Suspending from a rope?

[ObiJohn]

I'm trying to find a way to hang a hammock between supports that are farther than 15' apart, often much farther... 30 to 50 ft or more.

Has anyone ever tried stringing a taunt rope/line at around 6' AGL across a wide span, then hanging the hammock from points that are 14' or thereabouts apart in the center of the suspended rope? I'm wondering if this would be able to control sag while getting the right hang as angle, given a rope with very low stretch... recommendations for suitable rope appreciated!

What do you think about this idea?

[Zilla]

Depending on the size/strenth of the rope used,,,hmm,,, i guess you could use knots in the rope to keep from sliding,, we won't know untill you try it.,,Let us know.

[gfortune]

The more taut your "main line", the more force on it. You need to allow for some angle just like you would with your suspension or it needs to be much stronger than normal suspension line. It will also impart significantly more force on the anchor points.

If you were to tie alpine butterfly loops at 110" for an 11' hammock as attachment points and anchor at 30 degrees, it would probably function as suspension and structural ridgeline all in one piece. If you are indeed going to span with a taut rope, I would move up to 1/4" amsteel to give you a safety margin and pick very sturdy anchor points. See https://www.hammockforums.net/galler...l_original.jpg for a nice little chart on forces at 5 degrees for that horizontal main line. Then, to account for working load rather than static load, give yourself a 5x margin (around 5500 lbs).

[dscotthep]

I've seen pictures of people doing what you're describing. Hanging from rope like that will require climbing specific gear and expertise to rig.

[OCDave]

I've seen pictures of people doing what you're describing. Hanging from rope like that will require climbing specific gear and expertise to rig.

Tying the requisite knots in rope should be in every outdoorsman's skill set. Climbing specific gear or expertise is not a requirement.

[MikekiM]

I have no input on how or if this will work, but I love the idea...

[Rain Man]

Too taunt and the effective forces on those trees will be almost unimaginable. It's a matter of physics.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iifk...ature=youtu.be

[joe_guilbeau]

Too taunt and the effective forces on those trees will be almost unimaginable. It's a matter of physics.

https://youtu.be/nfZ12UGiisM

[NulodPBall]

The more taut your "main line", the more force on it. You need to allow for some angle just like you would with your suspension or it needs to be much stronger than normal suspension line. It will also impart significantly more force on the anchor points.

If you were to tie alpine butterfly loops at 110" for an 11' hammock as attachment points and anchor at 30 degrees, it would probably function as suspension and structural ridgeline all in one piece. If you are indeed going to span with a taut rope, I would move up to 1/4" amsteel to give you a safety margin and pick very sturdy anchor points. See https://www.hammockforums.net/galler...l_original.jpg for a nice little chart on forces at 5 degrees for that horizontal main line. Then, to account for working load rather than static load, give yourself a 5x margin (around 5500 lbs).

Sorry, I know this chart is used by alot of people but the physics, triangular sin/cosin geometry, and the x^2 + y^2 = hyp^2 are all wrong.

Also the force as a whole does not increase with the tautness of the line, just the distribution of the forces changes unless you tighten the line enough so that the unweighted line is perfectly horizontal.

But you're not wrong for using heavier than needed cordage.

I'll track down that chart and address the issues there.

[Secondmouse]

Sorry, I know this chart is used by alot of people but the physics, triangular sin/cosin geometry, and the x^2 + y^2 = hyp^2 are all wrong.

Also the force as a whole does not increase with the tautness of the line, just the distribution of the forces changes unless you tighten the line enough so that the unweighted line is perfectly horizontal.

But you're not wrong for using heavier than needed cordage.

I'll track down that chart and address the issues there.

ok, you've got my attention...