• The SH Membership has gone live. Only SH Members have access to post in the classifieds. All members can view the classifieds. Starting in 2020 only SH Members will be admitted to the annual hunting contest. Current members will need to follow these steps to upgrade: 1. Click on your username 2. Click on Account upgrades 3. Choose SH Member and purchase.
  • We've been working hard the past few weeks to come up with some big changes to our vendor policies to meet the changing needs of our community. Please see the new vendor rules here: Vendor Access Area Rules

Cranford's "EZY Saddle Scaffold" ring of strap on steps

SWEET! I love me some options!
folding = compact,they will have to be the most compact to date, great price point! they have to be solid with the wide back!
steel sucks!! why?
interesting to say the least
 
Finally!, Cranford is ready to ship the “EZY Saddle Scaffold“ (ring of 4 folding steps on a ratchet strap).

Cranford will begin shipping on July 15th and Dennis (owner of Cranford) has set up an email address at: saddlescaffold@ezyclimb.com to which you can order by sending your name, address, and phone number to get on the list to order. Dennis will reply as to what you want. That will be the easiest way to take orders in the order they are received.

The EZY Saddle Scaffold will NOT be on the Cranford website at this time and for right now there are just over 100 Scaffolds available along with some singles and the pricing will be as follows:
4 step set with strap -$59.90 (I suggest ordering at least one additional step to add to the ring)
Single step no strap -$11.97
Single strap-on step -$13.02 (I would not suggest a full set of these for climbing as that many ratchets and straps would be a bit heavy and cumbersome). Cumbersome and weight is the same reason I'm not a fan of some of the other popular strap-on steps that simply take up too much space for freelancing.

As always, Cranford had the EZY Saddle Scaffold steps independently tested for weight bearing load. Two Scaffold sets were tested and each test was on an individual step while strapped to a tree in a hunting situation and the results were quite surprising. The first test per step was with 300 pounds, then 450 pounds, then 525 pounds and finally with 600 pounds with no implications of failure. Wanting to determine a load failure per step they kept going up and failure per step was between 850 and 950 pounds.

The buckle on the strap is a ratchet which does make a little noise and the steps fold up when not in use or during transport.

I've had 2 sets of these for over a year and once securely strapped to a tree, these steps DO NOT MOVE at all. No downward movement away from the tree and no side movement whatsoever. These steps are more solid than screw in steps, they simply do not move once in place due to the wings on them that slightly bite into the bark.

Several seasoned hunters on the saddle hunter forum were sent a set to try and all feedback was very positive.

As a side note, I'm not in any monetary manner affiliated with Cranford Manufacturing and have no other reason to endorse all their fine products other than they are the best products made for climbing trees and now for hunting from a ring of steps on while saddle hunting public land where screw in steps are not legal. View attachment 13353View attachment 13354View attachment 13355

John,

Did u ever test it out with any other strap type like an OCB or LW style strap?

Is the ratchet strap mandatory to get the steps tight enough?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
The Ratchet strap is not mandatory. However, use of any other strap will void any warranty or weight load guaranteed. We chose this strap for the users safety. It is double stitched with a 4500 lb weight rating. Choice of strap is up to you, we just tried to choose the best for you.
 
The Ratchet strap is not mandatory. However, use of any other strap will void any warranty or weight load guaranteed. We chose this strap for the users safety. It is double stitched with a 4500 lb weight rating. Choice of strap is up to you, we just tried to choose the best for you.

So are you Dennis the owner of Cranford steps?
Your steps are very interesting but I’m curious why you don’t use aluminum?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
So are you Dennis the owner of Cranford steps?
Your steps are very interesting but I’m curious why you don’t use aluminum?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Yes, I am Dennis. Co-owner of CMCI. We could go into a long explanation but plain and simple SAFETY. Most of our designs utilize a rivet, the aluminum will not hold the rivet over time. The liability is too great
 
The Ratchet strap is not mandatory. However, use of any other strap will void any warranty or weight load guaranteed. We chose this strap for the users safety. It is double stitched with a 4500 lb weight rating. Choice of strap is up to you, we just tried to choose the best for you.

