DIY external pole mod, length of poles?

**novasquid** · 01-01-2019, 11:59

Is there a typical standard or formula that can be used when determining the length of poles for an external pole mod? The nerd in me is wondering if my tarp's pullouts are 48" apart from each other over the ridgeline, would 15% extra length be enough? So 48 x 1.15 would be roughly 55 inches. I'm wondering if this 15% extra length standard could apply to all my various tarps.

**BananaHammock** · 01-01-2019, 12:24

My poles for the superfly are 3 pieces at 16” each so 48” total plus tips which don’t really get included in length.

**BananaHammock** · 01-01-2019, 12:27

There is also this idea. https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...erfly+pullouts

**novasquid** · 01-01-2019, 12:56

Originally Posted by BananaHammock

There is also this idea. https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...erfly+pullouts

Ya I'm aware of that post. I was just trying to see if there was a way to calculate pole length that could apply to different tarps.

**BananaHammock** · 01-01-2019, 13:27

Wouldn’t all pull outs be roughly the same distance from the center regardless of length? Or are you thinking of placing them differently on a wider tarp?

**novasquid** · 01-01-2019, 13:35

The best example i can think of are the warbonnetoutdoors tarp pole kits, they're sized differently based on the tarp. https://www.warbonnetoutdoors.com/pr...-pole-mod-kit/

I currently have hammock gear's winter palace tarps in 11' and 12', and have a journey tarp for a bridge hammock coming in soon. I'll measure them to see if the pullouts are the same distance but i can't imagine the journey will be the same as the winter palaces.

**Redoleary** · 01-01-2019, 17:22

I've used a piece of 1/2" cpvc to mockup various pole mods, it's cheap and bendy and you don't have to cut your fancy aluminum poles until you're comfortable with the fit. But I'm not aware of a "% added rule" for pole mods, I've looked without success for one, but maybe someone out there knows a good rule of thumb for them.

**Cruiser51** · 01-02-2019, 10:07

Unless you are stuck on the external pole mod, an internal mod is a lot easier to execute (IMO) and ends up with a better, more stable end product.

KSC uses this on his BatWing tarp project (and a few others) here: https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...ll-Season-Tarp

I followed his project for my own Batwing and the pole mod is dead simple and really is more robust than a plain tarp and the amount it opens the interior has to be seen to be believed.

Brian

**novasquid** · 01-02-2019, 10:31

Originally Posted by Cruiser51

Unless you are stuck on the external pole mod, an internal mod is a lot easier to execute (IMO) and ends up with a better, more stable end product.

KSC uses this on his BatWing tarp project (and a few others) here: https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...ll-Season-Tarp

I followed his project for my own Batwing and the pole mod is dead simple and really is more robust than a plain tarp and the amount it opens the interior has to be seen to be believed.

Brian

i think i would much prefer an internal pole mod, but none of my tarps are set up for it so i'm just trying to use what's available, i.e. the external pullout tabs. anyone invert their tarp and use the pullout tabs on the inside to create an internal mod that way? i imagine that would put a lot of stress on the tarp at the pole tip area.

**HandyRandy** · 01-02-2019, 12:11

Originally Posted by novasquid

i think i would much prefer an internal pole mod, but none of my tarps are set up for it so i'm just trying to use what's available, i.e. the external pullout tabs. anyone invert their tarp and use the pullout tabs on the inside to create an internal mod that way? i imagine that would put a lot of stress on the tarp at the pole tip area.

I’d also be worried that the ridge seam would leak being upside down. And if the ridgeline has a cat cut, I doubt that would work. You could just mail your tarp to a cottage vendor and they would add the bits you need. It’s a simple modification.