[font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]Hi and welcome.[/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif] What a beautiful van! I like your spirit of adventure, and your decision to see the positive opportunity in the challenging new reality this virus caused. [/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif] [/font]
[font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]Shadowmoss[/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif] [/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]introduced me to all [/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]weather [/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]hammock camping over a decade ago.[/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif] Now she keeps insisting I pay it forward! LOL! I do love talking hammocks. Feel welcome to PM me if you want to talk hammocks. [/font]
[font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]My 2017 Nissan hightop cargo van is[/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif] my newest portable hammock stand and my [/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]retirement travel plan. I love it. Your van looks about the same length as mine.[/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif] But you are apparently going to get much better gas mileage![/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif] [/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]A[/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]ttaching a hammock to my van[/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif] interior was super easy[/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif] because I have not built out the interior walls. Does [/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]your van[/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif] have[/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif] exposed interior walls[/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]? What is your interior like?[/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif] If[/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif] you have experience with sleeping comfortably in hammocks[/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif], it should[/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif] easy for you to do it in your van. [/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]I suspect you already know that! [/font]
[font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]Forgive me if I am preaching to the choir. If you are not already used to sleeping in a hammock, there is a learning curve and lots of fun to be had.The basic caution early on is to hang no higher than you are willing to fall. That probably won't be a problem in your van. Be ever mindful of what is beneath you when you test your system, though. [/font]
[font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]Perhaps you can find a helpful hint in this brief description of my hammock system for my van. [/font]
[font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]In a restricted space, a few inches here and there of this and that can make a huge difference in the comfort of a hammock system. [/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]My[/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif] DIY hemmed and gathered-end [/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]hammock is [/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]made relatively short but wide compared to most commercial gathered end [/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]hammocks. The hem is extra deep to accommodate the loops of[/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif] strong rock climbing rope made as short as possible to reach the widespread anchors with only a gentle swag when the hammock is weighted. A wider spread for the gathering makes for a more comfortable hang. I sewed a covering over the foot end to prevent losing things overboard.[/font]
[font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]We used b[/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]olts and rock [/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]climbing hangers (because we had them and they are strong) for all four anchor points. We found existing holes for the front two [/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]anchor points, located [/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]in the back of the storage shelf area above the sun visors on both sides. Locking chain repair links saved cost and inches for attaching the hammock rope loops to the hangers there. I seldom disconnect those. F[/font]or the rear two anchors we drilled[font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif] new holes[/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif] in the ribbing and I use locking climbing carabiners there so it is easier to take that end down and tuck the hammock ou[/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]t of the way and to reattach it later. In cooler weather I often leave the bulkier hammock system attached at both ends when not in use and draw the hammock and underquilt over and up to the sidewall with bungees or slings for convenience or for improved visibility when driving. [/font]
Have fun. Keep us posted on your progress. [font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif] [/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif] Joyfully, TurtleLady[/font]