How to Hang a Hammock from Your Car, SUV, Van, or Truck (Great for Car Camping & Vandwelling)

In this video I go over several ways to hang a hammock from your SUV, van, truck, or other vehicle. One side has to be attached to a stationary object (a tree, pole, etc.), and the other side attaches to your car.
** SUV RVing the Book: www.amazon.com/dp/B01HYMKE2K/... (Affiliate link)
** The Blog: suvrving.com
** Instagram: / suvrving
** FKB.me (My free Kindle book site): fkb.me
-----
Other keywords: SUV RVing, SUV camping, SUV dwelling, vanlife, car camping, vandwelling, hammocking, hammock

[@landonashby2029]

I'm a heavy guy and I will give you my method. Using the position of you car as the model. I use a long strap run it over the roof but under the cargo rack and I loop my strap around the door pillar on the driverside of the car. This connection point does zero damage to your car and is very strong 💪. How strong well when I started using this method I weighed almost 450 lbs. I'm about 350 lbs now. If anyone needs a hammock for a heavy guy Treklight hammocks are the bomb and they have a lifetime warranty that I've never had to use. Tell Seth I said Hi 👋 if you buy one!

[@matte-d349]

Thanks for this! This sounds very strong and secure. Some of the methods described in the video give me the heebie jeebies (basically anything relying on the roof rack or door frames to bear the brunt of the force) as the pull/shear forces when hanging a hammock are much higher than one would expect, and doors and roof rack really aren't designed with these in mind. Using the door pillar as an anchor point is genius.

[@adavell]

LOL I just googled "how to hang a hammock from a car" and your video popped up!!! Not only did I get some excellent ideas, but they were also delivered by a friendly person that "seems" reliable, hahahahaha Thank you for the tips!!!

[@teakertown]

this is where having a friend with a vehicle comes in handy...both hammocks connect to both cars

[@myavatar9590]

Four years later, thank you for posting this video. I'm going to try the last way, which seems like it will work well for my vehicle.

[@elderhiker7787]

I have been thinking about this very issue for some time without actually trying it out myself. But you have answered critical questions for me and I am grateful for your efforts. I guess if you procrastinate long enough, somebody will show up with the answer. Thanks a million. Ciao

[@LibertyLeslie]

The problem with the desert is to find ONE suitable tree....or rock.

[@SUVRVing]

It depends on the desert, really. In the Sonoran Desert, the ironwood and mesquite trees are big enough. In the high deserts, there are often plenty of pinyon or juniper trees to use. But yeah, in other places, it can be tough. Thanks Leslie.

[@mylenegabriel435]

Thank you ! Great to have options. I just purchased a hammock so I'm researching set ups and such. Thank you !

[@SUVRVing]

Thanks Mylene!

[@freedomdove]

This is one of your better videos. Thanks for all the different ideas.

[@SUVRVing]

Hey thanks! I'm glad you liked it. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@ChiefinGuam]

Great tips! I'll have to try that on my next outing.

[@SUVRVing]

Definitely do it. It's suuuper relaxing.

[@mohdannafijamaludin8193]

Thank you. Very helpful

[@P4rkerMann]

Great video!! I honeslty was surprised at how many more options I have with my little Camry 😂 going to definitely try the in between the doors one.

[@SUVRVing]

Thanks for watching, Parker.

[@maryannepowers1341]

Excellent. Exactly what I was looking for. Florida campgrounds are limited in trees to hang from

[@SUVRVing]

👍👍

[@neiloppa2620]

Do you have a referral link to amazon for the type of hammock that you used?

[@ourtechwriter]

Very smart!

[@catherinelauda6948]

Great! Like the last option.

[@jarodhoward3536]

Think I'll need to buy your book now

[@SUVRVing]

Thanks Jarod! Let me know if you have any questions about anything you read. There's a contact form on the SUV RVing website.

[@epicuritus9761]

Is this up at North Fork? The dumpster looks familiar from a site I know. Bathrooms are right up past the dumpster, kind of around the corner?

[@SUVRVing]

Yep, exactly!

[@sdbpost]

I have an alternative I've used in the desert with no trees. Needs some rope and a sturdy stick (2x4 or 2x2 5-6 foot long. Attach to the van on one end. Attach other end of the hammock to one end of the stick. Tie the rope to the stick at the same point and stand it up. Take the slack out of the rope and pull to a point 6 to 10 feet away and tie it off on a anchor of some sort. I've used a rock too large to move, the base of a large bush, and a stump. Seems like it will fall over but surprisingly it wobble but stays standing. I've also tied off to a tire around the bottom of a tire on a second vehicle and used multiple ropes leading to tent pegs (large ones!!)

[@SUVRVing]

Sounds look a good option! Thanks for sharing.

[@TSunshineful]

Ohhh I like that, now I have to buy a hammock, lol Each one you showed us, kept getting better. Which hammock did you buy? (Sorry if you already told us in another video, I'm just catching up.)

