Predator Platform Attachment Methods

[Ashton44]

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.

Thank you! Prolly a dumb question, but should I hook up to my tether first before doing the toe camming?


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[GCTerpfan]

I was never happy using a daisy chain with the Predator. With the stock strap I was able to consistently get it tight but, it took a little practice to figure it out. If the top standoff is pulling away you either have to get the strap tighter or push the post down farther before camming. (Or a combination of both). If I set up and the standoff was pulling away I would lightly toe cam it and it would always tighten it up.

should I hook up to my tether first before doing the toe camming?

Yes, it is a good idea to tether in before even stepping onto your platform.

 

[Murph4028]

Thank you! Prolly a dumb question, but should I hook up to my tether first before doing the toe camming?


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If your asking if you should switch from a linesman belt to tether then the answer is I would. I would rather slip while tethered in completely than with a Linesman belt and risk sliding down the tree.

 

[Ashton44]

Right on, thanks guys. This is my first year in the saddle so still getting the basics down. Appreciate all the help!


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[Nutterbuster]

Thank you! Prolly a dumb question, but should I hook up to my tether first before doing the toe camming?


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Not a dumb question at all. You should absolutely tether in.

Predator Platform broke on me last night

Murphy’s Law paid me a visit last night on the opening day of my quota hunt. Looks like I will have to knock the dust of my climber. Kinda sucks because the tree that I was planning on a climber could only dream about getting into.

saddlehunter.com

 

[DanielB89]

I haven't seen a need to cam mine more than once if I did a couple things..
1) attach the strap as tight as I can get it with the platform as close to the closed position as possible.
2) push down with hand or foot or anything you can until the predator stops moving.
3) cam it over and step up on.

I did step up on it last week and the top pulled away the slightest bit. what I did was tighten up my tree tether, with a foot I lifted the platform and with another foot I pushed down on post and then cammed it over. This was by far the toughest time I have ever cammed it over and to my surprise nothing happened. I honestly assumed that that would the straw that broke the camels back. I am a little more impressed with my Gen 1 now and i don't believe i'll break it.

It also made me wonder how hard one has to cam it over for it to break.

 

[deerfly]

I had some issues with the tethrd daisy chain with my predator too. A little slippage and the top brace came away from the tree about 3/4". Tree diameter and bark is not perfectly symmetrical. After than incident I went back to cam buckle which has never failed to hold tight on a variety of trees in neck of the woods. The daisy chain loop intervals dictate how snug you can get, the cam buckle is more precise.

I think the daisy chain loops are a better fit for sticks where you primarily apply downward pressure through the center axis. The predator platform needs to be tight as possible for side to side pressure. Loops can't give you that.

 

[DaveT1963]

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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For me the strap and buckle works best. The key is to keep the platform up, force the post down and then while keeping weight on the post force the platform down. If there is any movement at all, then, with tether attached, stand on top of the post, lift the platform up, force the post down and then push the platform down. If that doesn't work relocated the platform a bit as you probably are on an irregular shaped tree.

 

[DaveT1963]

The above comments are correct. Tether'd is always a better option (yes even while climbing up sticks if you keep it tight). the most dangerous thing we do is climb with a lineman's belt. And to make a lineman's belt even more safe, you can cross the leads (form an X right in front of you) so it does not ride down the tree in event of a fall. The single biggest advice I can offer is ALWAYS keep you lineman tight and above waist, and you TETHER TIGHT - it should remain partially loaded throughout your hunt/maneuvering. Do I take risks at times - yep, but the best case scenario if you should fall is to be tethered in with a taunt tether lead. The second best would be to be wearing your lineman's, preferably with a X as discussed above. Still probably going to hurt like hell but you might save yourself from much worse.

having said that, saddle hunting is by far the safest i have ever felt climbing tree. If I fall one day then all i can say is that I was doing what I love, and took as much precautions as applicable - and living like that beats the crap out of growing old scared and not having lived IMO.

 

[Jase244]

Go to 1:50 to see example of toe camming.

 

[Jimmy Wallhanger]

I'd like to get a longer strap personally.

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[DaveT1963]

I'd like to get a longer strap personally.

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you can order them from strap works, in fact you might can just get the loop strap part since you already have a buckle

 

[71rutherford]

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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Stand on post lift platform with other foot it will cam over tight every time that way..I use daisy chain ..