Clark Ultalight 2QZQ Pole Mod (NX-UL)

[Mannowar]

First off a big shout out to Donna at 2QZQ for the outstanding customer service and attention to detail with the modification.

And a definite thanks to DEMOSTIX for the idea and for answering my PM's with details on his mod.

Back ground; My first hammock after discovering this site a little over a year ago and doing the typical noob lurk and research ended with the Clark Jungle Hammock (CJH) NX-250, perfect four season bullet proof option. The only hammock I'll ever need... Yeah Right! that is for another post "The evolution of my hang" coming soon to a forum near you.

Early last spring I picked up a used CJH UL (the original version) off the forum for one of my sons and on our first trip together as we were setting up and doing our camp chores, we found some sticks and ran them through the stock bugnet loops and anchored in the tie out loops, to keep the bugnet up off his face and increase the visibility and air flow.

So when we got home I tried different configurations with an extra set of the Clark poles I have but couldn't get anything to seem just right. I got to thinking I need to add pole sleeves and end pockets... how can I mod this to be just like the NX-250?

That's where DEMOSTIX comes in, after doing some research I found his post about the exact mod on the exact same hammock I was thinking of, that he worked with Donna on...

I e-mailed 2QZQ and got a prompt reply that it had been a while since she had worked on DEMOSTIX, and mine would be only the 2nd NX-UL she had done, so we would have to collaborate with measurements and pictures and some feedback from DEMOSTIX.

Donna was great, we communicated back and forth through out the entire project, she kept me updated and even had some changes to my initial measurements that improved and further enhanced the finished project.

Awesome! I would highly recommend this upgrade, We use the standard Clark poles and basically have a smaller lighter version of the 250... hence the name: NX-UL.

I have recently heard From Donna that she was working on another NX-UL for someone else and was thinking of offering it as a standard mod on the site.

Thanks again 2QZQ (Donna) and Demostix!

I love this place!

[southern9]

Excellent mod. Can the original weather cover still be zipped on?

[Mannowar]

Excellent mod. Can the original weather cover still be zipped on?

This is the original CJH Ultralite, I believe it was only offered with the bug net and the original configuration had the tarp rigged to the hammock suspension similar to the Hennessy style.

[2Questions]

Donna here...Yes we will be offering this modification on our website. I haven't been able to catch Tim long enough for him to sit down at the computer and put it on there. If anyone is interested, PM me, or contact through our website.

Mannowar...doesn't look like you needed the shock cord thing I sent to you...I didn't think it would be needed, but sent it just in case. Let me know for sure.
Also...I checked with one of our suppliers to see if they could find poles for this mod. I haven't heard anything. I did some looking myself for customer #3 without much success. I then looked on Clark's website. They sell replacement poles.

Forgot to add....Nice write up Mannowar!

[Mannowar]

Mannowar...doesn't look like you needed the shock cord thing I sent to you...I didn't think it would be needed, but sent it just in case. Let me know for sure.
Also...I checked with one of our suppliers to see if they could find poles for this mod. I haven't heard anything. I did some looking myself for customer #3 without much success. I then looked on Clark's website. They sell replacement poles.

Forgot to add....Nice write up Mannowar!

Hi Donna, I was hoping you would chime in... They (shock cord tensioners) are installed currently, I took the photos before you sent them but they are a definite plus to this modification, they keep the poles upright and tension-ed when the hammock is empty and definitely improves bugnet tension, visibility and airflow while in the hammock.

Definitely a plus to this modification!

Have you tried Quest Outfitters for poles?
http://www.questoutfitters.com/tent_poles.htm

[2Questions]

Have you tried Quest Outfitters for poles?
http://www.questoutfitters.com/tent_poles.htm

I just realized I never responded to this. This is the supplier I contacted for the poles. They haven't gotten back to me yet. It has been awhile...so I'm guessing they didn't find anything. I will have to call them again.
Donna

[DemostiX]

The poles here are fiberglass sticks. Per archives here at HF I found excellent substitutes for Clark,s T Harbor Freight, in their inexpensive electricians' fish rods kits. Another source would be a kite store



I knew 2QZQ's rep to be so well deserved, I sent Donna two hmmks, a UL and a Tropical, and they came back impeccably tailored.



With OP on this, the UL is a

favorite Clark, per pics @ my page.

[apescat]

Hi I'm interested in the poles and mod for my tropical ultra. Did you use the electrical wiring poles from Harbor freight ?

[2Questions]

Hi I'm interested in the poles and mod for my tropical ultra. Did you use the electrical wiring poles from Harbor freight ?

Donna here...I just did a search here on HFs...here are the poles DemostiX used.

http://www.harborfreight.com/3-16-in...kit-65326.html He noted an item number of 65327. Hopefully he will chime in here when he sees this.

[DemostiX]

Donna here...I just did a search here on HFs...here are the poles DemostiX used.

http://www.harborfreight.com/3-16-in...kit-65326.html He noted an item number of 65327. Hopefully he will chime in here when he sees this.

Nope, for once, I was careful and got it right. The 327 kit is of 13" rods (with brass screw-together connectors.) Four of them give you the desired 51-52" length, leaving one extra from that $5 kit --- the price has actually come down in 2 years. Convenient for packing is that four 13" rods pack easier than the stock 17" ones, even if the apex of the half-circle now winds up at a connector. This has proven to be the most minor of aesthetic concerns, with no durability effects over hundreds of nights.

For the value and weight conscious, the 33ft kit of 39" long rods Donna cites could be cut up, into so many more sets of rods, if you can find the kind of aluminum joining sleeves -- maybe from a hobby or kite shop --to fit over and join the pieces. Or use 1 39" with a 13" from each kit and have enough for 5 hammocks without any cutting or additional parts.!!

Or find other applications for flexy 39" fiberglass rods.