The TurtleDog stand

[Smith]

Long time lurker, but here's my first post, too interesting not to share...

My setup involves two 10' pieces of webbing hanging down from a beam near my vaulted ceiling. The beam isn't long enough to get a nice diagonal lay, so I figured I'd run a rigid "ridgeline" aka top rail. So it's like the stand, minus the tripods essentially. I grabbed a 10'6" top rail from home depot, and a couple endcaps. I cut the rail in half so it could break down and was stoked for it to be potentially portable if I ever built tripods...

Now the fun part... For some reason I was scared the pole might slip out, or off the edges from the marlin spike hitches holding it up, so i had both lines of webbing relatively far from the sides of the rail... Hung my hammock from the endcaps, and was very happy! After about an hour reading I readjusted to my side, and in the process gave it a few good stress tests, and the aluminum top rail bent at the joint!

So just a word of caution, I think it was exacerbated by the upward forces not being all the way at the edges, and having such long webbing straps allows allot of bounce and sway. I'm going to go back and get another rail but this time not chop it in half, just cut off the tapered end. Hope that does the job! FWIW, the rail bent nice and slow, so it wasn't a catastrophic bum breaking failure.

The most frustrating part of the whole ordeal was having to go back to sleeping on my mattress after discovering how comfy I could be!

Dunno if you can really add me to the list though, as I really only made half the stand.

[gmcttr]

You just found out why we repeatedly caution posters to attach the hammock suspension at the same (or very close to) point the ridgepole is hung from. Cutting it in half was not the problem.

-Attach the hammock suspension inside of this point and the ridgepole flexes down.

-Attach the hammock suspension outside of this point and the ridgepole flexes up.

Increasing the distance, increases the flex.

[hppyfngy]

You just found out why we repeated caution posters to attach the hammock suspension at the same (or very close to) point the ridgepole is hung from. Cutting it in half was not the problem.

-Attach the hammock suspension inside of this point and the ridgepole flexes down.

-Attach the hammock suspension outside of this point and the ridgepole flexes up.

Increasing the distance, increases the flex.

^^^ What this guy said.

I used the end caps for several builds, but I have now abandoned them for the through eyes. End caps work! I hang in one that uses them every day, but these eyes might be better overall.



I'm not afraid of the end caps failing, but like many I've found it's just more stable the closer the hammock hangs from the point that supports the ridge pole. You can do this using end caps, I've done it 5 times on different sets, but you have to watch out for what gmcttr points out.

Better luck next time!

[trhang]

I'm not afraid of the end caps failing, but like many I've found it's just more stable the closer the hammock hangs from the point that supports the ridge pole.

You can use end caps AND hang the hammock directly at the point that supports the ridge pole. I previously described my approach for TD stand #33 as follows:

To create connection points on the rail, I place standard aluminum end caps on each end. I permanently spliced a continuous loop of 7/64" Amsteel Blue that is 24" in circumference to the end of each end cap. I then run this loop forward and essentially half-hitch it around the rail on the other side of the loop that suspends the rail from the tripod. I also attached an Amsteel soft shackle to each loop that I use to connect the whoopie slings from my hammock to the rail. By anchoring the loop to the end of the rail, I keep it from sliding inward. And by hitching the loop around the rail right next to the point of suspension of the rail itself, I route as much of the downward pull from the hammock suspension directly to the tripod and minimize bending forces on the rail.

For more details, see the original posting here: http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...611#post772611

[hppyfngy]

^^^ That's quite clever.

I didn't have any flex issues with my end cap versions because I just hung it from as near as I could get to the end. With only an inch and a half or so between the two attachment points. I also use standard whoopies on my hammock and join them together in the middle via a biner. This has the added benefit of pulling the two ends toward each other and keeps the ridge pole tight. I didn't experience any flex. But I only weigh 180#. ymmv

[jaitch]

Here's my suspension: I have a shackle attached to the hinge. Then a prusik loop or klemheist hangs from it and attaches to the ridge pole.

The hammock hangs from double rings larksheaded around the end of the hammock and attaches to the pole with a rope using a hangman's noose around the pole. I've separated them for the photo but it actually snugs right up against the back of the prusik.

Completely adjustable and haven't had it slip at all.

[old4hats]

O.K., I had time on my hands, now I have another turtle dog stand, 14 ft. top rail and eye bolts to hand top rail. While I was in the business I moded my first one by adding 4 ft. to the top rail. Now I can use tarps with both of them. Getting ready for the 3rd. Florida hang. Come on Jan. 21.

[olddog]

Originally Posted by olddog
The question was posed by old4hats about the number of turtledog stands that had been built. Went back and reviewed a few threads, the Turtlelady stand, the TurtleDog stand and a thread by domromer. Here is what I was able to find and assume that there may be others.

Page #1. Ends at post #723
Page #2
#101 - turtleburger
#102 - JakobW
#103 - berksound
#104 - HangDenAround
#105 - civetta62
#106 - LEAGLE
#107 - joeybravo13
#108 - JohnSawyer
#109 - JaxHiker
#110 - delphyves, the first from France!
#111 & 112 - Rightside
#113 - tato
#114 - Randy
#115 - Mag
#116 - Aardvark
#117 - Brute1100
#118 - ptsal
#119 - Bankheadboy
#120 - old4hats' second

Looking forward to meeting you next month.

[UncleClark]

Hi,
At the suggestion of another forum member I'm posting a link to my version of these hammock stands.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHUVS2g-n04

[olddog]

Originally Posted by olddog
The question was posed by old4hats about the number of turtledog stands that had been built. Went back and reviewed a few threads, the Turtlelady stand, the TurtleDog stand and a thread by domromer. Here is what I was able to find and assume that there may be others.

Page #1. Ends at post #723
Page #2
#101 - turtleburger
#102 - JakobW
#103 - berksound
#104 - HangDenAround
#105 - civetta62
#106 - LEAGLE
#107 - joeybravo13
#108 - JohnSawyer
#109 - JaxHiker
#110 - delphyves, the first from France!
#111 & 112 - Rightside
#113 - tato
#114 - Randy
#115 - Mag
#116 - Aardvark
#117 - Brute1100
#118 - ptsal
#119 - Bankheadboy
#120 - old4hats' second
#121 - UncleClark