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SloMo`s DIY Saddle Hunting Platform

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redsquirrel

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Feb 19, 2014
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I won’t have it on a tree until after I get back from vacation. 8/5


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I've never seen a guy take so many vacations outside of deer season!!!
 

tbowers

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Aug 2, 2018
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My platform is supposed to arrive this Friday, so I plan to get it attached to the post and get it hung- Ill try and snap some pics. I am going to set it up to camlock with it attached directly to the platform thru one of the holes on one side, and then will have a carabiner ran directly thru a hole on the platform to connect on the other side . XOP strap. The entire build cost about $60-$20 for the platform, $13 for the post, 20 for XOP brackets and 10 for the strap.
 

DanO

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Jun 14, 2018
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any update with this thing on a tree?
Went out during lunch and hung for a while. It cams over nicely and if you get it tight it doesn't budge at all. I'm using two XOP brackets on a 9" long 1.25" aluminum square tube with a Lone Wolf strap connected to the platform. There is minimal flex in the platform itself just because it is so small. Average weight guys might not see any flex at all. I bounced some and rotated side to side with quite a bit of pressure right on the edges. Gave me the confidence that I needed to use it at hunting height.
 
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DaveH

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Aug 2, 2017
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Nice platform, DanO! I'm thinking that it looks as solid as the XOP casting. Very clean looking setup.
 

tbowers

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I finished my build last week- I screwed up when drilling the hole for the platform as I didnt account for the steel plate I riveted to the tubing so the platform would not sit level even with the leveling screw removed, so I had to flip the tubing and redrill the mounting hole. I'll have to grab another piece of tubing at some point and just re-do it. It does cam over great however and is absolutely rock solid when side pressure is applied. Small amount of flex in the platform when standing on the edge but not bad.
 

PastorKen

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Jul 11, 2018
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I'm curious whether the flexing is reduced with the straps to the sides of the platform? It seems like that lateral support would help. But with a versa button, the vertical tube is ratcheted tight to the tree, but the platform itself is only supported by the hinge bracket. I kinda wish I had realized that before I ordered a versa button...
 

DanO

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I’m going to experiment with both. My parts should arrive next week.
Let us know how it goes. I didn't have a tree seat handy to try that setup so mine is strapped to the platform and cammed over. My only concern right now is the strap connection point to the platform. Girth hitched I think it will be fine, but the platform is thin right there and I'm worried about it cutting into the strap. When they do this with XOP platforms and such, there's more "meat" to hold the strap. Might leave it and keep an eye on it or might connect using a carabiner directly on each side.
 

tbowers

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Aug 2, 2018
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I’m going to experiment with both. My parts should arrive next week.
I tried both as I too had ordered a versa button. Its really not even an option IMO to secure via the versa button, you just cant get it tight enough to sustain any amount of side pressure. Like I said, with the strap attached to the platform and cam locking it I wasnt able to wiggle it even a fraction of an inch with all my weight on the side of the platform.

I'm going to keep an eye on the strap as well- It may wear some but I think it will take a long time to be noticeable. All the edges are pretty smooth.
 
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dueaston

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Aug 25, 2018
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Do those XOP tree brackets fit the 1.25" tube dead on? I'm trying to decide between those and the lone wolf brackets. I think the LW are also 1.25" but I don't have one to confirm.