Cam over step platform...

[Jgetch]

There’s my platform!

That was the first attempt I made at it and I’m still using that same piece of plywood.

 

[TNSTAAFL]

LOL I think I’ve posted the pic around 10 times. I keep it in favorites on my phone pics

It may be "the year of the stick" for me, but I'm taking my steps and platform out at least once this year. Just ordered the bag you shared and a set of Primals to increase my capacity. It'll be my most compact setup. Great for kayak & bike entry, or long hauls in general.

 

[fbwguy]

There’s my platform!

Your original dimensions but my plywood and tree and pencil marks, LOL. It has come in handy, over a 100 hours of standing and still going

 

[fawnzy]

So guys I found a thread on this. I ordered my primal steps last night. The platform is s great idea but man scares me a bit. Heres why:
1. The wear I noticed at contact points
2. How very small the back contact points are ( narrow section near tree trunk)
3. no stop measure to keep plywood from sliding forward.
So what if you strengthen contact on foot "bar" by adding a strip of "angle iron" at that spot? This would not only strengthen that point BUT provide a stop from board being able to move forward.
also a flat bar at rear contact to avoid wear there and strengthen that pressure point. Both can be silenced with tape.
also if you use 2 smaller angles on either side you could run a long bar front to back down middle to strengthen entire board.

Thought?

When I look at how the step fits on the tree, I would think a certain portion of the circumference would slightly protrude into the heart of the step. Depending on the size and shape of the tree, this would vary. Placing a fixed bar underneath to prevent it sliding out may not work on every tree.


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[Jgetch]

Your original dimensions but my plywood and tree and pencil marks, LOL. It has come in handy, over a 100 hours of standing and still going

That’s completely untrue buddy. I don’t want to make thing out of it but I went back to my original post from September 4th of last year for the original thread. Post #111. Search “stepladder platform prototype” and go to page #6. That is my tree, I’m staring at it right now and that’s my writing on that board. If I need to do more to prove it I can rip the traction tape off my board when I get home a post the picture.

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[Oldnotdead]

Thanks! I have a bunch of 3/4 outdoor plywood cut into 12x12 squares for posted signs. I was hoping to cut it out of one of those.

 

[fbwguy]

That’s completely untrue buddy. I don’t want to make thing out of it but I went back to my original post from September 4th of last year for the original thread. Post #111. Search “stepladder platform prototype” and go to page #6. That is my tree, I’m staring at it right now and that’s my writing on that board. If I need to do more to prove it I can rip the traction tape off my board when I get home a post the picture.

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Well Sir I stand corrected, but I gotta say your chicken scratch and mine could be definitely pass for each other’s. I dug out mine and you are correct, my tree looks just like yours too but slightly smaller, but not much. Regardless you definitely get the credit for perfect dimensions, because it has held up phenomenal. But it is scary that our number writing skills are that close!
Edit: what’s even crazier is that your photo is in my phone pics and mine isn’t

 

[MettBriler]

I've done 3 sits so far with the plywood platform using the dimensions fbwguy posted, Once I get the step cammed over correctly and is rock solid, I slide in the platform and it's no problem for the entire time.

 

[Jgetch]

Well Sir I stand corrected, but I gotta say your chicken scratch and mine could be definitely pass for each other’s. I dug out mine and you are correct, my tree looks just like yours too but slightly smaller, but not much. Regardless you definitely get the credit for perfect dimensions, because it has held up phenomenal. But it is scary that our number writing skills are that close!
Edit: what’s even crazier is that your photo is in my phone pics and mine isn’t

Right on buddy. It was a crazy couple of weeks when we were getting these things rite. Honestly after I read your post I had to go back and look because I doubted myself suddenly. Glad to see a bunch of new guys are finding this cheap effective solution and hopefully someone comes up with another improvement. Unfortunately it won’t be me this year. I’ve been mia from the forum most of the year trying to launch a company and that will continue through the winter months. No bow season for me this year.

