I saw on YouTube where someone had used a mailbox metal mount that came from Lowes that cost $10.99 to build a stick platform . I looked at it and yep it would work. Thought it over and even tried by just holding some shelf braces up to it to get a mind picture of how to attach to it to the stick. Then I had the light bulb come on my head. I have some metal conduit at home that I can use. I did not want to alter my 20" Hawk Helium stick by drilling any new holes or anything.
I had to purchase two 1/4" 1 inch long bolts and lock nuts that I did not have to use to attach the mount to each side of the top step of the stick. I had four other 3/8" carriage bolts and nuts I used and there are lock nuts and screws that came with the mailbox mount that I used. Total cost to me was $11.51 + tax .
I took the bolts out of the top steps of the stick. I drilled holes in the lip of the box bracket that would mate up with the these holes. I then put the bolts through the bracket and re-attached the steps using the original bolts, they are long enough. I then used the two 1/4" one inch long bolts and lock nuts to, after opening up the slotted holes in the bracket, to attach it to the outer holes in each step using three washers on each bolt between the bracket and step to fill in the gap created.
I then took the versa button off the stick. I used an 11 inch piece of conduit. I put the ends in the vice and flattened about 1 1/2" on each end and drilled holes and bent them with the proper angle so I could attach through one of the holes at the front end of the box mount and the versa button hole in the stick. I then re-attached the versa button using the original bolt through the brace holes.
I had some pebble type rubber matting that came out of some of my Dad's stuff when I cleaned out and sold his house after his death a few years ago. I used the round head carriage screws and lock nuts that came with the box mount as well as four 3/8" carriage bolts I had of which two were used to attach the braces to the bracket to attach this matting to the mount. I rolled the matting over the front edge lip of the mount for sure footing while leaning.
I also removed the bottom standoff bolt and because it is a metric size and not long enough I had to freshen out the hole slightly with a 1/4" drill. I then used a proper length 1/4" bolt and my home made versa button using an aluminum spacer and finder washer to re-attach the stand off.
By the way there are some hard plastic spacers that come with the mailbox mount that the hole can be drilled larger and will work for versa button spacer.
It warmed up enough yesterday to go out and play with my creations. My saddle I made works like a dream. The tree attaching platform I made from a tree stand seat needs to go back to the drawing board for some tweaking. But the great thing is that I probably will not need it. The stick platform WORKS LIKE A DREAM. Even with just using the original strap that came with the stick and mounting the stick like normal it is solid. But for added security, kick out concerns, when I added a ratchet strap attached to the other versa button at the bottom of the stick I added it is like the stick grew on the tree it is so solid.
The stick with a single step rope aider and both straps weighs in at exactly 6 pounds. My whole pack ready to hunt with 4 sticks with single step rope aiders on 3 of the sticks and a double aider on one with everything including a 16 oz. bottle of water weighs 22 pounds. I will wear my saddle to walk in and it's weight with all ropes etc., pull up rope, HYS strap, and back band (may not need it), is exactly 4 pounds.
I had to purchase two 1/4" 1 inch long bolts and lock nuts that I did not have to use to attach the mount to each side of the top step of the stick. I had four other 3/8" carriage bolts and nuts I used and there are lock nuts and screws that came with the mailbox mount that I used. Total cost to me was $11.51 + tax .
I took the bolts out of the top steps of the stick. I drilled holes in the lip of the box bracket that would mate up with the these holes. I then put the bolts through the bracket and re-attached the steps using the original bolts, they are long enough. I then used the two 1/4" one inch long bolts and lock nuts to, after opening up the slotted holes in the bracket, to attach it to the outer holes in each step using three washers on each bolt between the bracket and step to fill in the gap created.
I then took the versa button off the stick. I used an 11 inch piece of conduit. I put the ends in the vice and flattened about 1 1/2" on each end and drilled holes and bent them with the proper angle so I could attach through one of the holes at the front end of the box mount and the versa button hole in the stick. I then re-attached the versa button using the original bolt through the brace holes.
I had some pebble type rubber matting that came out of some of my Dad's stuff when I cleaned out and sold his house after his death a few years ago. I used the round head carriage screws and lock nuts that came with the box mount as well as four 3/8" carriage bolts I had of which two were used to attach the braces to the bracket to attach this matting to the mount. I rolled the matting over the front edge lip of the mount for sure footing while leaning.
I also removed the bottom standoff bolt and because it is a metric size and not long enough I had to freshen out the hole slightly with a 1/4" drill. I then used a proper length 1/4" bolt and my home made versa button using an aluminum spacer and finder washer to re-attach the stand off.
By the way there are some hard plastic spacers that come with the mailbox mount that the hole can be drilled larger and will work for versa button spacer.
It warmed up enough yesterday to go out and play with my creations. My saddle I made works like a dream. The tree attaching platform I made from a tree stand seat needs to go back to the drawing board for some tweaking. But the great thing is that I probably will not need it. The stick platform WORKS LIKE A DREAM. Even with just using the original strap that came with the stick and mounting the stick like normal it is solid. But for added security, kick out concerns, when I added a ratchet strap attached to the other versa button at the bottom of the stick I added it is like the stick grew on the tree it is so solid.
The stick with a single step rope aider and both straps weighs in at exactly 6 pounds. My whole pack ready to hunt with 4 sticks with single step rope aiders on 3 of the sticks and a double aider on one with everything including a 16 oz. bottle of water weighs 22 pounds. I will wear my saddle to walk in and it's weight with all ropes etc., pull up rope, HYS strap, and back band (may not need it), is exactly 4 pounds.
