kenn1320
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Sep 15, 2015
- Messages
- 2,753
I decided to make a platform like Dave made. I will list the dimensions I used and what I found while testing it. Thanks to G2 I decided to try to use it as a aider holder for the 1 stick climbing method. I tied up an aider and will show that as well.
Here is the platform held to the tree with a strap for testing only. I will add a versa button to use for the climbing. This platform seems to only need (1) strap to secure it at height, the one on the hooks to cam lock it as Dave shows in his video. One of the problems with Aiders is they are hard to get your foot in if they are up against the tree. By tying it to the platform it keeps it off the tree nicely. I also have had issues with the alternating left/right loop aiders and came up with a way to tie an inline ladder.
You dont want the aider too far off the tree, as your toe against the tree aids in stability. Getting up and over the platform isnt tough, but since the aider isnt at its edge, it is slightly in the way on that last step. You only have to go over it at hunting height. I set the jim stepp as a goal to get up onto and it wasnt a problem. I havent actually climbed with it, but shouldnt be a problem if I was able to get up on that jim stepp which simulates pausing off to the side of the tree via a tether while you lift the platform. My aider steps are 19" apart.
A simple route through the platform and water knot holds the aider in place.
The aider is built using individual pieces of 1" tubular webbing. I removed them from my climbing sticks to experiment. :lol: So you run the webbing through the tube and loosely tie an over hand knot. You take another piece of webbing and chase it forming a water knot. Dave has a video on this in his adjustable bridge video. My boots are size 11.5 and wide. I had the black tubes cut to 8" on the sticks. What I found was they would bend in the middle, lengthening the distance between steps. I cut them down to 6" and with this inline ladder configuration they are just right. IF you decide to build an inline aider, you start with the bottom step and tie the next step on top.
For the main post I went with 6061 solid bar 1.25" square stock. I played around with mounting this platform to my helium stick and it bowed more than I felt comfortable with and that was just leaning on it. Im 235lbs and while the solid stock is likely over kill, I wanted to hit a home run on the first shot. I can lighten it over the summer if needed. I might play around with solid 1" and hollow tube 1.25" with and without something inside it of it. We are loading this with forces greater than seen on the tree stand. I might also burn a favor and have it lightened on a mill. I dont have an accurate scale to measure total weight, but the bar stock is 1.9lbs at 12" long.
Main bar = 1.25" square bar stock 12" long
Brackets = Batwing Lone wolf brand
Platform = Alpha Lone wolf brand
Batwings are mounted 5/8" from each end and centered.
Platform bolt is 4.25" from the top and 7/16" from the back of the bar stock.
All holes are 1/4" drilled through. Seat bolt is 2.5" long 1/4-20. The Batwing bolts are 2" long 1/4-20 with lock nuts. I did have to slightly round the corners with a file where the batwings bolt on. Fairly painless modification.
I initially had the platform biased towards the bottom. What I found is as I loaded the platform, the top batwing would lift off the tree. If you wanted to use it in this configuration, you could put a versa button near the top and use 2 straps. If in field testing shows the single strap isnt working as well as in the yard, I will go with the lower mounted platform and second strap on a versa button. I will be adding a versa button anyway for the climbing, but plan to use (1) strap for climbing and then move it to the platform to hang it for hunting. As luck would have it, I didnt have to drill a new hole, just flipped the seat over and back into the same hole.
First try, platform biased towards the bottom.
Platform biased towards the top.
The platform adjuster bolt squeaks, so Dave suggested velcro or duct tape at the interface with the post.
Also Im noticing the hole in the platform ears is larger than the bolt. This allows some movement. I will remove the seat/platform and see if the next size up bolt will fit, even if its metric. If so, I will redrill the mounting hole in the post. I will also mention the platform feels like it bends slightly under my weight on the edges. In hunting mode the saddle will lighten the weight I apply on the platform. I will focus on using the center of it close to the post when placing full weight on it.
Here is the platform held to the tree with a strap for testing only. I will add a versa button to use for the climbing. This platform seems to only need (1) strap to secure it at height, the one on the hooks to cam lock it as Dave shows in his video. One of the problems with Aiders is they are hard to get your foot in if they are up against the tree. By tying it to the platform it keeps it off the tree nicely. I also have had issues with the alternating left/right loop aiders and came up with a way to tie an inline ladder.
You dont want the aider too far off the tree, as your toe against the tree aids in stability. Getting up and over the platform isnt tough, but since the aider isnt at its edge, it is slightly in the way on that last step. You only have to go over it at hunting height. I set the jim stepp as a goal to get up onto and it wasnt a problem. I havent actually climbed with it, but shouldnt be a problem if I was able to get up on that jim stepp which simulates pausing off to the side of the tree via a tether while you lift the platform. My aider steps are 19" apart.
A simple route through the platform and water knot holds the aider in place.
The aider is built using individual pieces of 1" tubular webbing. I removed them from my climbing sticks to experiment. :lol: So you run the webbing through the tube and loosely tie an over hand knot. You take another piece of webbing and chase it forming a water knot. Dave has a video on this in his adjustable bridge video. My boots are size 11.5 and wide. I had the black tubes cut to 8" on the sticks. What I found was they would bend in the middle, lengthening the distance between steps. I cut them down to 6" and with this inline ladder configuration they are just right. IF you decide to build an inline aider, you start with the bottom step and tie the next step on top.
For the main post I went with 6061 solid bar 1.25" square stock. I played around with mounting this platform to my helium stick and it bowed more than I felt comfortable with and that was just leaning on it. Im 235lbs and while the solid stock is likely over kill, I wanted to hit a home run on the first shot. I can lighten it over the summer if needed. I might play around with solid 1" and hollow tube 1.25" with and without something inside it of it. We are loading this with forces greater than seen on the tree stand. I might also burn a favor and have it lightened on a mill. I dont have an accurate scale to measure total weight, but the bar stock is 1.9lbs at 12" long.
Main bar = 1.25" square bar stock 12" long
Brackets = Batwing Lone wolf brand
Platform = Alpha Lone wolf brand
Batwings are mounted 5/8" from each end and centered.
Platform bolt is 4.25" from the top and 7/16" from the back of the bar stock.
All holes are 1/4" drilled through. Seat bolt is 2.5" long 1/4-20. The Batwing bolts are 2" long 1/4-20 with lock nuts. I did have to slightly round the corners with a file where the batwings bolt on. Fairly painless modification.
I initially had the platform biased towards the bottom. What I found is as I loaded the platform, the top batwing would lift off the tree. If you wanted to use it in this configuration, you could put a versa button near the top and use 2 straps. If in field testing shows the single strap isnt working as well as in the yard, I will go with the lower mounted platform and second strap on a versa button. I will be adding a versa button anyway for the climbing, but plan to use (1) strap for climbing and then move it to the platform to hang it for hunting. As luck would have it, I didnt have to drill a new hole, just flipped the seat over and back into the same hole.
First try, platform biased towards the bottom.
Platform biased towards the top.
The platform adjuster bolt squeaks, so Dave suggested velcro or duct tape at the interface with the post.
Also Im noticing the hole in the platform ears is larger than the bolt. This allows some movement. I will remove the seat/platform and see if the next size up bolt will fit, even if its metric. If so, I will redrill the mounting hole in the post. I will also mention the platform feels like it bends slightly under my weight on the edges. In hunting mode the saddle will lighten the weight I apply on the platform. I will focus on using the center of it close to the post when placing full weight on it.
