What have I done wrong?

**Moondog55** · 02-09-2024, 19:09

Maybe if I had a tarp over the top and some sort of grab handle on the tarps ridge line that might work.
I'll try that.
I have some cordage I could use.
I've used tarps a lot over the last 50 years and always had tarps and flys that had a strong centre seam and not needed a separate ridgeline until now
But it's only 1.8mm and I worry that a 480kg weight limit isn't strong enough given the angles involved and my 110kg "base weight"

**LowTech** · 02-10-2024, 03:09

My mom has trouble getting out of her hammock as well, so I made a "grab handle" like you guys are talking about.
She has a structural ridgeline on her hammock so I took a piece of rope that had a good sized diameter, about 12" long and tied an overhand knot at each end. Then I made a couple fairly long loops of dynema cord that I attached to the ridgeline w/prussic hitches. That gave me a couple loops hanging down from the ridgeline that I then larks headed to the rope just inside the overhand knots.
End result was a 8"-10" long rope hanging under and parallel to the ridgeline that could be slid to any position that was wanted, easy to hold onto, and could assist w/ getting in or out of the hammock.
For her it's been the main thing that's let her enjoy using hammocks for camping. That, hanging at just the right height off the ground, and learning to walk back when getting out, are probably the three main techniques that make it possible for her.

I definitely wouldn't use my tarp ridgeline as it's not set up to handle the amount of weight that my hammock ridgeline is.

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**Moondog55** · 02-10-2024, 06:14

What size is that structural ridgeline?
Mine is the same size as my Whoopie slings and only good for 480kg, give the angles and dead weight I think I'm already marginal, or am I being too cautious with strength rating of the Dyneema? My tarp line is the same 1.8mm UHMWPE as the woopies and ridgeline, it is just what I have in the cord stash

**LowTech** · 02-10-2024, 10:28

Originally Posted by Moondog55

What size is that structural ridgeline?
Mine is the same size as my Whoopie slings and only good for 480kg, give the angles and dead weight I think I'm already marginal, or am I being too cautious with strength rating of the Dyneema? My tarp line is the same 1.8mm UHMWPE as the woopies and ridgeline, it is just what I have in the cord stash

It's one of the available standards over here, 7/64. Which is rated w/ a 1600 pound breaking strength.

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