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Modified Cranford Rope Steps

River Hunter

River Hunter

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 19, 2017
Messages
301
Location
Minnesota
I liked the idea of the Cranford steps but the rope never cinched them tight enough. So I took the ropes off of the steps, threaded a ratchet strap through 3 of the steps, and ran the loose end back through the ratchet.
Go to tree, hook the ratchet hooks together, pull tight, position steps, and ratchet. So far the testing I've done with them shows it's pretty rock solid.

This gives me one strap to connect to the tree with three steps attached and no need to re-thread a strap through a ratchet. I'm going to try this with an over-center buckle to see if it's just as good.
20170726_171145_zpsyezedml8.jpg


and yup, I understand the hook should be facing down.
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The only problem I have with the rope steps is that tree size matters smaller trees can be a problem the rope only gets so small before it bottoms out. But even when they dont seem to tighten up on the tree they hold just fine with downward pressure I havent tried them as a platform and not sure it would work well for that but getting up and down the tree or a few extra steps for some added height I think they work great. I also use them on preset trees as my first three or four steps and hang jim stepps up higher.
 
I had the same problem with the rope. Hence the strap. They're pretty good as a platform when ratcheted down, horrible with the rope. As far as loud, it does take a few clicks in setting up but it's better than all the clanking I had before with my leverage sticks (did the rope mod). Overall my set up is 10x quieter than last year.
 
so I am thinking that if you threaded several on the ratchet strap then you could have the tree step method of walking around the tree??
 
so I am thinking that if you threaded several on the ratchet strap then you could have the tree step method of walking around the tree??
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That's kinda the plan. I have two of the Stepp ladders but they are bulkier than the cranford steps - three of these and the ratchet slip into the side pouch I have on my Guidos Web.
 
Any one doing this, my sure you run the strap on the FRONT of the top of the step. People have complained about these getting bent. I think they were putting the load on the flimsy side loops.
 
Thanks River Hunter. I have a pair of cranford, but I was thinking of modifying the rope to add more than one. I like this better. Not sure why I didn't think a strap would work threaded the way you have it. I think I'd eliminate the ratchet and use a cam buckle. So far I've found that stepping down hard usually tightens things up so think it might be good enough for me with a cam buckle. the steel can clank, but I guess that can be taped to help quiet.
 
A word of caution....Check the rivets where it folds. I will no longer use folding steps because I had one fail on me. Knock on wood, I was fine, but it's the only "accident" I've ever had so I told myself no more.

I use the poly Ameristeps exclusively now. Five on a a ratchet and no metal noise.
 
Thanks for the heads up. Maybe it would be wise to do a little preventative maintenance and replace the rivets with bolts.
 
lladnew said:
Thanks River Hunter. I have a pair of cranford, but I was thinking of modifying the rope to add more than one. I like this better. Not sure why I didn't think a strap would work threaded the way you have it. I think I'd eliminate the ratchet and use a cam buckle. So far I've found that stepping down hard usually tightens things up so think it might be good enough for me with a cam buckle. the steel can clank, but I guess that can be taped to help quiet.
Click to expand...
If you try to put multiple steps on a strap with a cam buckle you will not get it tight enough. You will slowly slide down the tree and find that you can barely reach your tree tether to take it off....
 
redsquirrel said:
If you try to put multiple steps on a strap with a cam buckle you will not get it tight enough. You will slowly slide down the tree and find that you can barely reach your tree tether to take it off....
Click to expand...

Thanks for the caution redsquirrel based on your experience. They do move around some which is unpleasant, but I didn't have any issues sliding down the tree. Perhaps a birch or other very smooth bark tree would be more of an issue? I hunted out of trees with relatively rough bark so far. Maybe I should try a ratchet. I tested one very briefly, but decided I'd deal with the strap pulled tight through the cam because I hated to use a ratchet.
 
Interesting that you say that about multiple steps on a ratchet. I use one all of the time and although I can't dance on it, it doesn't move enough to concern me.
 
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