The TurtleDog stand

**bobwhite** · 10-05-2014, 09:54

tmp_4591-10641264_10154691442990192_9176304230571826565_n271827690.jpegI hastily built this before leaving for a troop camping trip at the beach. In hind sight, I over spent on materials. Someone in this thread mentioned that the 2x2 stands were light weight, and not to depend on them in high wind. I knew that we usually have sustained winds at 20-40 mph on the outer banks, so I over engineered them. I guyed it out and it did fine in the wind. I've got to think a lighter stand would have worked fine too if guyed out.

I got way carried away with my horizontal pipe. I overestimated the load it would bear. I also had to make this longer than needed because I made my web buckle suspension too long, and haven't bothered to remake it yet. I should have placed my buckles near the hammock ends, but made them about 18" from the ends. I was in such a hurry to finish the stand that I preferred to make it too long and know it would work that weekend. I made the top pipe in 3 sections. I think I can just delete a section and be good to go when I shorten my suspension.

I used 1-1/2" .125 square aluminum tubing for the legs because I thought it would seat against the hinges better than round pipe. I used 1-1/2" schedule 40 aluminum pipe for the top rail.

**novascotia-hanger** · 10-05-2014, 10:30

Would this work as a ridge pole?

http://www.princessauto.com/pal/en/O...Pole/8412736.p

**gmcttr** · 10-05-2014, 10:41

Originally Posted by novascotia-hanger

Would this work as a ridge pole?

http://www.princessauto.com/pal/en/O...Pole/8412736.p

At least one stand has been made out of these. As I recall, the fiberglass version of these poles flexed more than desired for a ridgepole.

**SQWERL** · 10-05-2014, 16:01

image.jpg here is the one my dad built me as a birthday present. It is awesome! However I did have a major failure with it. Was using the chain link end caps to attach the carabiner and the end cap eyelet snapped sending me crashing to the ground. Good thing I wasn't more than 18 inches off the ground. I had used it for several days before that happened.
I have now used my webbing to hang the pole from the hinges and just loop my whoopies and carabiner around the suspension, it was working well until last night. I have started the hanging full-time journey. The webbing is starting to slide forward on the ridge pole. Slowly lowering me to the floor. I have for put the bed back in place till I can fix the sliding issue. Also I have a bad left shoulder and I was getting some pain from shoulder squeeze. I am using an ENO double nest and I have a tablecloth that I need to make into a hammock. Is there any less shoulder squeeze with table cloth hammocks? I bought the biggest one they had. And can you hang a bridge hammock from this stand?

**SQWERL** · 10-05-2014, 16:03

Also has anyone had trouble with the legs walking them selves back together? Had that happen once or twice.

**gmcttr** · 10-05-2014, 16:37

Originally Posted by SQWERL

Also has anyone had trouble with the legs walking them selves back together? Had that happen once or twice.

You have to learn to get in and out without pushing back or pulling forward on the hammock enough to lift the legs.

**hppyfngy** · 10-05-2014, 16:50

Originally Posted by SQWERL

image.jpg here is the one my dad built me as a birthday present. It is awesome! However I did have a major failure with it. Was using the chain link end caps to attach the carabiner and the end cap eyelet snapped sending me crashing to the ground. Good thing I wasn't more than 18 inches off the ground. I had used it for several days before that happened.
I have now used my webbing to hang the pole from the hinges and just loop my whoopies and carabiner around the suspension, it was working well until last night. I have started the hanging full-time journey. The webbing is starting to slide forward on the ridge pole. Slowly lowering me to the floor. I have for put the bed back in place till I can fix the sliding issue. Also I have a bad left shoulder and I was getting some pain from shoulder squeeze. I am using an ENO double nest and I have a tablecloth that I need to make into a hammock. Is there any less shoulder squeeze with table cloth hammocks? I bought the biggest one they had. And can you hang a bridge hammock from this stand?

Well, you're the first to report breaking one of those end caps. Guess we all figured it would happen eventually.
Which is why, most have done away with them and gone to some other sort of system to stop the hammock from sliding inward.

Many wrap a piece of innertube around the ridge pole where the hammock attaches, and this prevents slippage.
I prefer a fixed stopper. Hang from an eyebolt, and all the forces are in the right place and you definitely won't slide inward.

Thusly:

img_1135medium.jpg

Can't answer your shoulder squeeze question, but you can certainly hang a bridge. It will require a much longer ridge pole though, like 15-16' or so depending on hammock and suspension.

If you're uncomfortable in a regular gathered end, you might try a mini-spreader bar.

https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...=mini-spreader

**SQWERL** · 10-05-2014, 20:32

Thanks Hppyfngy! Going to give that a try. And the shoulder squeeze may have been due to the slipping of the hammock and me sliding toward the end and getting in more of a banana position than diagonal lay throughout the night.