Permanent in ground post ideas?

[channtheman]

Hi all,

I've been lurking for a while and searching the threads but haven't found answers to what I'm looking to do.

I don't have suitable trees in my backyard to hang my hammock so I wanted to drop 2 posts in the ground about 15 feet apart and anchor them with cement. I've thought about 4x4 and 6x6 wood posts but the thought of them rotting out some day, warping, or breaking doesn't appeal to me. My next thought has been steel bars or pipes.

Do you think I need a steel bar or is a pipe adequate? How big in diameter should it be and if a pipe, how thick should the walls of the pipe be? I was thinking about dropping the pipe 3 feet in the ground and having 5-6 feet above the ground. I intend to hang one hammock there and just leave it up for use at all times, so I don't really need the ability to adjust the setup to other hammocks.

Has anyone else done this and been happy with it?

Thanks for any and all ideas/thoughts.

[TrailSlug]

In your arid climate a good quality 6x6 post sunk in concrete should last at least 15-20 years or more, more than enough for some quality hanging time

[TiedUp]

Pressure treated 6 x 6 will last a long time. Just try to pick posts without many knots because knots are the weak points for wood. Depth is the key too...try to get them 4' deep to keep them from moving. Concrete helps too.

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[SilvrSurfr]

If a pressure-treated piece of wood will survive 25 years in the Northeast, then it will survive 50 or more years in Arizona.

[channtheman]

You guys have me tossing around the idea of a pressure treated post again. I do not have 6x6 posts readily available apparently (neither Home Depot or Lowe's carry them near me) but I do have 4x6 posts available. Might end up going that route after all.

What are everyones thoughts on taking a chain link fence post like this

http://www.homedepot.com/p/YARDGARD-...4DPT/100322502

and dropping it 3' down into cement and then filling it up with cement as well? Would that sturdy it up enough to hang a hammock on? I know that particular post by itself would be way too weak alone.

I'm just weighing all my options and factoring in cost/longevity.

[Ssharpstkman]

Check at your local tractor supply compan,they have the six inch ,don't use cement,just ram dirt, put in ground at least 36"

[Phantom Grappler]

I think wood will be better than pipe--stronger.
If you use 4x6. Put it with a 4 inch side facing your hammock.
And be aware that 4x6 might not actually measure 4x6--not sure.
And you can nail, screw and glue 2x4 on the short sides to add strength--maybe unsightly.
And I'm not good at learning search features on Hammock Forums but
If you google search it with key words wooden posts sunk into ground for hammocks--you will easily find Hammock Forum posts and threads that will give all kinds of info
Fast
And I almost forgot--if you think your posts are too skinny to handle lateral forces and might lean in towards you after a few hangs---if posts are long enough to be four feet into ground and still be 7 or 8 feet up--then you can add a strong cross bar that will stop any leaning towards you--as long as it doesn't buckle due to lateral forces.
Old Phantom guessing again--
I say google it


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[danah.]

I have found over the years round pressure treated post are larger, cheaper, stronger, I buy 12' long posts that are called 5-6" (you can get 6-7" etc. These posts have a slight taper indicated by the numbers in their description.

I buy these at Farm fencing supply/hardware store. You may simply contact a fence supply or fence construction company. I set them with Quick set concrete, about three feet in the ground. After a number of installations I've come to like 17' as the post spacing or post to tree spacing, if there is room to do it. I believe it's worth it to search for these treelike posts and set them well.
Happy hanging!

[AnakiMana]

I found this video and have been thinking about doing it like this... maybe with guy lines for extra weight support: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1tB0IvZnng

[MrGhoti]

I've been thinking about this for a while now, looking into doing a pergola type stand, where the rails across the top connecting the posts will give some sort of lateral support to the poles. Summer project for me this year.