.

[rjcress]

Use the leftovers for a stuff sack.

Good idea!

Assuming it survives the night...I may make the footbox with it.
Either way, i Have to hit the fabric store soon to get material for the WBBB type side panels.

[slowhike]

Grant it mine was a much thinner material, it looks like a similar type material & it failed in a very similar way.
Maybe we need to stay away from that type fabric

[timabababaluka]

Maybe we need to stay away from that type fabric

I really didn't need to hear that. Made mine out of polyester jacket liner material--if it fails the Missus will never let me hear the end of it.

[Youngblood]

Grant it mine was a much thinner material, it looks like a similar type material & it failed in a very similar way.
Maybe we need to stay away from that type fabric

You bring up a good point about the uncertainty of the fabric that us DIY'ers sometimes use. We often don't know what we have or the quality of it and looks can be deceiving. Those of us that have been at this for a while and participated in the various forums over the years remember going through this with webbing, thread, etc. Sometimes the heavier and thicker stuff isn't as strong as the lighter and thinner stuff so you don't really know just by appearance alone.

[rjcress]

Grant it mine was a much thinner material, it looks like a similar type material & it failed in a very similar way.
Maybe we need to stay away from that type of fabric

Hmmm
Wondering if I should abandon this hammock body and start over with a proven fabric.
I really don't care to experience a failure on the trail.

FWIW, I just woke up and the hammock survived the night.
Time to go inside and get ready for work
But it is chilly out and I'm warm in the hammock

[slowhike]

Hmmm
Wondering if I should abandon this hammock body and start over with a proven fabric.
I really don't care to experience a failure on the trail.

You'll have to decide that, but it's a thought worth pondering, especially since it's already let you down once

[RootCause]

I'm just glad y'all have figured out the root cause of the failure!

[rjcress]

I'm just glad y'all have figured out the root cause of the failure!

I'd say that we have a few very likely suspects and accomplices, but have yet to locate a smoking gun.

Might be poor fabric choice, or poor suspension configuration, or faulty suspension attachment, or maybe prior damage or fabric defect that was not noticed before... or all of the above... or something not listed.


The fact that I hemmed along the failure point , re-whipped, re-hung with a better suspension setup, and did not plummet to the ground last night makes me want to blame my poor original suspension setup being WAY too tight. Just not sure that is the real root cause.

Anyhow, I think I'll go ahead and add the WBBB-type side panels, footbox, and tie-outs. If all goes well, then I'll add the bug net and zipper(s).

Every modification that I make teaches me something, so I may as well finish this one. I can always give it to one of my kids (all less than 65 Lbs) and they should be safe, even if I don't feel comfortable with my 200 Lbs of me, clothes, blankets, etc.

[Shug]

Good idea on ordering some good stock ripstop. I always got mine from Speers which is now Tree to Tree Trail Gear www.tttrailgear.com
Never had a problem with it.
Shug