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  1. #1

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    Bridge hammock on a frame?

    I'm still working on my hammock in my minivan project and while the GE one I'm using works, it is marginal when my husband is in the car also. My next experiment is going to be with a DIY bridge. This is very hard to suspend inside the minivan (Chrysler Town&Country), especially if I have to bias it to one side to leave my husband room on his platform on the other side. My thought is to make a welded frame to suspend the hammock. A WBRR does fit inside the van so there should be room. Thoughts?

    bridge frame idea.jpg
    Come check out the Tensa4 tensahedron stand and other hammock stands at http://www.TensaOutdoor.com and [email protected]

  2. #2
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    Why not incorporate the spreader bars permanently into the frame? Then all you have to do is to clip the four corners of the hammock to it.

    (Or just not share the van with the hubby! )

    Thinking more about this: the frame can be a simple rectangle as there is really no need for the foot end of the hammock to be narrower than the head end.
    Last edited by TominMN; 06-04-2023 at 16:30.

  3. #3

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    See the reply
    Come check out the Tensa4 tensahedron stand and other hammock stands at http://www.TensaOutdoor.com and [email protected]

  4. #4

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    Quote Originally Posted by TominMN View Post
    Why not incorporate the spreader bars permanently into the frame? Then all you have to do is to clip the four corners of the hammock to it.

    (Or just not share the van with the hubby! )
    I am sharing the van with hubby. He's a ground dweller and I have made him a platform. Gear goes under his platform. I'd like to have a hammock beside him so we can sleep with the van doors closed. RE: spreader bars - yes that was really the plan.
    Come check out the Tensa4 tensahedron stand and other hammock stands at http://www.TensaOutdoor.com and [email protected]

  5. #5
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    Add one diagonal brace on each end also.

  6. #6

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    Quote Originally Posted by TominMN View Post
    Add one diagonal brace on each end also.
    Where? The diagonal side braces can be of any length as needed to provide adequate structural support. They might even meet at the middle (a-la Tensahedron style).

    bridge frame idea 2.jpg
    Come check out the Tensa4 tensahedron stand and other hammock stands at http://www.TensaOutdoor.com and [email protected]

  7. #7
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    I meant on the ends (not the sides) to add lateral stability.

    And I certainly was teasing about the hubby issue.

    No need for the side diagonals to be all that long.

    This could be made as four pieces: two ends and side pieces that slide into the bottom of the ends. Easy to assemble/disassemble and store.
    Last edited by TominMN; 06-04-2023 at 16:39.

  8. #8
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    I think that would be a good idea. I don’t even think you would need anything crazy for material it you braced it at the corners. I don’t know what you were planned but I think 1x1 would be fine. If you were worried about strength you could make it out of .180 wall and weld some round bar to the top to hang it off of.

  9. #9
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    Did you want the frame to remain independent?

    Point being- if Hubby gets a sleep platform why not use his platform on one side of the van for half the bridge frame.
    Then build a second gear cubby/frame on the opposite side of the van/wheelwell for the other side of the bridge frame.

    Add the eyebolts you're showing to those built ins (or just run them to the opposite van wall).


    Otherwise- your general idea seems fine if the goal is an independent frame; though I agree with Tom. Once you're welding up a frame might as well just put the 'spreader bar' in each end as part of the frame unless you wanted the spreader bars handy to take outside the van. So I think you need more bracing in the side to side axis.

    End of the day- so long as you provide four anchors at each corner it's not that important what means and methods you employ.
    So to my mind I'd build out the van itself and integrate the eyebolts so you've got clear walking space (or storage) while the bridge isn't deployed.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nTl4Mz6Glo
    about 6 minutes in Grizz shows a bridge with no spreaders.
    Someplace he also demonstrated an old patent for a chiropractic device that was built by driving four stakes into the ground that were staked out to form the four corners of a bridge like stretcher. Long story short... basically what you're trying to accomplish with your frame.

  10. #10
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    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2Cy4lboqWA

    Ah... 5:04 into this one is a wood frame version of what you're proposing.

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