Grand Trunk UL failure or user error?

[OneClick]

I set up my Grand Trunk UL last night just for fun. I originally purchased this to take with me on trips way back in my tent days when I wanted a place to rest of sit comfortably.

After wiggling around for a minute to get comfortable, the knot started pulling out of the gathered fabric. Luckily I jumped out before falling on the hard floor! I remembered this happening a few years ago while backpacking too. Nothing appears to be torn or loose.

1. Any ideas what’s going on? Am I just moving around too much causing it to work free?

2. This got me thinking: should/can I replace their hook and knot with my own cordage? Would a loop of amsteel put too much stress (almost like a cutting action) on the fabric being a much smaller diameter of the stock cord?

[yooz85]

On mine I replaced the stock hook and rope with dynaglide whoopies, I have used it for awhile on day hikes and several overnights with no problems. Ymmv

[nuttysquirrel]

No problems with amsteel or Dynaglide.

[SonOfMartin]

Yep +1 on replacing the stock hook and rope with whoopie slings. Makes a world of difference.

[ntxkayakr]

Some photos would help those of us not familiar with this particular model of hammock, but in general regardless of the brand and model or if it is a DIY when you go light for backpacking purposes this is always a possibility. Not really a fault of GT which makes good hammocks for the price and weight, life is full of compromises, trade-offs.

My first guess is that your #2 is correct. Perhaps you could replace the stock cord with 1/8" or larger Amsteel continuous loop and even add a Dutch hook when you make the loop. (Or if that is limited to 7/64", I think it is, add Dutch hook to your whoopie sling instead, better idea). Another idea is to buy a foot or two of tubular webbing and put the continuous loop of Amsteel thru a short piece of tube webbing to reduce stress on the hammock's fabric. I am just brainstorming here, I do not have the hammock in my hands to really get a complete picture of the issue. Hope this helps your thought process.

http://www.strapworks.com/Nylon_Webbing_p/tnw12.htm

If there is a West Marine or other boating supply store near you it should be possible to buy a short piece of 1/4" or thicker Amsteel that will match the diameter of the original stock cord. How to videos and photos of CL on HF DIY. Don't use a knot, splice it!

http://www.westmarine.com

Edit: Glanced at review linked below. I now understand how they can keep the price down to $20, the S-hook and stock cordage is probably their weakest point or 2nd weakest, stitching at gathered end may be weakest as review said. But replace these and you have Hammock about 10oz for total cost of about $30 not a bad deal but not one I would recommend. DIY tablecloth would probably be better. Mod the gathered-end, proceed and just enjoy it.

http://www.outdoorgearlab.com/Hammoc...unk-Ultralight

[nuttysquirrel]

Clear plastic tubing would help if your worried.

[Bubba]

On an unrelated note, is David here yet?

[MAD777]

After wiggling around for a minute to get comfortable, the knot started pulling out of the gathered fabric. Luckily I jumped out before falling on the hard floor!

It sounds like that 11 year old girl in China that made your hammock needs more knot practice.

[OneClick]

It sounds like that 11 year old girl in China that made your hammock needs more knot practice.

LOL! But it doesn't appear that it came untied. I can't be sure though since I never looked close when it was new.

But I found an immediate and very secure solution - I just pulled and looped the stock cord back over the s-hook:

[brohawk]

Replace with Am steel continuous loops from Dutch.http://dutchwaregear.com/amsteel-coninuous-loops.html