Predator Platform a good buy? How would you silence it?

[JakeFromVirginia]

Looking to get the Tethrd Predator Platform. Anyone have one and any feedback on your experience (pros cons any issues with quality etc).

what are the better ways to silence it what areas to make certain you tape etc? Thanks all!

 

[MattMan81]

I wrapped the edges of mine with Paracord and have not heard a squeak from it. I haven't head anyone complain about the quality. If you had an issue I doubt you would have any issue with tetherds warrant. Works very well. It's all your preference in size your looking for.

 

[thedutchtouch]

I have the XL. I like it. I have a mission platform on the way and think I'll like it better, we shall see. Back to the predator platforms-They ship with two different tree brackets, the black one (better/preferred by most) can apparently squeak on certain trees so people sand them a bit. Otherwise it's pretty soundless. The strap buckles are also a common thing to silence but they aren't unique to the platform. Depending on how you carry it perhaps between the post and platform when folded.


Remembered this as well: there's a few people who have had the platform crack at the adjustment bolt. Tethrd has been very quick to replace them (apparently, I haven't experienced this directly) and the crack is in a (my opinion) non structural/non life threatening place.

 

[JakeFromVirginia]

I wrapped the edges of mine with Paracord and have not heard a squeak from it. I haven't head anyone complain about the quality. If you had an issue I doubt you would have any issue with tetherds warrant. Works very well. It's all your preference in size your looking for.

What is the technical term for the way you wrap with paracord? I’ve seen it before but finding it hard to google a proper how to and I think it’s because I don’t know the proper knot or method nomenclature. Thanks!

 

[JakeFromVirginia]

I have the XL. I like it. I have a mission platform on the way and think I'll like it better, we shall see. Back to the predator platforms-They ship with two different tree brackets, the black one (better/preferred by most) can apparently squeak on certain trees so people sand them a bit. Otherwise it's pretty soundless. The strap buckles are also a common thing to silence but they aren't unique to the platform. Depending on how you carry it perhaps between the post and platform when folded.


Remembered this as well: there's a few people who have had the platform crack at the adjustment bolt. Tethrd has been very quick to replace them (apparently, I haven't experienced this directly) and the crack is in a (my opinion) non structural/non life threatening place.

I was looking to use amsteel daisy chain to attach to tree. Vs going with the versa strap. Ie, won’t plan to use their stick strap with buckle. Have had too many accident clanks so I have been using amsteel daisy chain. Have you any experience with the versa strap or amsteel daisy chains?

 

[enkriss]

What do you need to silence? A stealth strip down the front of the post and cam buckle should be enough.

 

[TNbowhunter]

What is the technical term for the way you wrap with paracord? I’ve seen it before but finding it hard to google a proper how to and I think it’s because I don’t know the proper knot or method nomenclature. Thanks!

Cobra weave. Check out the DIY Sportsman's video on it here:

 

[thedutchtouch]

I was looking to use amsteel daisy chain to attach to tree. Vs going with the versa strap. Ie, won’t plan to use their stick strap with buckle. Have had too many accident clanks so I have been using amsteel daisy chain. Have you any experience with the versa strap or amsteel daisy chains?

i'm 2/4 of the way there (making my own when i get some free time and have 2 done) and looking forward to making the switch. i do not like the hawk straps/buckles.

 

[raisins]

Looking to get the Tethrd Predator Platform. Anyone have one and any feedback on your experience (pros cons any issues with quality etc).

what are the better ways to silence it what areas to make certain you tape etc? Thanks all!

Here's a link to what @enkriss suggested, in case you need it.

Buckle Silencers 5 Pack - Quiet & Eliminate Shine of Cam Buckles

Buckle silencers 5-pack to quiet metal clang and eliminate shine from cam buckles. Used for hunters to silence and conceal hunting equipment.

www.stealthoutdoors.com

They really are awesome. You can make them yourself out of a sheet of stealth strip, but it isn't worth taking 30 minutes to do it not as well (I wanted it for the next day) when they are so cheap.

I've considered paracording the edge, like others are mentioning, but the only time it ever makes noise is when you are leaning and a lug of your boot catches the edge and slides down. You can stop this by placing your foot quietly and carefully. This is more common on boots with a deep tread and/or a bit of a heel. With my hikers it never happens. Having said all that, I might wrap it. If you haven't done that before, calculate your length off a short pilot study and then allow plenty of extra. The wrap absorbs cord like no other and you'll be mad if you don't make it to the end and have to use 2 pieces.