 

[fbwguy]

Right on buddy. It was a crazy couple of weeks when we were getting these things rite. Honestly after I read your post I had to go back and look because I doubted myself suddenly. Glad to see a bunch of new guys are finding this cheap effective solution and hopefully someone comes up with another improvement. Unfortunately it won’t be me this year. I’ve been mia from the forum most of the year trying to launch a company and that will continue through the winter months. No bow season for me this year.

Congrats on the company. I definitely have been in that situation before where life/career has to be priority. Maybe you’ll get a chance to make a few quick hunts. I’m glad you’ve found your way back to the forum, your creative insight has definitely inspired a lot of guys to be able to effectively and safely hunt on a budget!!!

 

[Jgetch]

Congrats on the company. I definitely have been in that situation before where life/career has to be priority. Maybe you’ll get a chance to make a few quick hunts. I’m glad you’ve found your way back to the forum, your creative insight has definitely inspired a lot of guys to be able to effectively and safely hunt on a budget!!!

Hey thanks! I was actually hoping to do a video series on how not to spend hundreds of dollars hunting this way and still have a functional, safe and effective set up this summer but I have been busy. Maybe next year.

 

[Sheldon]

Hey thanks! I was actually hoping to do a video series on how not to spend hundreds of dollars hunting this way and still have a functional, safe and effective set up this summer but I have been busy. Maybe next year.

Have spent a load o’ $$$ trying this and that, buy/sell only to end up where I started . Primal steps and a plywood platform. Need to finish this one up and am really pleased with the amsteel ropes on the steps.

Found that a military night vision goggle bag from the surplus store, with a small hole cut in the bottom holds my steps and can clip the platform to the back. Locally this bag goes for $7 or so.

Do recall an old post that said if you use this type of platform you will DIE! So keep that in mind

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[Bwhana]

Playing with a slightly different approach, will cut one and let you know how it checks out this weekend. I wanted one wider (20") and closer (8" total) to the tree. I am a sitter, so the typical T shape design only worked for me leaning. I also do not need to move around the tree much using xbow and gun only. If the wood can't hold up at that width, I may install piece of aluminum angle under it and make it semi permanent on the step and just carry outside a pack if needed.

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[fbwguy]

Playing with a slightly different approach, will cut one and let you know how it checks out this weekend. I wanted one wider (20") and closer (8" total) to the tree. I am a sitter, so the typical T shape design only worked for me leaning. I also do not need to move around the tree much using xbow and gun only. If the wood can't hold up at that width, I may install piece of aluminum angle under it and make it semi permanent on the step and just carry outside a pack if needed.

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looking forward to the results on that design

 

[Jgetch]

Playing with a slightly different approach, will cut one and let you know how it checks out this weekend. I wanted one wider (20") and closer (8" total) to the tree. I am a sitter, so the typical T shape design only worked for me leaning. I also do not need to move around the tree much using xbow and gun only. If the wood can't hold up at that width, I may install piece of aluminum angle under it and make it semi permanent on the step and just carry outside a pack if needed.

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Looking forward to seeing it.

 

[BigAl]

What is the best thickness of plywood for WE stepps? I'm interested in trying this also.

 

[fbwguy]

3/4” is what I used

 

[Jgetch]

What is the best thickness of plywood for WE stepps? I'm interested in trying this also.

The WE steps have a slightly different design. I don’t remember if the original dimensions work so I’d measure first to check. Also, if I remember correctly, the plywood ends up sitting at an angle because the WE crossbars is positioned higher relative to the point that the top bars contact the tree. I actually thought the angle was pretty steep, like 25 or 30° which made it pretty uncomfortable to use. I think I used 5/8”. Make sure to let us know how it turns out.

 

[BigAl]

The WE steps have a slightly different design. I don’t remember if the original dimensions work so I’d measure first to check. Also, if I remember correctly, the plywood ends up sitting at an angle because the WE crossbars is positioned higher relative to the point that the top bars contact the tree. I actually thought the angle was pretty steep, like 25 or 30° which made it pretty uncomfortable to use. I think I used 5/8”. Make sure to let us know how it turns out.

Thanks

 

[Jjhurley2012]

Stumbled on this thread today. Thought I'd try it for myself. Perfect dimensions jgetch and fbwguy Maybe some griptape and a little paint and I'll be good to go. Thanks