minor mod for widening tarp near the top

[FanaticFringer]

Just ordered my supplies. Under $17 shipped.

[Mule]

Grizz, really nice. With that huge tarp of mine, the 13 x 14 I need something like that so that the footprint won't be as large. I can bring down the sides under the spreader bars on the tarp nearer to vertical when I want. Thanks for these great ideas. Mule

[TeeDee]

So the tarp spreader poles are 36" total length.

What are the lengths of your hammock spreader poles? From the picture, it appears to be quite a bit under 36".

My head end spreader pole is 39" and about 41" to 42" tip-to-tip. Seems like I would need more than the 36". My foot end spreader pole is only about 34" tip-to-tip so the 36" tarp spreader pole would give a good margin there.

Also, would it be possible to use spreaders picked up from the ground? Might have to search a bit and use a knife on the ends to shape, but maybe doable also???

Great idea.

One of the challenges of hanging with a bridge hammock is that the spreader bars are wider at their customary height than a gathered end hammock typically is. A normal tarp has to be pitched higher and flatter above a bridge hammock than it is above a gathered end hammock, to avoid having its walls close in on the spreader bars.

A variety of solutions have been bandied about this last year, and I can now offer another, fresh back from field testing.

I bought lightweight tent poles from questoutfitters. 0.344" diameter nanolights. Two sections that make up one 36" pole weigh together 1.15 oz. The pair cost $5.15. I sewed in special tabs on the edge of my JRB 11'x10' tarp, that create a pocket for the pole end. The tabs are 20" on either side of the center pull-out tab. The new tabs both create a pocket for a pole end (by a little sewing on the grosgrain) and work as ordinary pull-out tabs as well.

A pole is slipped into opposing tabs on one end of the hammock.

Cord is tied to the tie-out loops, looped back and around the tree, and tensioned up on both ends. This creates a sort of ridge, so that the tarp slopes at a more shallow angle up high (and this angle is fixed) and then can slope at a sharper angle to bring the tarp sides down to give better side coverage to the hammock. Here's the result.

Even with a gathered end hammock this technique will create a bit more head-room. It's a keeper for me.

Grizz

[GrizzlyAdams]

So the tarp spreader poles are 36" total length.

What are the lengths of your hammock spreader poles? From the picture, it appears to be quite a bit under 36".

Actually no. The spreader bar for the hammock is also 36"---they are the heavier-weight cousin of the spreader bars for the tarp, ordered from the same quest page. There's a nice symmetry there.

My head end spreader pole is 39" and about 41" to 42" tip-to-tip. Seems like I would need more than the 36". My foot end spreader pole is only about 34" tip-to-tip so the 36" tarp spreader pole would give a good margin there.

It is really just a matter of working out the geometry which you no doubt have done already. If the tarp spreader is shorter than the hammock spreader, there will be a limit on how far down you can drop the sides.

Also, would it be possible to use spreaders picked up from the ground? Might have to search a bit and use a knife on the ends to shape, but maybe doable also???

Sure. What I would do though is instead of whittling down tips of trail sticks, I'd lash them to the extra tabs. You don't have to be so exact then about length. And you could be sure to make it as wide as your hammock spreaders.

Grizz

[GrizzlyAdams]

...I wonder if the grip clips would allow me to fit a spreader pole on the inside ? that would also allow me to change the shape.

I missed this sentence this morning. Dutch has done a mod like this, maybe he will chime in and explain how. When I was fooling around with trying to push out the tarp from the inside with poles this winter, I was very concerned about the tips of the pole pushing into the side of the tarp. So the tips would have to be outside, I can see that it would be worth a try with grip clips to hold them. Let us know what you come up with.

Grizz

[headchange4u]

Nice mod Grizz. I think I'll perform this mod on my JRB 11x10.

[schrochem]

I think this would be a good use for hiking poles....
There wouldn't be as much pressure on them as it is for spreaders, so it's just a matter of making pockets for the poles.

[FanaticFringer]

I think this would be a good use for hiking poles....
There wouldn't be as much pressure on them as it is for spreaders, so it's just a matter of making pockets for the poles.

I've thought about that also. You could make one pocket (grip side of pole) bigger.

[FanaticFringer]

Finished this mod yeaterday. Took less than 2 hours. Will get pics of it on my next outing. Grizz you da man!!!!! Because of your killer ideas, I've made a cool DIY bridge hammock, modified my JRB No Sniveller to be used as a double underquilt under my bridge (JRB bridge), and now this tarp mod which should really help with more room with both my bridge hammocks.

[GrizzlyAdams]

Thanks FF. We appreciate your business

Grizz