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DIY platform flex?
- Thread starter Scotzy
- Start date
LeanMachine
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Sep 28, 2018
- Messages
- 371
I would almost guarantee that what you are feeling is strap stretch. Try to watch it while you bounce in it.
Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
I built a platform very much like yours but using the seat from the Hawk ground seat...the ones you can find discounted at Menards.
I used the 1.25” aluminum tubing and standoffs from DanO. End result looks very much like your DIY platform.
What I found to work best is using the strap that comes with the Lone Wolf climbing sticks. It’s a thicker strap than your typical ratchet strap and has much less stretch in it. I tried the stand with a ratchet strap, tightened it to the point of feeling like the strap or ratchet was going to break and still had plenty of flex in the set up.
With using the Lone Wolf strap, you can’t get the strap as tight as you can a ratchet strap but you can in sense, still cam this type of platform over.
What I do is rotate the seat up as much as I can with the stand-offs against the tree. Then I tighten the strap, with the strap being above the horizontal plane of the platform. I then push the platform down to really lock the standoffs into the tree and take out any stretch from the strap. With doing this you can not tighten the strap all the way. You have to play with it a little and see how tight is the right amount of tightness to be able to still get the platform down to horizontal.
I have found this technique to result in an extremely stable platform that I can shoot at any angle off of with zero flex or pull away from the tree. I can put side pressure into the platform with zero platform movement.
I’ve got a predator platform on order, but who knows when that will show up. My DIY platform has shown to work well until the predator arrives.
I used the 1.25” aluminum tubing and standoffs from DanO. End result looks very much like your DIY platform.
What I found to work best is using the strap that comes with the Lone Wolf climbing sticks. It’s a thicker strap than your typical ratchet strap and has much less stretch in it. I tried the stand with a ratchet strap, tightened it to the point of feeling like the strap or ratchet was going to break and still had plenty of flex in the set up.
With using the Lone Wolf strap, you can’t get the strap as tight as you can a ratchet strap but you can in sense, still cam this type of platform over.
What I do is rotate the seat up as much as I can with the stand-offs against the tree. Then I tighten the strap, with the strap being above the horizontal plane of the platform. I then push the platform down to really lock the standoffs into the tree and take out any stretch from the strap. With doing this you can not tighten the strap all the way. You have to play with it a little and see how tight is the right amount of tightness to be able to still get the platform down to horizontal.
I have found this technique to result in an extremely stable platform that I can shoot at any angle off of with zero flex or pull away from the tree. I can put side pressure into the platform with zero platform movement.
I’ve got a predator platform on order, but who knows when that will show up. My DIY platform has shown to work well until the predator arrives.
Thanks guys for the advice. After videoing myself I believe I need to maybe add a harder plastic washer between the post and LW seat. I am getting some movement there but like you guys said, most of my issue seems to be coming from my strap. It does seam to be stretching some.
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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Strap stretch. My DIY Lone Wolf platform pulled away from the tree at the top with a lighter duty strap. My Lone Wolf strap made it tight and GTG.
As far as side to side play, I just filled the space with 1/4" washers and there is very little play.
As far as side to side play, I just filled the space with 1/4" washers and there is very little play.
Here is a picture of it. I don’t have a weight at the moment. It’s noticeably lighter though. I’m sure it’s not as light as a predator. But...for half the price, it works.
I also hunt private property predominately. Not humping it in long distances each hunt.
