How to Hang a Hammock in a Campervan
Whether you want a fresh new look for your campervan or if you're wanting to save space, a hammock can be a great option. They're also very comfortable and can help you get a better night's sleep. You can also detach them from their hooks and bring them with you on a hike if you feel like sleeping under the stars. So how would you hang your hammock in a motorhome or campervan?
Planning & Measuring Your Hammock
There are several ways to measure a hammock in your van, but it might be easier to take out all of your furniture and lay the hammock flat across the length of the van with the ropes extended as far as possible, moving them up the walls gradually and marking the placement when it is correct - 12 inches between the campervan wall and the hammock is usually enough. If you don't want to do this you could use a piece of string that is the same length as your hammock and will allow you to visualise the slack.
It is a good idea to place your hammock in a diagonal position against the length of the van, as many vans have extremely thin walls so you would have more support by hanging the hammock on the corners where the walls should be thicker. You can also choose to install an additional support beam, which would be useful should you want to convert a transit van from scratch or place your hammock in a different position.
Measure Twice, Drill Once.
To avoid making any mistakes, measure out the lengths multiple times before drilling. This will help you to avoid making multiple holes in the van from not getting your measurements right the first time. You also need to be mindful of drilling into any pipes or electrical wires. Another tip here is to make indents where you are going to drill your holes, this will stop the drill bit from wandering and make your drilling more precise.
What type of hook you choose to use is up to you, however, it is recommended that you use a D-hook for support. You may also want to consider using toggle bolts to further support the D-hook from the back, further distributing the weight load. This is because the platelet on the D-hook means that you won't be able to access the back to secure nuts. Once the hooks are secured, you should secure your hammock to the hooks using carabiners which will allow you to easily attach and detach the hammock as needed. One important step that should not be overlooked is using a product to prevent rusting. Drilling holes into a metal van and not applying sealant or a product to prevent rusting means that rust will develop and damage the structural integrity of your van.
You could use our easy plus hammock fixings, as they feature a d-style hook with platelets and they have rubber rings to minimise friction of the metal. Additionally, the set comes with carabiners. However, the supplied screws are designed for masonry and wood, so it may be beneficial to source different screws. You will still need to secure the back as mentioned above, which you can do with toggles.
*If the platelet won't fit into the strongest parts of your van such as the corners, you will need to use eye bolts. You can find the metal hammock fixing set here.
If you're intending to hand your hammock on the OUTSIDE of your van, you can drill through into the interior and secure it from the back, but you will need to use sealant to make sure that you don't let in water if it rains. But you will still need to make sure that it is secure, and not fastened to thin walls.
Put into 5 simple steps:
1) Plan where you want your hammock to go, with the fastenings attached to the strongest points such as corners.
2) Measure your hammock including ropes and ensure that the distances between fixings are adequate.
3) Drill holes into the van for the fixings and secure d-hooks (or hardware of your choice) and make sure the back is secured.
4) Use sealant and rust prevention products to protect your van.
5) Hang up your hammock.
Test Out Your Hammock
Now that you've secured your attachments, it's time to try it out. Hang up your hammock, sit in it and see how it feels. Do you feel supported enough? It is in the right position? Once everything is right you're good to go.
If your motorhome or transit van has doors that open from the back, this gives you a great advantage as you can park up your van near a tree and hang one end of your hammock from the van and the other end from the tree. So you are not restricted to using the hammock inside only.
Go Adventuring!
With all that in mind - are there any other accessories or equipment you might want to consider? Well, hammock wise we've got you covered. If you're going to hang your hammock inside your van with secure fixings, you won't be able to hang up your hammock without extra fixings. Smart Rope Fixings are a good option if you feel that you'll want to hang your hammock between trees. What fixings you will need may differ depending on your hammock, but we are happy to help advise on this. Contact us if you need assistance!
