DIY Treesuit user. Tree Climbing method

[Sheldon]

Bob thanks much for your time and effort! I have a mile and a half of 400d pack cloth that I think will work perfectly for this application. Looking forward to giving it a go. Be new I don’t know what I don’t know most of the time so still working thru various climbing methods and saddles. Started with a sitdrag then made a kestrel clone. Prefer the clone over the SD. Also made fleece version and one of the “ultra lights” using the pack cloth. Liked both but eager to see what using something solid it sit feels like. In the various saddles I move around a lot trying to find the sweet spot and more than likely because new don’t feel “comfortable” (safe?) yet. Will likely back it up with a harness for peace of mind. Thanks again for sharing!


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[BobinTN]

True dat. I had a v bar LW and bought the conversion kit to change it to straps. Sucker weighed 10-12 pounds with the bar. Took a little longer to get set up to climb but you could make that up climbing. Fast up and down.

My current v-bar seat is showing some wear. I can't find any replacements out there. my belt-driven seat I have thought of converting back to the v-bar design. The aluminum stand itself has the same edge catches that the v-bar has. So I would just have to find aluminum arms, which should be out there in some form. The v-bar itself? I have been looking at trying to smelt one while using the one I have to create the right-size mold. Anybody else have ideas on how to re-create the old v-bar seat?

 

[deerdhunter]

1. Steel angle - cut, bend and weld in center - would add weight?
2. Find an old Baker stand or the Baker hand climber and cut to fit?
3. Machine shop could cut an aluminum v-bar for you?

 

[BobinTN]

Thanks for the ideas, deerdhunter. Find an old Baker stand!?!? really?!? If I can't find and old lone wolf v-bar out there. what are the odds of finding a baker?
Option 3 sounds like a good idea.

 

[deerdhunter]

I still see a Baker occasionally for sell around here and some of the other v-bar stands. Admittedly, not many.

 

[Bwhana]

Find a Baker stand! I just happened across one on gamelands in the NC mountains a couple of years ago while turkey hunting. It's about a mile away from the nearest parking area and whoever abandoned it had the whole thing folded up and leaned against the base of a tree (he made a wise choice). I almost brought it out last spring just for nostalgia, maybe I should this spring and sell it!

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[deerdhunter]

Just bring the v-bar out for BobnTN

 

[Bwhana]

I had a good chat this morning with the owner of a stand company in Charlotte, NC, about his aluminum foot piece for the Ultra-Lite Cadillac stand. I have hunted out of the steel version for over 25 years and tried the foot piece for saddle use, but it is too heavy. His aluminum foot piece weighs less than 5 lbs and would meet your need and replace the lone wolf. $75 for the foot climber on his site... http://www.austintreestands.com/. I will likely have one very soon.

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[Vtbow]

Buckshot still makes a v bar climber as well....probably would have to cut the platform down, but the hotshot is probably still my favorite stand of all time...wish I kept mine..

 

[MFD205]

I had a good chat this morning with the owner of a stand company in Charlotte, NC, about his aluminum foot piece for the Ultra-Lite Cadillac stand. I have hunted out of the steel version for over 25 years and tried the foot piece for saddle use, but it is too heavy. His aluminum foot piece weighs less than 5 lbs and would meet your need and replace the lone wolf. $75 for the foot climber on his site... http://www.austintreestands.com/. I will likely have one very soon.

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I only saw a foot climber for 99.

 

[Bwhana]

I only saw a foot climber for 99.

It is not listed as a separate item on the site, that's why I called. You can call to get more details or order one. He was very supportive when I told him I wanted to use it in conjunction with a saddle to climb. Not the typical eye roll and you want to do what question! This one is about the size of the Predator, may not be absolutely perfect for saddle use, but is very rigid as opposed to the lone wolf and climbs easily without getting hung up on bark. It will not pack flat, so carrying it will be a compromise, like many of our re-purposed items for saddle use.

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[Sheldon]

I had a good chat this morning with the owner of a stand company in Charlotte, NC, about his aluminum foot piece for the Ultra-Lite Cadillac stand. I have hunted out of the steel version for over 25 years and tried the foot piece for saddle use, but it is too heavy. His aluminum foot piece weighs less than 5 lbs and would meet your need and replace the lone wolf. $75 for the foot climber on his site... http://www.austintreestands.com/. I will likely have one very soon.

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Looks promising and can't beat the price. Million years ago had an old API climber, if I remember correctly, with the v-bar. Wish I would have kept it... Working on some other things now but if you get this foot climber let us know how it works out for you. TIA

 

[Sheldon]

View attachment 9607

Next Step is to cut out the plywood seat.

Started working on it today and....in my excitement cut the seat with the grain running the wrong way. Don't have a hunk laying around big enough to re-cut it so guess I will give it a go, at ground level and see if the it will hold up. I did that on a platform for a WE step and it didn't work out but seeing how my ample mass won't be focused on a tiny area guess we will see. Thanks again, the suit is going together nicely and your pics and explanations have been spot on.

 

[Sheldon]

Bob, here is my first attempt at the suit. Used 400d Pack Cloth and a belt/tree strap I had laying around. Haven't added the pockets yet and will be making a lineman's belt using 1" tubular webbing. Gave it a test sit last nite, may add a little closed cell foam padding as I suffer from NBS (no butt syndrome) and look at some type of back support for sitting, but otherwise comfortable and like the support.

One more question, did the original come with a plywood seat or some type of poly/plastic? Thinking about giving it a go with 1/2" ply (at ground level of course) from a weight saving perspective. Thanks again for the build instructions. Super easy, took less than an hour.

 

[Vtbow]

believe the originals like I have are HDPE plastic(like white cutting board material) Nice job, looks great!

 

[Sheldon]

believe the originals like I have are HDPE plastic(like white cutting board material) Nice job, looks great!

Thank you, thought that might be the case. Appreciate the the information.

 

[Vtbow]

Thank you, thought that might be the case. Appreciate the the information.

no worries, you can probably order a piece of HDPE online easily as well. wont absorb water/moisture liek ply wood will, which is nice!

 

[kyler1945]

https://saddlehunter.com/community/index.php?threads/treesuit-build.8138/

 

[Sheldon]

https://saddlehunter.com/community/index.php?threads/treesuit-build.8138/

Thanks for sharing the post! Had been thinking about. After it was mentioned I got to looking around and found we had a 1/2" HDPE cutting board in the pantry. For yucks cut this morning using the Plywood for a pattern. Seems to work well with the 2" tree strap under it. Very little flex but just enough to be more comfortable than the 3/4" ply. Gotta go pick up a new one before my wife finds out!

 

[Vtbow]

Thanks for sharing the post! Had been thinking about. After it was mentioned I got to looking around and found we had a 1/2" HDPE cutting board in the pantry. For yucks cut this morning using the Plywood for a pattern. Seems to work well with the 2" tree strap under it. Very little flex but just enough to be more comfortable than the 3/4" ply. Gotta go pick up a new one before my wife finds out!

mine asks me where her tailor's tape is all the time!