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Alternative to screw in steps

J

jgleas114

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Joined
Jan 18, 2022
Messages
255
In the process on collecting Ameristep screw in step for next season. I have loved one sticking and will continue to keep it in my quiver, but being as I hunt private land, I want to have some trees preset for next season. I am using ameristeps for climbing and ROS.

A few questions:
  1. Is there an easier way to screw in these steps? I plan to step up a dozen or so trees. I can't find the ameristep drill bit anywhere.
  2. I have heard of folks using bolts. What size?
  3. Is there anything I am not considering for preset trees?
 
I predrilled I believe a 1/4 or 5/16 inch hole with a cordless drill to make it much easier to get them started
 
Treehopper LLC has hand drills, bolts and bits for electric drills. I believe muddy makes a tool to install screw in steps easier. I am a fan of bolts but prefer screw ins for ros since they won't slide out and at a horizontal angle.
 
There's a gizmo you can chuck into a cordless drill to drive screw-in steps. I think mine came from Walmart or Cabela's. I haven't used screw-in steps in several years so I can't remember if it was worth the hassle. I didn't use a pilot bit with it.

Lots of discussion on tree bolts. Short answer, 6" 3/8" Grade 8 bolts. Long answer, there's like a 50-page thread on it somewhere on here.

Cheap steel climbing sticks are a great option for pre-sets. I got some from Menards a few years ago, post-season, for $10 a stick or so. Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist should also be an option.
 
Lowg08 said:
Just spend the extra and buy cranford ezy. Buy the fifty bundle out of the gate then a dozen a year til you get what you need.
Click to expand...

I did it. I cant believe I spent 250 on 50 steps but those things are built like a brick house.
 
jgleas114 said:
I did it. I cant believe I spent 250 on 50 steps but those things are built like a brick house.
Click to expand...
Yea but they make life so much easier. I actually did a hang and hunt this past year with them and hung two stands
 
I've been tempted to drop the money to get enough of the double fold Cranfords to have 3 sets of 15 steps to climb and 6 to 8 deluxe steps to pair with them for a ring of steps like John Eberhart uses. If I had more places that screw ins were OK for there is no doubt I would have them already.
 
They are legal in our state and I like to have pre sets where I hunt locally. Now if im hunting out of state. Make sure you check the laws some states don’t allow that
 
jgleas114 said:
In the process on collecting Ameristep screw in step for next season. I have loved one sticking and will continue to keep it in my quiver, but being as I hunt private land, I want to have some trees preset for next season. I am using ameristeps for climbing and ROS.

A few questions:
  1. Is there an easier way to screw in these steps? I plan to step up a dozen or so trees. I can't find the ameristep drill bit anywhere.
  2. I have heard of folks using bolts. What size?
  3. Is there anything I am not considering for preset trees?
Click to expand...
The only redeeming quality of a Ameristep/one piece screw-in step is the price. They are inexpensive, but other than that, those things absolutely suck. They pack horribly, they are often difficult to screw-in and difficult to screw-out, they require a large "footprint" of clearance to screw one in, they are not forgiving of the start angle or any bumps/protrusions on the tree. Did I mention how much they suck?

For price point, nothing is as economical as bolts. For presets, install with a cordless and for run and gun install with a Treehopper hand drill.
If you really want a screw-in, then Cranford EZClimb are the only way to go. But even those can be a bit tight to install or remove on certain trees. They do require a lot less space than a one-piece step to get a full crank rotation. Crank space that you might need does depend on the trees that you climb. I always try to choose trees with as much cover as possible which usually means the tree has branches. With those types of trees, I guarantee you that, with one-piece steps, you'll often run into issues with not having enough space to get a full rotation between obstructions. It seems like Murphy's law... Because of your normal step spacing or other criteria, you'll need to place a step in an exact spot, not 2 inches, higher, or lower, or to the right or to the left. One piece steps do not give you the latitude to install the step close to an obstruction. Discovering that situation during a climb is a royal PIA in my opinion.

I had about 150 Ameristeps and I traded them for about a dozen EZ. I love EZ but I seldom use them these days because I'm hooked on bolts.
 
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