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thewump Samba Member
Joined: June 15, 2008 Posts: 215 Location: Denver
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Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2010 6:50 pm Post subject: Another Kids Hammock Design - STOWABLE |
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Hi All,
I was inspired by someone elses hammock that I saw at a recent Colorado Show, and decided that I wanted to make one. A MAJOR design criteria for me though is that it has to break down and stow in an area that is otherwise unused, so here it is..
By building 54 inches long when broken down, it tucks neatly in the pop top housing when not being used and is completely out of the way.
Here's a couple of pics, but more pics and dimensions and basic instructions along with more pics here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/gnoshmepics/VanagonProjects#
In testing:
Stored:
In a nutshell:
1.25 inch Schedule 40 pipe
2x 50 inch sides
2x 24 inch ends
Corners made out of Ts with one leg cut off, and a slice for the strap to go through
Corners attached to long sides with screws to allow canvas removal for laundry
Routing of straps done so weight on hammock holds end pieces in place
Hang heigth 13 inches.
Hanger "ends" are 3/4 inch pipe with slits cut in them for the straps - then a knot inside.
Cost $25.
Time taken 3 hours.
Time it would take me again 90 minutes assuming the sewing machine is in a good mood.
Best
K _________________ 87 Weekender |
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reluctantartist Samba Member
Joined: August 13, 2006 Posts: 1929 Location: Bloomington, IN
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Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2010 8:12 pm Post subject: |
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I like that set up. Now to get the wife to be ok with the idea of one of the kids using it. _________________ 1982 Westy, 1974 412 Variant... Yes, Aircooled's are great! Oh and I do have modern computer controlled vehicles too, but I just don't care about them. |
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buildyourown Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2009 Posts: 1668 Location: Seattle
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Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2010 8:45 pm Post subject: |
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Bookmarked!
I see one of these in my future when my kid is too big to sleep with us.
The top is cold. |
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madspaniard Samba Member
Joined: August 18, 2008 Posts: 3795 Location: Alameda, CA
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Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2010 8:01 am Post subject: |
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great job and post, thanks for sharing, bookmarked and in my list to do for the near future _________________ 1991 Westy auto w/ Peloquin TBD
"The only difference between me and a madman is that I'm not mad” - Salvador Dali |
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VanWilder Samba Member
Joined: October 09, 2009 Posts: 1349 Location: PDX-Weird Town, USA
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thewump Samba Member
Joined: June 15, 2008 Posts: 215 Location: Denver
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Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2010 9:31 am Post subject: |
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Had not, but the first post of this is the hammock that I saw at the Colorado show.. so that's what I was basing mine on, adding the modification for storage.
Thanks
K _________________ 87 Weekender |
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VanWilder Samba Member
Joined: October 09, 2009 Posts: 1349 Location: PDX-Weird Town, USA
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Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2010 9:47 am Post subject: |
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Throw some rope straps on your knobs so you can open the doors with the child still in the cot. _________________ VW
________________________
"83.5" Vanagon GL Air cooled "VanWilder"
VanWilder has given back to me more then I could ever put into it September 22, 2010
Malama Ka `Aina—"Respect the Land" |
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thewump Samba Member
Joined: June 15, 2008 Posts: 215 Location: Denver
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Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2010 10:00 am Post subject: |
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VanWilder wrote: |
Throw some rope straps on your knobs so you can open the doors with the child still in the cot. |
Yes, saw that in the other thread - good call. Have you seen that thread where you can slice a piece out of a bit of pipe and have it latch on to gutter rail? Might do that instead. I don't think I'd open the door with the kid in there, but it should easily hold empty.
K _________________ 87 Weekender |
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climberjohn Samba Member
Joined: January 11, 2005 Posts: 1840 Location: Portland Orygun
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Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2010 10:49 am Post subject: |
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Great idea, thanks for posting!
-CJ _________________ '86 Westy, 2.5 Subaru power
Know your limits. Exceed them often. |
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VanWilder Samba Member
Joined: October 09, 2009 Posts: 1349 Location: PDX-Weird Town, USA
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Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2010 11:38 am Post subject: |
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thewump wrote: |
VanWilder wrote: |
Throw some rope straps on your knobs so you can open the doors with the child still in the cot. |
Yes, saw that in the other thread - good call. Have you seen that thread where you can slice a piece out of a bit of pipe and have it latch on to gutter rail? Might do that instead. I don't think I'd open the door with the kid in there, but it should easily hold empty.
K |
Hmmm yea, perhaps notch the knob at the top and it might hold onto the gutter. Interesting,,,, The ropes definitely hold a heavy load. _________________ VW
________________________
"83.5" Vanagon GL Air cooled "VanWilder"
VanWilder has given back to me more then I could ever put into it September 22, 2010
Malama Ka `Aina—"Respect the Land" |
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thewump Samba Member
Joined: June 15, 2008 Posts: 215 Location: Denver
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Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2010 12:34 pm Post subject: |
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Playing. This is definitely an improvement, in that it will hold things in place well and allow the doors to be opened, but doors touch the PVC in their travel. That's fine if there's nobody in it, but might be a bit harsh with a kid in there.