Another nice addition is a nite ize gear tie around the top of the platform (use it to hang platform off linemans while setting it up).

 

[Phaco]

No issues with the predator platform. I've noticed that depending on how the platform is seated on the tree can cause some squeaking, but if you adjust it, it will quiet it.
The buckle straps can be loud. You can either wrap them or swap them out with daisy chain or rope.
If you decide to use the daisy chain, remember it is important to push down on the patform 1st before camming. I've found that it seats better when you do this. Otherwise, it seems like the platform becomes loose.

 

[JakeFromVirginia]

What size is the versa button? Anyone know? Thanks!

 

[raisins]

What size is the versa button? Anyone know? Thanks!

Round button diameter is 1.25" top to bottom but 1/16" narrower than that left to right because they grind a bit off for fitment. From post to top of button is 7/8".

 

[iamcorey]

Looking to get the Tethrd Predator Platform. Anyone have one and any feedback on your experience (pros cons any issues with quality etc).

what are the better ways to silence it what areas to make certain you tape etc? Thanks all!

I silenced mine with bow wax. When the noise started again, I silenced it by selling it.

 

[JakeFromVirginia]

I silenced mine with bow wax. When the noise started again, I silenced it by selling it.

what made noise? I read on rokslide a post about the bolts being squeaky, but was fixed with some rubber washers from Home Depot.

 

[raisins]

what made noise? I read on rokslide a post about the bolts being squeaky, but was fixed with some rubber washers from Home Depot.

I think this is an earlier generation thing (so be careful if you buy one used). The one I bought this year is dead silent, and that is what most people seem to be reporting now. It will squeak sometimes on hardwood trees with thin bark (where teeth go through bark and rub right on wet wood). This can be helped by roughing up the edge of the teeth with a file or coarse sandpaper (I hit all edges of teeth and batwing with coarse paper and also ran the cast aluminum batwing instead of black shiny one). Also, most times you just have to reset it a couple times (play with position and strap tightness) and then it goes away (sometimes it is caused by camming down too tightly). This squeak on certain types of trees is common on many stands, and I don't necessarily consider it a stand/platform flaw.

 

[iamcorey]

what made noise? I read on rokslide a post about the bolts being squeaky, but was fixed with some rubber washers from Home Depot.

I assume the bolts, since that is where I put the wax and it stopped for a couple of hunts. Once it started up again, I was just fed up with the whole experience (not just the noise).

 

[deertrout]

I got one and hunted most of this season with it. Stealth stripped the contact points and the buckle and had no issues with noise from contact. I did have several instances of noise from the platform popping from either the teeth against the tree or the bolt hinge. I've been cam locking cast stands for years in my lone wolf assault before going to a saddle this season and understand how to cam lock a stand. There is something about the design of the predator that causes it to want to not set unless you have the perfect conditions. That means when you let weight off it those teeth move down then back up the bark, making that tree squeaking sound. When switch from sitting to leaning it would pop at the hinge. Ended up trading it for a mission for unrelated reasons and have had 0 issues with popping from the mission.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

 

[sweats]

I put bow wax on the bolt of my gen 1 predator this year. It did stop the popping sound it had been making, but I only got a couple hunts im after that so I'm not sure how long that fix will last.

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

 

[rj242]

Where can I get a daisy chain to replace the cam buckle for the predator? I am looking for something quicker and lighter.

 

[raisins]

I got one and hunted most of this season with it. Stealth stripped the contact points and the buckle and had no issues with noise from contact. I did have several instances of noise from the platform popping from either the teeth against the tree or the bolt hinge. I've been cam locking cast stands for years in my lone wolf assault before going to a saddle this season and understand how to cam lock a stand. There is something about the design of the predator that causes it to want to not set unless you have the perfect conditions. That means when you let weight off it those teeth move down then back up the bark, making that tree squeaking sound. When switch from sitting to leaning it would pop at the hinge. Ended up trading it for a mission for unrelated reasons and have had 0 issues with popping from the mission.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

Are you camming it while standing on the platform? It seems this platform doesn't like ultra tight camming sometimes. I always cammed the Lone Wolf with knee on seat, but with this, I do it all with my hands before I ever get on it (which is manufacturers recommendation also). A relatively weak hand camming still allows me to totally lean against the platform side for hours with zero movement. A few times, I had squeaks, got off of it, loosened the camming/moved it around, and the squeak went away instantly. Maybe give that a try if you get stuck with noise (?).