(response to martiansky): cool. I think you want to use spines and continue using spines, but are tickled by the thread's topic (which is in fact different than your way, which is the spine way.) The spineless people will not complain. we are afterall spineless. Posting on this thread much later now...

One thing you could try is use a collapsible spine (IE segments that connect with fittings in a line) then run a strap/rope down the center. Attach the ends of the rope/strap together outside the spine so it makes a giant loop. Then your can tighten the crap out of the strap to get a lot of compres...

While I'm airing things out...I was playing around with the idea of using 1/2" EMT Alu conduit instead of 1" PVC pipe. The numbers suggest the pipe might be similar flexible to the PVC pipe. Stiffness of Alu: 69 Gpa, moment I = 0.00484 from .706 OD and .622 ID, E*I = .33396 (bigger = stiffer) Stiffn...

Bowline my friend! Another rope related thing to be cultist about :D. But actually, finish it with an extra securing clove-hitch. Bowlines are beautiful knots but Amsteel is so incredibly slippery that I find it might slip a bunch before it gets into enough tension to stay put. I'm cheap though, I'l...

Hi Folks. I appreciate these replies. I just found out that were a couple since I last checked; I didn't notice the email update. minor sidenote, I will deal with rain problems by the fact my hybrid tarp will have shade clothe on the top. Hopefully early next week I'll put together my build. :). It ...

I love you all.

Thanks for the comments and feedback. Will work on some major projects first (food, shelter, etc), then see if this expands at all. I'm suddenly dreaming of a caterpillar bike with 8" wheels, and other variants.

Got both practical advice and creative juices. sweet.

Eyo, I think I needed to hear that from someone, which is a bit needy of me. But I was starting to dream about flat-lands and smooth biking, but yeah that probably isn't realistic.

Thanks.

If anyone has managed with 8", or 12", or 16" wheels, i'm curious how they felt about it.

So a long time ago sharper image came out with a micro A-frame bike. They're kind of stupid if you're going any distance (basically good for basic longboard distances.) But they're also gloriously small. Anyway the glorious sharper image is out of business but I found a clone on ebay: http://www.eba...

This is a kickass forum. I'm soaking in the responses and will try to learn more. Also, hyparhut? I don't know, but adding "hyper" and alliteration, makes me really excited, but I'll check it out later in the evening and also keep considering the monkey hut basics. p>S, tamarakay, I'm really glad yo...

For the record, a piece of 10' 1.25" PVC is under a cubic foot. I think container costs are like $10 a cubic foot. Good point. I would claim it's a little over a cubic foot, because it can't pack well, but it *is* less than I think. So, as a backup, maybe I'll end up filling a bunch my container sp...

My two cents: I feel pretty much the same way about Monkey Huts as I do Hexayurts; the design and engineering of both have been used, tested live on the playa and improved upon by thousands of people for many years now. So you can pretty much be sure that any major change in the engineering design ...

The standard design on chromatest's website already has the Spine pieces as 1.25 inch and the ribs as 1 inch, so you can nest them without any design modifications (although thx for the comment about the poles getting a permanently curve during the event.) 1.25 inch is significantly less flexible t...

I think the spine is sometimes in compression--when the wind blows and the tarp is catching gusts, the spine keeps the ribs separated and keeps the structure upright. Yes you have the whole hut staked out on both sides w guy lines, but on the playa when the wind gets going, the structure is wigglin...

I know there was a thread here where someone mentioned not having rigid connectors in the spine, but I'm not sure one has ever been done without a spine. I would think the robs would have a tendency to move toward each other. What is your plan for travel to the playa? If you are renting a car, you ...

Ok! I am working on a monkey hut, but I need to move it from the east coast and am trying to see how I can minimize space taken in my container share. One thing is I might make it flimsier, and compensate by using more shade clothe and less tarp - so the shade clothe will let wind through. Another w...