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Predator Platform Attachment Methods

Ashton44

New Member
Joined
Mar 12, 2019
Messages
17
Alright guys and gals, I got my predator in yesterday after over a month of waiting and it felt like I was a kid on Christmas morning! I got to try it out with the stock strap, and then also used one of my Amsteel/Dyneema daisy chains off one of my sticks. I found that both methods didn’t result in the platform being 100% cammed to the tree.

The top teeth were slightly off the tree once I stood on it, and when I applied enough side pressure, the side I was on dipped significantly enough that I about slipped off (I was at ground level testing this out).

When camming with either method, I made sure to push down on the beam as hard as I could first, and then camming the platform down while applying heavy downward pressure.

What am I doing wrong? Or is this just what I should expect out of the $180 platform? Thanks in advance!


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it happens - exactly why I went away from daisy chains. For my predator I went back to a strap and cam buckle as it just works the best more consistently for me. The daisy chain would work at times and then at other times due to the tree shape not so much. The cam buckle I cannot recall a time I had the top come away form the tree.
 
I was never able to consistently get a satisfactory cam on the gen 1 I had. The top post would usually pull away some. That, and the creaking/popping that always returned a few hunts after greasing it kinda left me unimpressed.
 
I was never able to consistently get a satisfactory cam on the gen 1 I had. The top post would usually pull away some. That, and the creaking/popping that always returned a few hunts after greasing it kinda left me unimpressed.

That is not the norm. I have three predators (one gen I and two Gen IIs) they never pop and I used mine all year setting trees.
 
Regardless of attachment method start with the platform almost all the way folded and apply pressure on the post using your hands. Push down and hard as far as you can get it, then cam it over. This should keep the top bracket engaged, though depending on angle of tree, levelling bolt adjustment, and amount of slack in strap/rope it may pull away slightly from the top. If it is really far away readjust until the teeth are biting.
 
Sorry, my original post was on topic. I could never reliably get them cammed tight enough for the top post not to pull away slightly.

Fair enough. I found if the platform was already folded down 45 degrees or more it would not want to engage the top bracket, or if it did it would start to pull away after stepping onto it.
 
Sorry, my original post was on topic. I could never reliably get them cammed tight enough for the top post not to pull away slightly.

With a little practice there is absolutely no reason you cannot get a predator platform tight as crap to a tree without it pulling away (using a strap/buckle). Failure to do so IMO is more related to user's ability (or lack there of) and not the Predator's capability. There are times mine is cammed so tight it sticks to the tree after I loosen the cam strap.
 
With a little practice there is absolutely no reason you cannot get a predator platform tight as crap to a tree without it pulling away (using a strap/buckle). Failure to do so IMO is more related to user's ability (or lack there of) and not the Predator's capability. There are times mine is cammed so tight it sticks to the tree after I loosen the cam strap.
I'd say the same thing regarding a ROS. It just didn't work for me. Glad it works for you. Hope it works for OP.
 
it happens - exactly why I went away from daisy chains. For my predator I went back to a strap and cam buckle as it just works the best more consistently for me. The daisy chain would work at times and then at other times due to the tree shape not so much. The cam buckle I cannot recall a time I had the top come away form the tree.
My exact thoughts. I bought a versa strap when they first became available on here. Its a great idea and very quite, but i just cant get it to cam like the buckle.
 
Alright guys and gals, I got my predator in yesterday after over a month of waiting and it felt like I was a kid on Christmas morning! I got to try it out with the stock strap, and then also used one of my Amsteel/Dyneema daisy chains off one of my sticks. I found that both methods didn’t result in the platform being 100% cammed to the tree.

The top teeth were slightly off the tree once I stood on it, and when I applied enough side pressure, the side I was on dipped significantly enough that I about slipped off (I was at ground level testing this out).

When camming with either method, I made sure to push down on the beam as hard as I could first, and then camming the platform down while applying heavy downward pressure.

What am I doing wrong? Or is this just what I should expect out of the $180 platform? Thanks in advance!


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Are the platform and top teeth touching similar diameters on the tree? I’ve had hang on stands do the same thing when setting them on knotty and burly trees. I would think setting the platform up close to the ground where the base of the tree is significantly larger in diameter could cause a similar problem as well as the strap not being very close to perpendicular to the tree.
 
With a little practice there is absolutely no reason you cannot get a predator platform tight as crap to a tree without it pulling away (using a strap/buckle). Failure to do so IMO is more related to user's ability (or lack there of) and not the Predator's capability. There are times mine is cammed so tight it sticks to the tree after I loosen the cam strap.

Any suggestions then on getting it so tight it sticks to the tree? I definitely think it’s due to my lack of experience with it, not knocking the platform. But that’s also why I made this post. Hoping for help from the more experienced guys like yourself


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Not sure if this has been mentioned earlier but I use a lone wolf buckle strap and have better luck keeping top stand off from pulling away from the tree. The stock buckle doesn’t hold for me as well.
 
My Predator suppose to arrive 10-21. Anybody tried 1/4 inch Amsteel rope instead of strap??

I tried my 7/64 amsteel last night. It works, but I don’t think I cammed it correctly


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One other comment I will add once you figure out how to keep your top stand off tight to the tree. II like to run my predator slightly angled down to match the angle of my feet.
I have found if I set the predator to be tight at 90 degrees to the tree cammed over then un-cam it to adjust for the downward angle I like. That really seems to allows the back teeth to bite the tree and allow the greatest amount of side pressure.
 
All you have to do to get the predator or any other cam over platform tight is:

Attach platform post to tree with platform folded up slightly (near 45 degrees or so) and get strap as tight as you can

Stand on platform post with one foot and shove the post down. It will drop a few inches and the strap will get real tight

Now with the other foot apply pressure to platform and cam it down. Repeat if necessary. I usually do it twice and it should be very solid. That is the only way to get a cam over platform as tight as possible. Some refer to this as toe camming.
 
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