How to Hang a Hammock without Trees – 6 Tips & Tricks

When you think of a hammock, the first thing that you think of immediately after is trees.

The two seem to go hand in hand, and if you ever see a hammock featured in a TV show or movie, you can guarantee that you will see it hanging luxuriously between two trees. 

But in reality, it can actually be very difficult to find the perfect trees to hang your hammock between. So what do you do if you can’t find two trees?

Well, there are lots of other methods that you can use to hang your hammock if there aren’t any trees available. In this guide, we’ll be taking a look at 6 of the best methods you can use to do this. So let’s get started. 

Use Portable Stands

The first option that you have if you want to hang your hammock but have no trees is to use portable stands.

This is probably the easiest option out if the different ones that we will look at as portable stands are ready designed for use with hammocks. 

Most portable stands are incredibly lightweight so that they can be easily carried in your camping backpack ready for your trip.

They are usually manufactured using metal or wood and are easy to put together so that you can attach your hammock without much effort required.

It usually consists of two frames that are bent upwards at a height that is suitable for a hammock and will sometimes come with pulleys or hooks to secure your hammock in a position that works well for you. 

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Use Your Car or Truck 

Alternatively, if you do not have access to a portable stand you can actually also use your car or truck to help hang your hammock while camping.

Car camping is very popular, and this method requires you to attach your hammock to both your car/truck and a tree. 

With the tree acting as one anchor point, you can then use your vehicle as the other if you do not have access to a second tree.

To be able to use your car, the first thing that you will need to do is find a solid place in your car’s chassis that will not be bent or damaged by your body weight when you get into the hammock. 

This is a popular option as your car can be moved, which allows you to find the perfect location for your hammock. Alternatively, you might choose to attach your hammock to the bed of your pickup truck if you cannot find a suitable tree. 

Use Hammock Structures

Another option that you have is to use hammock structures. If you have plans to go camping in a specific area this won’t be the best option for you, but if you are more flexible with where you go, this could be a great choice. 

Hammock structures are similar to the portable stands that we looked at earlier, except they are static and produced by large companies.

You can find hammock structures all over the country in universities, public areas, and even in parts of the cities, which gives you lots of choices when choosing where to camp.

They are essentially areas where people who like hammocks can gather to sleep and have really grown in popularity in recent years.

So if you just fancy a couple of days of sleeping in your hammock, but don’t mind where you go, then a hammock structure could be a great choice. 

Set up a Fence

Failing that, you can also set up a fence to hang your hammock to. However, this method does require the use of concrete so it is a better choice for camping trips in your garden than on other people’s land. 

This method requires you to simulate the “trees” with 4 x 4 wooden fence posts which are secured in place through the use of concrete.

To set up the fence posts for your hammock, you will have to measure the length of your hammock and then add a couple of feet onto this to work out the distance you need to leave between the fence posts.

You should also consider the height that you want your hammock, as some people choose to cut the fence posts in half so that you hang closer to the ground.

But the decision is entirely up to you which is why this is a great choice if you want your hammock to suit you. 

Use Building Structures

Additionally, if you are planning to camp in an urban area, you can use the outdoor structure of a building to hang your hammock. 

Even in National and State parks, you will commonly find pavilion buildings and rain shelters. It is these buildings that can be great for attaching your hammock to.

For this method, you will also require a sturdy post to attach the opposite end of your hammock to. This is an easy method to use, but you must take safety precautions when attaching the hammock to the building, including strong hooks and screws, to ensure that it is safe to use. 

Use Posts and Poles

Finally, you can hang your hammock using posts and poles if you do not have any access to trees while you are camping. 

Depending on where you are choosing to camp, the chances of you finding posts and poles which can be used to hang your hammock are more or less likely.

For this method, you can use fence poles, porch posts, and even telephone poles to hang your hammock. In some popular camping areas such as National parks, hammock posts are being actively added for use by hammock lovers.

When choosing posts to hang your hammock from, the most important thing to do is assess whether or not they will be able to hold your body weight safely. 

Summary 

In short, there are lots of different ways that you can hang your hammock if you don’t have any access to trees.

So if you turn up at your camping site, only to find you cannot find a suitable tree for your hammock then there is no need to worry. 

Andrew Mullen

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