I don't see how this can be better though.. I can't find that thread where people were doing this.. I thought it was the favorite mod thread, but it's not.
I experimented with various diamters of pipe, but because the slit has to be about 1/4 inch the smaller the better.. The pipe piece is going to hang over the lip no matter what - not catch and sit above it.
Best so far is this pic: 3/4 inch pipe. 1/4 inch slit. Still stupidly solid.
Anyone got a scrap of 1/2 inch PVC?
K _________________ 87 Weekender |
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VanWilder Samba Member
Joined: October 09, 2009 Posts: 1349 Location: PDX-Weird Town, USA
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Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2010 12:43 pm Post subject: |
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lol Let me check my pipe stash.
How much weight can it hold? 2 small dogs total weight 20 lbs perhaps? _________________ VW
________________________
"83.5" Vanagon GL Air cooled "VanWilder"
VanWilder has given back to me more then I could ever put into it September 22, 2010
Malama Ka `Aina—"Respect the Land" |
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VanWilder Samba Member
Joined: October 09, 2009 Posts: 1349 Location: PDX-Weird Town, USA
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Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2010 12:48 pm Post subject: |
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I have 1/2" but it is to small. It covers the gutter rail perfectly allowing no room for the rope or support lines to go through the pipe.
Drill a hole through yours as I think it is the best size. Put your support lines
through close the doors, load a load and open the doors. Put some weight on it and give it a test. I have 3/4" ready to go after your test!!!
This application is great for Westys as they have the fiberglass tops.
Vanagons have a hard shell that is whi I use the ropes I guess. _________________ VW
________________________
"83.5" Vanagon GL Air cooled "VanWilder"
VanWilder has given back to me more then I could ever put into it September 22, 2010
Malama Ka `Aina—"Respect the Land" |
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thewump Samba Member
Joined: June 15, 2008 Posts: 215 Location: Denver
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Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2010 1:04 pm Post subject: |
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VanWilder wrote: |
I have 1/2" but it is to small. It covers the gutter rail perfectly allowing no room for the rope or support lines to go through the pipe.
Drill a hole through yours as I think it is the best size. Put your support lines
through close the doors, load a load and open the doors. Put some weight on it and give it a test. I have 3/4" ready to go after your test!!!
This application is great for Westys as they have the fiberglass tops.
Vanagons have a hard shell that is whi I use the ropes I guess. |
The flat strap might fit though but I'd have to find a way to keep it there other than tying a knot in the middle. I like straps.
K _________________ 87 Weekender |
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SpudlyHotPotato Samba Member
Joined: April 27, 2010 Posts: 150 Location: Phoenix, AZ
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Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2010 7:56 pm Post subject: |
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thewump:
I saw at REI they have some of those plastic snap buckles that go onto flat straps.
Here's a hyperlink since I couldn't figure out what they're called.
http://www.rei.com/product/612226
They're inexpensive and I get the idea they're for people who need to hold all their weight/gear while climbing rocks. I betcha you could find someone at REI who would have information for you about the weight limits of these things.
They also have some that come with straps already attached to them, up to 40" long:
http://www.rei.com/product/380046
If you have to sew straps yourself to a custom length, there is some heavy duty thread available for sewing machines that you could just ask the folks at the JoAnn's store (or whatever sewing store) advice on.
I bet these would work great for your project since they're nice and flat.
My husband and I got the idea to get these snaps so we could make a rain/shade shelter for our folding chairs that come with little awnings on top. We have these canopy camping chairs by Kelsyus:
http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/190-5217792-3...v_XSG10001
When the canopy on the chair is up, there's some snap ends resting on top of the canopy (when folded up, those snaps click together and turn the chair into a backpack out of the arm rests). We thought we could buy some of these snaps and attach them to a home-made rectangular shade cloth/rain fly. Then we could sit with a table in between us and it would make a dry spot on the little table between us, or at least spread the shade around.
(We live in Phoenix and do a lot of camping up North at higher elevations, so even if the weather is nice, the sun is bright and closer to you. Shade's always at a premium). _________________ Rebuilt 2.1 in a 1985 manual Camper
"Those things are over kill and I want a set" - Jedi
"All my work explores the human desire or obsession for utopias, and the structure of all my works is the search for utopias lost and rediscovered." - Marguerite Young
www.bewilderknits.com |
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thewump Samba Member
Joined: June 15, 2008 Posts: 215 Location: Denver
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Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 8:57 am Post subject: |
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Those clip in straps would be great to do a simple up and over strap that attaches both sides. I think I'm getting to the point now where I like it, but am going to do a revamp so it's utterly easy to install / uninstall.. at night.. in the dark..
K _________________ 87 Weekender |
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H2O-Box Samba Member
Joined: November 28, 2006 Posts: 28 Location: Amesbury, Ma
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Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 10:38 am Post subject: |
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I like this design for a cot, it's better then the metal pole one I was thinking of... |
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