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LWCG Ranger Hybrid

T

TheWaypoint

New Member
Joined
Mar 2, 2024
Messages
34
Ok, so I thought I had my mind completely made up to buy the Ranger.

During the rut I do some all day sits, I like the idea of having the extra foot room to make any shot, I like to hunt large trees, and when I held one in Ohio Deer and Turkey expo it really didn’t seem all that heavy.

Everyone keeps telling me I don’t need a platform that big, that it will be difficult to hang and heavy to carry. But if it genuinely carries like a frame pack, that point seems null to me.

I want to primarily sit, but will mix it up throughout the day. Anyone with legitimate experience with the Ranger Hybrid want to chime in with pros and cons?

The MHE is this weekend and if the consensus is more cons than pros I’ll probably consider something else.

As far as weight….all of the larger platforms are 5+ pounds and don’t offer anything close to the features.

I appreciate your input.
 
It’s a nice platform. Has some issues packing it in. But I think they are resolving the pin issue.

FYI… custom gear is not attending the mobile hunters expo. Neither is Trophyline or ape canyon.
 
enkriss said:
It’s a nice platform. Has some issues packing it in. But I think they are resolving the pin issue.

FYI… custom gear is not attending the mobile hunters expo. Neither is Trophyline or ape canyon.
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Thanks, yeah I know, I’ll have to order it pretty soon if that’s the way I go.

I know they got rid of the pin and all the platforms are shipping with the lever.

What other packing issues have you had? How is hanging it pre dawn?
 
enkriss said:
It’s a nice platform. Has some issues packing it in. But I think they are resolving the pin issue.

FYI… custom gear is not attending the mobile hunters expo. Neither is Trophyline or ape canyon.
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The pin issue has been resolved. Pin is no longer part of the Ranger.l hybrid. Replaced with a metal tab that moves into and out of place.
 
Also, the Ranger hybrid platform is marginally larger than the Ambush. The line in red is really all the difference between the two platforms. Under 2.5 inches. Otherwise it is the same platform.

IMG_3383.jpeg
 
TheWaypoint said:
So are you saying that you prefer the Ambush over the Ranger? Sorry to keep pestering you…lol
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Just purchased the Ranger, so I can’t speak to a preference for one over the other. I waited until they fixed the pin issue, was not going to deal with that. New design seems to be an improvement.
 
As to the packing in issue mentioned by @enkriss - I plan to use it with an Eberlestock X2 backpack. In the right configuration the Ranger hybrid seems to match up well with the longer length of the new, longer version of the X2. (No pictures available at the moment, but I’ve tried it out a couple of times. Use the X2 to haul the Ranger hybrid platform, with the stick in the side batwings of the X2.
 
How are you planning to climb? If you are going to rope climb or 2TC and want to primarily sit, grab a 1.0 or similar and be done with it. You will still be massively under the weights of what we used to have to carry.
 
TBH everyone made a bigger deal of the pin issue than what it was. But the tab is way better.

If you want to hybrid hunt, rangers a good option with the seat.

If you’re just saddlin’ - save some weight and get the ambush.

I have both, and I love the Ranger. It also only requires 1 strap to cam down tight and take side pressure where I find that my .5 needs a top and bottom strap to handle side pressure when I’m doing the hybrid thing.
 
The pin was an absolute pain in the butt. Not only having something extra to fiddle with the washers were to big for the seat and would partially cover the hole for the pin further complicating things.

Packing it was also not the greatest. If you weren’t strapping it to a pack and just humping it in with the shoulder straps it comes with the frame lock from the seat would stick you in the back and stuff didn’t really stack well on the seat.

Also, setting it up with the up cam takes a little to get right. If you really cam it tight it’s very hard to uncam and get the strap loose. I almost had to cut the strap a few times.

It’s nice to hunt out of when it’s setup though.
 
I tried it out at the roadshow and that seat is nearly useless to sit on. You gotta tuck your feet way under to have them on the platform. That’s how it was for me. Somebody else it may work for.


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S
bigcat93 said:
TBH everyone made a bigger deal of the pin issue than what it was. But the tab is way better.

If you want to hybrid hunt, rangers a good option with the seat.

If you’re just saddlin’ - save some weight and get the ambush.

I have both, and I love the Ranger. It also only requires 1 strap to cam down tight and take side pressure where I find that my .5 needs a top and bottom strap to handle side pressure when I’m doing the hybrid thin
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Rutman said:
I tried it out at the roadshow and that seat is nearly useless to sit on. You gotta tuck your feet way under to have them on the platform. That’s how it was for me. Somebody else it may work for.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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I’m just under 5’7…A deer hunting Ooompa Loompa if you will..LOL
 
TheWaypoint said:
S



I’m just under 5’7…A deer hunting Ooompa Loompa if you will..LOL
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One extra benefit to the seat is you can just straddle the tree and sit. It’s very comfortable that way. Tree leaning away makes the platform feel a little larger aswell if sitting facing away from the tree.. for me the ranger is my go to.. extremely versatile and you can make it work in about any situation and be comfortable.
 
I have more than a dozen sits in my Ranger and I prefer the platform size over the Ambush which I also own. I’m 5’7” as well and have no issues sitting in it. Actually I found it very comfortable to sit in. I bought mine right before the price hike when they still had the old pin system but sent them an email and they sent me the new metal tab and it works great. I also cut off all the useless tabs on the seat so it doesn’t snag and grab everything on your saddle. With all that being said…. I still prefer my .5 over the Ranger and Ambush so those two are getting sold.
 
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