Tarp ridgeline length

[Razbarry]

Newbie help needed. I am wondering how long your tarp ridge line is. I thought my first attempt at 25 feet Amsteel would be long enough but on my first hang I was proven wrong. I missed by that much (Maxwell Smart). It missed going around the tree and my figure 9 hardware by a 2 to 3 feet. I just tied in a length of 550 cord as a fix. I want my next attempt to be long enough but I also don't want to go overboard. Do you think 30 feet finished length is enough for most situations? Your input would be appreciated.

Razbarry

[CamoDeafie82]

Newbie help needed. I am wondering how long your tarp ridge line is. I thought my first attempt at 25 feet Amsteel would be long enough but on my first hang I was proven wrong. I missed by that much (Maxwell Smart). It missed going around the tree and my figure 9 hardware by a 2 to 3 feet. I just tied in a length of 550 cord as a fix. I want my next attempt to be long enough but I also don't want to go overboard. Do you think 30 feet finished length is enough for most situations? Your input would be appreciated.

Razbarry

Why not attach to a 2nd set of 1" tree straps? This should help with the ridgeline length and protect the tree as well if you're gonna crank the ridge line taut... Another advantage of the tree straps, once they're in place, you can use one loop as a place to do the trucker's hitch system, or on both sides of the ridge line...

[pgibson]

The length of the RL for your tarp will depend a bit on how large the trees are and how you rig it. If your are using a continuous RL then a little longer is good. If the trees are large then longer is good. Realistically you can't hang your hammock from trees that are greater than 20 feet apart without some difficulty so add the diameter of the trees and you will get a good working idea. Most of us cottage shops though offer RL's from 24-32 foot depending on the type.

Paul@AHE

[MAD777]

This is actually a complicated question. Some people have two lines, 1 each going from the end of their tarp, around the tree and hooking back to the same line, while others have a single line going from one end of the tarp all the way around the tree back to the other tree and back to the tarp again. This is called a continuous ridge line and there are a few variations of it.

Basically draw a picture of how you want to hang including the distance between trees and the diameter of trees that cover the majority of trees where you hang. Then add up all the distances, plus a little bit for knots etc

Remember that the distance between trees is limited by how high you can reach. More than 20 feet apart means most people will be climbing trees to attach their hammock

[Hawk i]

I am waiting on my 2 new tarps (Kelty Noah 12 and a Warbonnet SuperFly) and I have also decided to switch to a continuous ridge line for easier setup and centering advantages. There was a video I seen with a statement of a 30' line used so that is what I am going to base mine on.
https://youtu.be/C-IkTg4z6UY
Hope this helps....

[MAD777]

Here is a link to Derek's other continuous ridgeline method. It uses the same principal as urban clotheslines on a pulley system between tenament apartment buildings. I've been using this for a couple of years (after trying many other setups) and I am still thrilled with it. I'm using 37' of 1.2mm Tech Line ( www.DIYGearSupply.com ) to accommodate 20' clear spacing between two 18" diameter trees. I use a Dutch Stinger and a Dutch Hook for hardware.
https://youtu.be/hLupiOygs0s

[MadUncleAndy]

Depends how you're hooking it up too, but I use a 30 foot continuous ridgeline in a pretty similar configuration to this:
http://theultimatehang.com/wp-conten...carabiners.jpg
... and have only once come up short, in a State Park where I was limited in my site selection. Fixed that by adding a "dogbone" I had along as a pack hanger.

I'm doing much of my camping in North Georgia, which has similar trees to the ones I saw in South Central PA, where I grew up. I see you're in Pittsburgh, so I would imagine the trees near you should be fairly similar.

Good Luck!

[NWAlabamaHiker]

Here is a link to Derek's other continuous ridgeline method. It uses the same principal as urban clotheslines on a pulley system between tenament apartment buildings. I've been using this for a couple of years (after trying many other setups) and I am still thrilled with it. I'm using 37' of 1.2mm Tech Line ( www.DIYGearSupply.com ) to accommodate 20' clear spacing between two 18" diameter trees. I use a Dutch Stinger and a Dutch Hook for hardware.

I recently eye spliced some 1.2mm tech line for tarp guylines and I wondered how well it would work for ridgeline. How well does it work with the Dutch Ware hardware? Just wondering since I know the "gap" on Dutch hook is designed to "snap" onto zing it. I know the tech line is slightly smaller in diameter.

[MAD777]

The Dutch Hook holds the 1.2mm Tech Line just fine. When I take it down, I have to wiggle the line a bit to free it from the hook. So, it's not going anywhere on its own.

[NWAlabamaHiker]

The Dutch Hook holds the 1.2mm Tech Line just fine. When I take it down, I have to wiggle the line a bit to free it from the hook. So, it's not going anywhere on its own.

Great! Thanks! I may look at doing this with my ridgeline.