DIY hitch receiver hammock stand (Mclean alternative)

**SurplusFan98** · 08-25-2021, 17:14

Hi all,

Trying to spend more time (and nights) in my hammock, and in my situation I figure I could if I had a good hitch receiver hammock stand. I've seen a lot of buzz around the one from Mclean Metalworks, but boy are they proud of that thing! So expensive! On top of that, the Mclean one says it only accommodates hammocks of up to 9.5' in length, which is too short for my camping hammock (11'). Plus, having done some research on here, everyone talks about the leverage forces placed on the welds of the hitch receiver, etc, so maybe the Mclean solution is lacking in the first place.

Then I found this recent video on Youtube. This looks like a solid place to start from. What do you guys think about this for an 11' hammock I want to be camping in often? What recommendations can the engineers on here make to improve this design without a big cost increase?

A couple of quick ideas I had: You could weld or bolt some thick bar stock to the center pipe that would attach under the hitch to reinforce it and sort of form a triangular truss (kind of like Walmart does for their hitch receiver luggage carrier thing). Also, under the center of the hitch something like a bottle jack could be lowered to the ground to distribute the weight there and away from the welds on the hitch receiver.

Thoughts?

**Shug** · 08-25-2021, 17:22

I hang my 11' hammocks on my McLean but I got the one designed for longer hammocks. The Bare Bones XL.
For me it was well worth the money as I don't weld or fabricate. Mine is holding up fine and no signs of wear.
Shug

IMG_6696.jpg

IMG_6695.jpg

IMG_6593.jpg

IMG_6640.jpg

**SurplusFan98** · 08-25-2021, 18:41

Shug! I'm such a fan, for years now!

I had forgotten that they had this model. That's good to know, but the cost is still an issue. The above video just grabbed my attention because it looks like a cheaper way to achieve similar results. I don't weld yet either, but I'm working on that (got a welder for fathers day!). I may take a crack at this and see if I can make and improve it for a reasonable cost.

Unless someone can talk me out of it...

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

**LowTech** · 08-26-2021, 23:22

Originally Posted by SurplusFan98

Shug! I'm such a fan, for years now!

I had forgotten that they had this model. That's good to know, but the cost is still an issue. The above video just grabbed my attention because it looks like a cheaper way to achieve similar results. I don't weld yet either, but I'm working on that (got a welder for fathers day!). I may take a crack at this and see if I can make and improve it for a reasonable cost.

Unless someone can talk me out of it...

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

As someone that has done a decent amount of plumbing the 45° at the bottom corners creep me out. The 5' pipe screwed into them more than enough leverage to cause them to unscrew a quarter turn and that leaves you laying on the ground.
I would be nervous the whole time I was in it that it wasn't "perfectly" upright and going to unscrew.
Now if it was drilled and pinned, or welded, maybe.

**jcksparow** · 08-27-2021, 01:28

Originally Posted by LowTech

As someone that has done a decent amount of plumbing the 45° at the bottom corners creep me out. The 5' pipe screwed into them more than enough leverage to cause them to unscrew a quarter turn and that leaves you laying on the ground.
I would be nervous the whole time I was in it that it wasn't "perfectly" upright and going to unscrew.
Now if it was drilled and pinned, or welded, maybe.

I believe it is mentioned in the video that the lower pipe assembly with the 45* at either end had spot welds on the joints to mitigate the risk of rotation.

**SurplusFan98** · 08-27-2021, 07:58

Originally Posted by jcksparow

I believe it is mentioned in the video that the lower pipe assembly with the 45* at either end had spot welds on the joints to mitigate the risk of rotation.

Not sure it's clear in the video, but yes, I believe that is the case. Also thought about offsetting these about 15-20° on each end to extend the hammock away from the vehicle and hardware (as McLean does). Doing that will further increase the torque on all the welds though, so it's hard to say how it would hold up.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

**LowTech** · 08-27-2021, 10:11

Originally Posted by jcksparow

I believe it is mentioned in the video that the lower pipe assembly with the 45* at either end had spot welds on the joints to mitigate the risk of rotation.

Ok, missed that. That does help the nervousness some, a full weld would be better. Doesn't this take it out of the average DIYs ability though?

**SurplusFan98** · 08-27-2021, 11:57

Originally Posted by LowTech

Ok, missed that. That does help the nervousness some, a full weld would be better. Doesn't this take it out of the average DIYs ability though?

Thats a fair point. An alternative might be to thread the 45s on with some thread tape until you could line everything up just right, then drill a hole through those joints and pin them in place with a grade 8 bolt of some kind. No welding, and I assume everyone has or can borrow a hand drill. But, I can't speak to what that might do to the strength.

**Tikker** · 02-03-2024, 23:14

Originally Posted by SurplusFan98

I may take a crack at this and see if I can make and improve it for a reasonable cost.

Unless someone can talk me out of it...

my son is currently taking welding in trade school

I had him attempt to duplicate this build, exactly from this very video

it's hot garbage, and it's not going to hold much more than 100 lbs, and I'm not sure I'd trust it with that much