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Couple DIY Platform Questions

elk yinzer

elk yinzer

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Joined
Oct 23, 2017
Messages
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Location
State College, PA
Building a DIY platform out of a cut down Assault. I already have the stand portion cleaned up and the post and most of the hardware is on order. I was actually going to poach hardware off some junked Muddy sticks but I may end up just going the LW or XOP from the start since Muddy uses 5/16 bolts so they wouldn't be interchangeable if I changed my mind. Had a couple questions I couldn't find an answer to.

Brackets:
I assume most guys are using the offset brackets vs. the climbing stick V-brackets?

Any preferences between the XOP and LW brackets? The XOP looks to have 3 prongs vs. the LW having 2.

Post:
What is the ideal post length? I assume there is a tradeoff with long posts camming more easily but being more bulky for transport? If so I guess I'd lean toward not having the post extend much past the platform when folded down.

What is the correct ratio/measurements as far as where the versa button and tree bracket should be to obtain optimal camming action with the platform?
 
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I have no idea about the post questions, but I've seen Ernie say the XOP brackets are the way to go. If he said it, I wouldn't consider anything else personally.
 
With the diameter of the trees I hunt from the Lone wolf's stand off bracket is overkill. The Muddy would be even more overkill. You would need a tree 4' + in diameter to get all of the wolf's teeth to make contact . I'm lucky to see the two center teeth make tree contact most of the time. The v brackets break, I have over camed my old platform a couple times and the wolf standoff bracket doesn't have any deflection at all.
 
Stick brackets break. I replaced mine with the beefy xop’s.

My beam is a hair over 12”.

Versabutton worked best right in the middle for the old LW seat. Plenty of camover with that seat.
 
Babshaft said:
I have no idea about the post questions, but I've seen Ernie say the XOP brackets are the way to go. If he said it, I wouldn't consider anything else personally.
Click to expand...
The xop brackets are my favorite. I've been using lone wolf v brackets on my klemz platforms to try and keep the post straight. Also, the xop brackets are made for 1 1/4" tubing and I have been using 1 1/2" tubing for my post.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
 
What size tubing is the LW assault and offset bracket for? Id guess you could use the xop bracket for 1/4" smaller tubing though....may actually help with levelling, being able to twist a little
 
Babshaft said:
I have no idea about the post questions, but I've seen Ernie say the XOP brackets are the way to go. If he said it, I wouldn't consider anything else personally.
Click to expand...
Question, Where would one find XOP brackets may I ask.
 
Made my own offsets for now. My post is 1.25 solid aluminum 9" long with a lone wolf seat camming over. I'm trying to decide now how to lose excess weight on the post by either cross drilling like beast sticks or making an I-beam design.
 
Ljohnson said:
Question, Where would one find XOP brackets may I ask.
Click to expand...
Looks like a revive of an old post, but since you asked... XOP is currently sold out of their 6 point bracket. Lone Wolf has an offset bracket but I don't like them, some do. There's a thread around here with the design my machinist came up with - should be going to production this week if he has the stock in time - here it is: https://saddlehunter.com/community/index.php?threads/v-brackets-for-platforms.11449/

Mitchellfarmer1982 said:
Made my own offsets for now. My post is 1.25 solid aluminum 9" long with a lone wolf seat camming over. I'm trying to decide now how to lose excess weight on the post by either cross drilling like beast sticks or making an I-beam design.
Click to expand...
I also use 9" x 1.25" aluminum but I use a square tube with 1/8" walls to save weight. There's a member here who machines these posts for sale - search Bryer's precision post I think. I noticed the other day when I was at my machinist's shop that he has some 1.25" stock. He'll be working on a custom post as well out of solid aluminum.
 
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