[@SUVRVing]

The hammock is a no-name one that I got for $10 from a local outdoors shop. It works great, but I don't know what an equivalent one available online would be. The Bear Butt brand ones that you can get on Amazon look like a good bet.

[@fgiraffe8751]

Do you ever sleep in the hammock overnight when it is very warm, or is it just for chillin' out? Also, as a non-climber and camping noobie what knots do you find most useful when SUV RVing? Thanks again!

[@SUVRVing]

No I don't. Even in the summer, the mountain areas that I camp in get quite chilly at night, and I don't have an underquilt or hammock-specific sleeping pad to keep my underside from getting cold. Good knots to learn are the double fishermans, flat overhand, water knot, and taut line hitch. Thanks fgiraffe.

[@mylenegabriel435]

PS The last option is the best one I got from this video.

[@mustangenthusiast]

I attach mine to my tube bumper and am careful how I do it and its steel! I would never side load my door like that or even my roof rack

[@007flyguy1]

Finally someone with brains.

[@strippingwelsh1]

Amen! I´m 6´2" and 285 pounds and I don´t trust many trees let alone car door. There´s not much places on car where I´d hang my hammock. The door column maybe, but then you need to have windows down, not really a good option either.

[@MauroMarzorati]

one more for you ... around the spoke of the rear wheel on the opposite end and simply drape the strap up the side and over the roof rack

[@SUVRVing]

Great idea! I'll have to try it out. Thanks for the suggestion.

[@sdbpost]

This is the best idea. Instead of tying to the spoke I've made a loop around/under the tire so nothing is tied to the wheel.

[@xxgg]

Great tip. I haven't tested any of the option yet but I would assume your last option would be the best of your options. Right away I thought... having the loop right over the B pillar would be a much better option. I am thinking of building a square base with steel pipes with T-fitting on one side. I would than place on the ground, drive my vehicle wheel on top to seat on it to secure, than attack a pipe to the T-fitting to have a stand pole. Thinking of using 1" galvanized steel pipes and joints.

[@paulneumann7739]

Tire on opposite side with soft rope where touch’s car?

[@stang147stang]

..... rather than a metal carabiner use a soft shackle to avoid scratching the car.

[@davidjohn9006]

definitely the last method if at all 🇦🇺 🐨🏖️

[@SUVRVing]

Thanks David John. It work well for me, but yeah, it is easier if you can just find two trees!

[@EugeneJrFolse]

You really should (read must) tie a half hitch on the strap by the buckle for the last method. I would suggest you aim everyone toward shugemery for the hammock knowledge. Now, if I could figure how to hang it inside the car...

[@jacquesmerde3282]

watch this video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aGmnZHt8obiYiJo I used one ENO Atlas strap in lieu of the rope. Works great and it's so low profile it is good for stealth camping.

[@MyWayofEverything]

“One that will work on any vehicle” Laughs in pop top 😂

[@TedDixonChannel]

Is that an SUV RVing T-Shirt? LoL. You should put them on for sale.

[@SUVRVing]

It is! I may sell them at some point in the future, but really I just wanted one for myself. We'll see :)

[@teakertown]

SUV RVing ...how did you get your T-shirt made?

[@mattmuller1353]

I wouldn't do any of these.... you might get away with it or you might damage your car or yourself. Roof racks aren't always built to handle those forces in those directions and could tear off. Honestly, some of these methods are straight dangerous and you should pull this video. I've heard best practice is to open your doors and run it around your B-pillar (between the front and back seat). That's a truly strong structural point on your car. Some people like to run it over the roof to the B-pillar on the other side of the car, but I can't promise that won't screw up your paint.

[@SUVRVing]

I've done all of these and have never hurt myself or my vehicle. You are free to do as you please. Thanks for watching.

[@adavell]

Well, we all know we have to exercise some caution depending on our own circumstances but this video helped me with some great ideas I can use. He is not twisting your arm to do anything you don't want to so I vote for the video to stay. :)

[@christopherdc89]

This looks like an incredibly easy way to break any internal plastic on your car.

[@SUVRVing]

If you're afraid of trying it, don't try it. I've never had any problems and have never heard of other people having problems.

[@daveyoung465]

my fat butt would rip the rack off. I have hooked into the receiver hitch. if your not on a hill it's really low.

[@SUVRVing]

There's definitely no way I could hang my hammock from my hitch receiver. It's waaaaay too low. I'd be butt-scraping for sure.

[@FrankGreenway]

good information. a little repetitive. I guess you didn't want a short video.

[@batwithglasses]

Frank and Chewy the devil's in the details apparently..

[@davidjohn9006]

He is somewhat a perfectionist and likes to be precise 😉

[@cn7449]

Got to hit that 10 min mark $$$

[@SUVRVing]

Get real. This video was done a year before I had ads on the channel.

[@cn7449]

Ok. Didn't mean that to be mean. I don't get offended when I get paid.

[@susanpratt4061]

Stopped watching when you showed ways that would do damage to the car.☹️j

[@SUVRVing]

👍

[@ryancappo]

The last one shown is the correct way to do it.