There might be a way to use a trekking pole as a spreader bar too.
There might be a way to use a trekking pole as a spreader bar too.
Something like the below -Originally Posted by CountryRoads
https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...ad.php?t=30351
Thanks. That Is a good thread.
GF and I do this...
2nd to last pic is with the small Ogee tarp for summer shade. First pic is with short but wide hex tarp, and other pic shows a 9x12 poly tarp.
we use aluminum tent poles to spread the two hammocks apart; and have not had any issues w tarps
So I got out the weekend with my new tandem setup. I ended up using PVC pipe with holes drilled through it as spreader bars since I had extra PVC in the garage. I ended up using a Warbonnet Cloudburst tarp to do measurements against and figure out what we liked. The tandem hammocks worked really well. I set it up so that the straps came off opposite sides of the tree so that there was less stress on the spreader bar. I even managed to get out of my hammock early in the morning without waking my wife up.
The Warbonnet Cloudburst gave good coverage. The right side was pitched closer to the ground to block the wind and the left side was in porch mode. I didn't get a chance to take any pictures of the clear plastic doors I was using as templates, but it looks like stitching slits in each door with velcro closure should work great.
A closer look at the porch mode side. The tarp could probably use another foot on each side for bad weather, as you can see on the back side. The tarp ends up being pitched wider to prevent rubbing it at night.
A better look at how I setup the straps to come off opposite sides of the tree. It provided a lot more stability and seemed to limit how much movement was transferred to the other person. I think it really helped with me being able to get out of the hammock without waking my wife in the morning.
The hammocks have netting stitched on to both so I setup the hammocks with the zippers to the inside so that we could hand things back and forth and see each other better. My wife loved it setup this way, but it does make getting out harder.
A shot that shows how close the tarp wall is with the hammock empty. This the need to really pitch the tarp higher and have slightly longer sides.
A shot to show the interior room.
My wife and I mid day taking a break.
I am still thinking over what I want to do, but this gave me a lot more information on what is needed and how feasible the setup really is. I plan on making the tent pole spreader bar like earlier in this forum. The tent pole seems like a much lighter packable option than PVC and my trekking poles are still free for porch mode. Hope this helps anyone else trying this kind of setup. Now to start playing with tarp designs to fit this setup.
Nice setup. I am assuming that the 12' side of your tarp with the width which agrees with what I was thinking. The cloud burst I was testing with is only 10' wide and I thought I needed another foot on each side. I want to be able put doors on our tarp since we end up needing to change for different activities and coverage in the winter. I hoping to end with a all purpose/all season tarp. Thanks for the pics.
Looking good. I do the same with the straps coming off of opposite sides of the tree. This is the best way to hang two under a tarp IMO.
My head is an animal
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks