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How would you configure a tail gate when doing really low freefall jumps? How do you balance tail control for heading and line over prevention vs. faster inflation and/or hesitations?

Opinions? Experiences?

And what species do you recommend, for more consistent results?

Dandelion!

I make no changes whatsoever. I don't know what this "tail control for heading" you speak of is. Nose first inflation is the way to go. If your tailgate is causing hesitations or changing heading performance, you're doing it wrong.

I'm looking at it from an "ultra low" perspective. In an environment where you have low inflation pressures and possibly not even full inflation at landing, every variable can have a greater input.

I'm not so much worried about heading, as it is fairly irrelevant at low heights. I am curious as to the potential of a tightly held tail to slow down overall inflation/pressurization percentage.

Same with the primary stow.

If you're that low, I'd real world tests higher up with your own gear and configuration.

Personally, down there I'd go with two wraps (and no girth hitch ever). And a fairly loose locking stow.

Oh yea, I'm not going to just onsite a random short tower and huck it first thing. I'm looking at a specific rig set up for this, and dialing it in on much higher stuff...

That's the set up I'm thinking for tail gate/primary stow; I was just poking around to see of I could get some valid, real world opinions (not that I really expected any...).

;)

Or just put the wraps above the girth hitch

I prefer to use a brand new rubber band on every jump, because they are the functional component of the tailgate and I want a brand new fresh one on every jump. Since I don't ever intend to re-use one, there is no reason for me to girth hitch them.

The girth hitch just tempts people to re-use them, and I see jumpers pushing them long past the point where they should have put a new one on.

 I don't understand why reusing a rubber band would be an issue. Sky rigs use rubber bands over and over. A primary stow gets used over an over as well. I don't see why a tail gate rubber band can not be used multiple times.

It can.

But most people who I see re-using it just continue re-using it until it breaks (same as they would in the skydiving environment) rather than actually inspecting and making a decision about when to replace it (before it fails in use).

The simplest way to avoid that is just to use a new one on every jump, and since the marginal cost to do so is well less than a single penny, it seems like an cheap, easy solution to me.

Agreed, but a lot of people eventually wind up losing it, and not having another one out in the field. Ill bet a lot of jumpers have used grass or something else improvised, which is probably worse than a damaged rubberband. I larkshead a rubberband directly to the inside C as discussed on other threads, and just keep a spare small rubberband in the mud flap. To each their own.

"but a lot of people eventually wind up losing it, and not having another one out in the field."
Be aware of people that are unprepared and don´t be "that guy". Just saying.
Take care,
space

nice one, Mr. T

back on topic: if only a small hesitation in the opening could end my life, I would redirect my energy and mental flow to choose a different opening technique ..
Just my 50 cents ...

I would likely use thin, green, painter's tape
on just the Control and D lines, and consider
skipping elastic on the primary stow bight.

I'm also just curious of your definition of "really low freefall". I'm thinking sub 180, just wondering what you meant.

I don't really have a hard definition of "really low", but yea, under 180' is where I'm looking at being.

I'm definitely looking at it more holistically than just focusing on any one aspect of jumps of this nature. I was just looking for some thoughts/opinions on this component.

Got it..

But would be sad if you follow one advice of all those stated above and then find out that it doesn´t work ...

they did ask the internet

I had to, I wasn't getting what I wanted to hear just by watching videos on YouTube...

or go no tailgate and use bury the tail packing method. I’ve done 100+ jumps slider off with no tailgate whatsoever.
not that it makes it a good idea....

maybe a nice writing on a tombstone ..

Interesting. I've never packed with the Tilley Fold method, might be something to look in to though. I can see some advantages.

I just wanted to mention I'm a big supporter and user of the tail burying style packjob. I also made several hundred slider off/down jumps without a tailgate...
Mostly until this happened during a PCA from Marta. She then talked sternly to me and I have since began using tailgates again.

Nobody likes you though...