DIY Handy Hammock set up?

[mikitta]

I have an idea, most likely a bad one, about how to make a handy hammock type treeless suspension system with PVC. Has anyone done this already?

This will be for car camping as I've found many state forest campgrounds in West Virginia don't allow hanging from trees (Seneca Shadows, Black Water Falls, and a few others). You have to be able to set up over the tent pad.

[Biker Bob]

It can be done, but even 3"-the largest PVC I see locally- bends. I'm not certain what the strength is. Proper design with a ridge pole would help, but PVC pipe is meant to carry liquid not as a structural component. I saw an ad about come hang in West Virginia-guess they weren't serious.

Bob

[evanphi]

Why not make a turtledog stand? They can be made in sections.

[hutzelbein]

This guy has done it: http://www.haengemattenforum.de/foru...4642#post34642
He only used one 90mm x 4mm PVC tube and tied off to a tree on the other side.

[mikitta]

If you look at the Handy Hammock stand, the poles themselves aren't strong enough to hold the forces applied when hanging the hammock and laying in it. What's gives it the strength is the way the tension lines function. Essentially, the force is directed through the lines and the pole acts to give a basic structure.

Handy Hammock tension lines.jpg

I intend to do that with the materials I have on hand ... when I eventually get a day off, which may be never at this point (kill me now). Hopefully, next weekend if possible. Work is pretty brutal right now.

God Bless,
milk

[Grinsha]

I used 3/4" electrical conduit for mine.

Attach1526_20161005_182947.jpg

[gmcttr]

If you look at the Handy Hammock stand, the poles themselves aren't strong enough to hold the forces applied when hanging the hammock and laying in it. What's gives it the strength is the way the tension lines function. Essentially, the force is directed through the lines and the pole acts to give a basic structure.....

With all due respect, you have this (or the way I interpret your explanation) completely wrong.

The poles are strong enough to hold the forces in compression but are not strong enough to reliably resist bowing to failure.

The tension lines are added to prevent bowing of the poles and only the bowing forces are applied to the lines. 100% of the hammock/occupant weight goes through the poles to ground.

The weight of the hammock and occupant have to go to ground through compression and the lines have essentially zero compressive strength.

[mikitta]

Ok. That makes sense.