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- Feb 4, 2021
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I don’t know. I think that it would be based on main rope vs cordage diameter, the type of rope plays factors as well. I know in static pulls supposedly the VT had the highest holding power across the broadest range of rope sizes but that doesn’t always translate to dynamic loading. We tested ours using the lowly ol prusik. And the only drop where it slipped a great deal was one where the guy didn’t weigh the prusik before the drop so it wasn’t tight before the fall. It slipped nearly 21” before it cinched (it still never made it to the stopper knot and it still held the 300 lbs dummy in the air for a few minutes after the drop). The hitch was pretty crispy after thatHe should've done the same test but with a friction hitch.
Which opens up this can of worms: in the case of a fall, which friction hitch is best?
It seems as a group that we are overly concerned with hitches breaking free easily one handed after being weighted and that very few other things are considered.
Yeah I’d like to see friction hitch falls from 20”
It would benefit all of us and especially those who choose to one stick.
One thing I saw was someone connecting oplux with a trc hitch to their side by side and then they took off and hit the end of the rope. Slid a bit but nothing else happened. It was posted here and on youtube.
The guy that posted that is some form of executive at XOP. Guys spent the entire post trying to tell him that’s wrong, that wouldn’t happen with a kong (even though kong is in one of the pics) someone said a knot below the ascender would save you. I get the argument that we are always under tension therefore it would never happen, I can relate to that some but not for the reasons those Facebook guys were giving him….. If it’s true and we are always tensioned on the platform with the saddle holding our weight, we would never need a ropeman to begin with since our position would be a fixed one…. because you stand up to let out length and that introduces slack. I just found it funny that we were all discussing this on another post last week and this guy beat me to drop test videos of it. So I wanted to share it with y’all
Without knowing the actual size or break strength of the ropes, I can’t say it worked. 20” is not a far fall. I’ve experienced similar distance from a stick cut out on my lineman’s rope. If it were say, a thinner rope possibly out of spec (8mm oplux anyone) there is potential it could have severed the entire rope. However if this did catch you as is, what would your recovery look like? With a friction hitch, the rope is still in tact, and the hitch is still functional if you can get your feet posted on the tree and weight off the rope… I don’t see any potential for recovery on those ropes with ascenders. This is why a hitch or knot above the ascender as a secondary tie off should be utilized.So it looks like it shredded the rope, but it didn’t break, therefore it worked??? Am I missing something? Wouldn’t one replace the rope anyway after a fall, even of 20”?
At 20” I’m assuming I could still get my rear back on the platform… unless that failed and is why I fell in the first place. Me personally I’m going to bear hug that tree, cut the rope, and shimmy right on down. You mortals, well you’d be f****dWithout knowing the actual size or break strength of the ropes, I can’t say it worked. 20” is not a far fall. I’ve experienced similar distance from a stick cut out on my lineman’s rope. If it were say, a thinner rope possibly out of spec (8mm oplux anyone) there is potential it could have severed the entire rope. However if this did catch you as is, what would your recovery look like? With a friction hitch, the rope is still in tact, and the hitch is still functional if you can get your feet posted and weight off the tree… I don’t see any potential for recovery on those ropes with ascenders. This is why a hitch or knot about the ascender as a secondary tie off should be utilized.
At 20” I’m assuming I could still get my rear back on the platform… unless that failed and is why I fell in the first place. Me personally I’m going to bear hung that tree, cut the rope, and shimmy right on down. You mortals, well you’d be f****d
Perhaps that is worth investigating.. try it out with your old muddy line and report back to us please lolSo if that did happen and it was ur only way down would the sheath being able to slide up and down the rope let u rappel down?
So it looks like it shredded the rope, but it didn’t break, therefore it worked??? Am I missing something? Wouldn’t one replace the rope anyway after a fall, even of 20”?
I know a guyI probably have some sacrificial ropes but no gizmos to try