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Platform opptions

Saddle Assassin said:
There going to tell you it is not used for climbing to protect them but I no it will hold
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I'm sure that they could make it that would hold, but if they are just making it to hold a camera I am not sure it will be strong enough to support a person.
 
redsquirrel said:
I actually ordered 2... They were 2.19 each and shipping was 5 bucks, couldn't bring myself to pay double the cost of a 2 dollar item for shipping lol
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Shipped today from Oregon and it says 2 day shipping so hopefully I have it by the weekend. I am really excited to try this out. I have a strap that I cut an ameristep step out of sitting next to me all ready for when it comes!
 
Good deal. Were you just planning on using those steps for the platform? I've never seen one in person. How are they on a ratchet strap?
 
I will start out with those because right now I don't know of a better option to put onto a strap. I have put the cranford rope steps onto a rope ratchet. I have not used them with a ratchet strap because I always felt the ratchet strap would be too noisy. I usually have pre set up trees or use cranford ez screw in steps because I am allowed to in most places that I hunt but I'm looking for another quick mobile option. The ameristep straps original strap comes with a regular cam buckle which is quiet but you just can't get it tight enough that it won't slide a bit.
 
I was wondering if they twist at all. I'm thinking about welding something together to make a step. The climb paws that I've made out of PVC are a little bulky but comfortable to stand on. Once you tell us tomorrow that the over center strap is rock solid we gotta find the last piece of the puzzle. :D
 
I have not had any big problems with them twisting. As a platform I think they work great, and they are lighter than the cranford rope steps too. The big problem is since the strap isn't super tight (again I haven't used a ratchet), they start to slide down, and once there is play in the strap from one side to the other they squeak on me.

Like you said once we get this strap super tight, then we can work on improving the actual platform. Regardless we have to figure something out because the plastic ameristeps are no longer made and way too expensive on ebay.
 
In case the overcenter buckle idea doesn't work out, I've had another idea in the works. Basically it would be like a huge hose clamp that you could tighten down around the tree. I envisioned that instead of a screw to tighten it down you could probably use some sort of wingnut.

I purchased this from amazon because it seemed to be at least close to what I was looking for. After I got it I realized that it is probably not heavy duty enough (although I'm not sure.. it is steel, but i figure the torque on it may be too much).
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002QTJ0E/ref=wms_ohs_product?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The nice thing about that kit is that it has a band so that you can change what size the clamp is pretty easily and then just tighten it down.

If anyone has any experience with heavy duty hose clamps please provide some input, I feel like there have to be industrial clamps out there that would work for this.
 
The overcenter buckle didn't come today. Hopefully tomorrow...
 
I use 3 climbing paws the top paws a 1 regular
Did you ever try putting paws on a ratchet strap ?
 
welcome to the forum broken gps!

I have not used climbpaws so I can't really comment on them. I don't think they would break on a ratchet strap but if the company is saying they would they must have a reason..

Instead of a using a ratchet Dennis and I have been brainstorming using an overcenter buckle. It has a lot of promise so check out the thread on that.
 
I use screw in steps..I do the same thing john does and use usually 16 to 20 steps..it's gets expensive but you can take out the bottom 5 steps from your tree and put them in when you arrive.also keeps other hunters from seeing your set up..you can get 25 steps at sportsmans guide for 45$ and I wait until they have a free shipping special.. :D
 
DePalma said:
I use screw in steps..I do the same thing john does and use usually 16 to 20 steps..it's gets expensive but you can take out the bottom 5 steps from your tree and put them in when you arrive.also keeps other hunters from seeing your set up..you can get 25 steps at sportsmans guide for 45$ and I wait until they have a free shipping special.. :D
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Most of the time I do the same thing. I have about 40 trees set up throughout the state. I am short and like to keep my steps a little closer to make it easier, and i hunt pretty high usually so I average 25-28 steps per tree. I wait until they go on sale at ****'s and use a $10 off $50 purchase coupon. I don't usually bother taking my bottom steps out cause they are usually pretty hidden on the tree but I will take them out occasionally.

I am most interested in the strap on platform for a quick mobile setup. My favorite screw in steps are the cranford ez steps, I have a set but they are too expensive. It is still a decent amount of work to set up a tree on the fly with them and I usually break a sweat. I started using the lone wolf sticks last year and they are more to carry in but I can setup the tree quicker and easier. I have some of the ameristep strap on steps, and I think using the lone wolf sticks with them and overcenter buckle should result in the quickest and quietest mobile setup.
 
Re: Platform options

In a couple of weeks I am going to have more time to fool around with the overcenter buckles again. I plan on creating a video to post comparing the 2 that I really liked for you guys to see.
 
That would be awesome red. I've just made a serious job change and pretty big pay cut (in the long run it will be better) so I've been working as much as I can find on the side. Been too busy to try another pour. I can't wait to see what you've got to say!
 
dennism said:
That would be awesome red. I've just made a serious job change and pretty big pay cut (in the long run it will be better) so I've been working as much as I can find on the side. Been too busy to try another pour. I can't wait to see what you've got to say!
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Hope the new job works out for you! I've been super busy with work stuff as well but I have another week and a half until it calms down. After that I'll have more free time to put into fun stuff. I want to put a video together on that, fool around with the stick extension that bigburner did, and fool around with some more ideas on homemade platform steps. And I have to catch up on the honey-do list ;)
 
I have a lone wolf ez hang hook and strap. would I be able to use this with 4 top paws you think?


I like the camera arm strap idea.



Cant wait to get my aero hunter evo.
 
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