Thanks for the response

Welcome to SH


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
these are really slick! I haven’t given serious consideration to purchasing any production steps because of the price point and the fact that i can DIY virtually anything. However these steps may fit the bill perfectly both in function and price point. I’m interested to know the weight of each individual step...? Also if I decided to purchase them what is the estimated wait time until delivery?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
Another pre-order that may end up not as advertised. I can see a problem with the shape of the steps and the way they are not level when folded out. Plus you have to use a ratchet strap unless Cranford has come up with a silent ratchet Ill stick to squirrel steps on a OCB if I chose to hunt with a ROS.

I've tried the squirrel steps and they are not even remotely close to being as stable as these steps because they are slick on the backside and they bend down when a load is put on them. You can put these steps on any strap you like and can order them without the ratchet.
 
Cool looking idea. Makes me wonder, could you put just one on a strap and use them as climbing steps?

Yes, but you may want to just buy the individual steps and use a cam buckle strap for that as it is lighter and as a single step for climbing, they don't have to be rock solid as they should be for a ring and movement around the tree at crunch time.
 
these are really slick! I haven’t given serious consideration to purchasing any production steps because of the price point and the fact that i can DIY virtually anything. However these steps may fit the bill perfectly both in function and price point. I’m interested to know the weight of each individual step...? Also if I decided to purchase them what is the estimated wait time until delivery?

Concerning delivery, they will all be shipped out next week and Dennis is controlling what is sold.
 
I've tried the squirrel steps and they are not even remotely close to being as stable as these steps because they are slick on the backside and they bend down when a load is put on them. You can put these steps on any strap you like and can order them without the ratchet.

My squirrel steps don't bend down when loaded.

But this setup does look like a good option if you don't mind a ratchet and added weight and bulk. Cheap too.
 
Weight: individual step – 7.9 ounces

For comparison's sake, I just weighed a single bullman step and it was 3.3oz (93g). So 5 steps would be about 1.5 lbs more than the bullman ROS. I used the bullman ROS all last year and thought it was ok, but if these can be packed up better and are easier to get to stay in place on the tree, that extra weight doesn't bother me one bit. Hopefully the shipping plan holds up and I'll know next week.
 
I've tried the squirrel steps and they are not even remotely close to being as stable as these steps because they are slick on the backside and they bend down when a load is put on them. You can put these steps on any strap you like and can order them without the ratchet.

@John Eberhart please tell me your not saying the aluminum was bending? Do you mean they dig in to the tree on bottom and angle downwards?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Last edited:
John please tell me your not saying the aluminum was bending? Do you mean they dig in to the tree on bottom and angle downwards?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I don't wanna derail, but I'm curious as well. I have never experienced the top of the squirrel steps pulling away, or deformation of the step. They can twist if side loaded, and they do sometimes settle when you first put your weight on them. Once they settle that initial amount, they have been very stable for me. And the slight side play has not been an issue for me. I killed 4 deer from mine last year, and had no issues with them making any noise.

I am sure that the cranfords resist side pressure better with the wider base (same as the ameristeps), and with a ratchet it looks like you could crank on them enough to dig them into some trees (magnolias, bays, and tulip poplars come to mind) and increase stability. I may order some at some point to play around with.
 
Really weird how everyone's experience with squirrel steps seems to differ. When I first got them I honestly thought they were a joke. They pulled away from the tree and any side pressure would make them roll. If I got them super tight at first they would be loose soon after even after "setting them". Since I started using a ratchet straps I like them a lot. Glad it was the strap causing the issue. These cranfords are really nice but my squirrel steps on a ratchet are plenty good enough for me. If I didn't have 125 bucks in squirrel steps I'd prolly buy them. They are priced really well and Cranford has always been legit.
 
Really weird how everyone's experience with squirrel steps seems to differ. When I first got them I honestly thought they were a joke. They pulled away from the tree and any side pressure would make them roll. If I got them super tight at first they would be loose soon after even after "setting them". Since I started using a ratchet straps I like them a lot. Glad it was the strap causing the issue. These cranfords are really nice but my squirrel steps on a ratchet are plenty good enough for me. If I didn't have 125 bucks in squirrel steps I'd prolly buy them. They are priced really well and Cranford has always been legit.

My experience is pretty much the same as yours. I use a ratchet strap on all my steps I think OCB sucks. When I say I think OCB sucks I really mean I know OCB sucks


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Back
Top