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Ratchet straps are not the devil

huntin_addict

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Jun 18, 2018
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Erie County, PA
Now we just need to figure out how to measure the force between joints of the strap...and we have our first SaddleHunter.Com "Feats of Strength" contest. Airing of grievances will take place afterwards.

Happy Festivus!
I'm cracking up at this & my wife is looking at me like I just lost my marbles.
 

bow shot

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Feb 9, 2019
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I'm thinking that to get an OCB to gain equal a ratchet we'd need at least these design changes to the readily avaialable ones:
1) The lever that takes up and cranks on the last bit of slack would need to take up more.
2) The lever would probably have to be longer for more leverage to do that
3) I'm sure it's not "possible" and I don't want to get a headache thinking about it.. but if you could pull on the tag in the same direction as you are throwing the lever that wold be a big deal too.

I've been googling for something that has one or more of these points... but you end up with something that weighs close to or more than a ratchet.

All that said, I'm a big fan of the Erickson OCB. Works very well for securing a lone wolf hand climber, but I have to say the ratchet is superior.
 

DanO

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Jun 14, 2018
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I'm thinking that to get an OCB to gain equal a ratchet we'd need at least these design changes to the readily avaialable ones:
1) The lever that takes up and cranks on the last bit of slack would need to take up more.
2) The lever would probably have to be longer for more leverage to do that
3) I'm sure it's not "possible" and I don't want to get a headache thinking about it.. but if you could pull on the tag in the same direction as you are throwing the lever that wold be a big deal too.

I've been googling for something that has one or more of these points... but you end up with something that weighs close to or more than a ratchet.

All that said, I'm a big fan of the Erickson OCB. Works very well for securing a lone wolf hand climber, but I have to say the ratchet is superior.
We started looking into a lever for the OCB - aka KnuckleBuster - but dropped it for now because we didn't think the buckle could handle that much additional torque.
 

bow shot

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Feb 9, 2019
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We started looking into a lever for the OCB - aka KnuckleBuster - but dropped it for now because we didn't think the buckle could handle that much additional torque.
yup, i think that as the energy increases, materials might have to beef up...
 

Weldabeast

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May 23, 2019
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I really like the ocb buckle however I had this happen today while camming it over. Idon't eat wheaties. This one was from eastern woods outdoors. Not knocking them.....just showing what can happen if you force them to much. The rivet failed and bent the U shaped bar. Can anybody recommend one that's a little beefier? I've also broken ratchet style before in the past. Guess i just have gorilla mits
IMG_20190629_214206.jpg
 
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DanO

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I really like the ocb buckle however I had this happen today while camming it over. Idon't eat wheaties. This one was from eastern woods outdoors. Not knocking them.....just showing what can happen if you force them to much. The rivet failed and bent the U shaped bar. Can anybody recommend one that's a little beefier? I've also broken ratchet style before in the past. Guess i just have gorilla mits
View attachment 13065

Wow, this is the first report I’ve heard of a broken buckle. But it does confirm what I suspected- the buckle will break while camming it over, not randomly while already set up. I’m receiving some sample buckles in a few days and if one is a good candidate I’ll send it your way for further review. Will also refund or replace your OCB.
 
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Buckhole75

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Aug 3, 2018
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Donalsonville GA
Can’t believe no one has mentioned individual size in this discussion.Lots easier for Nutterbuster to get his buckle tight enough for him than say Eric S.That ain’t quite the same animal.What we talking about a buck fifty vs 280 or so guys.I know the buckle want get tight enough for me with my Ameristeps but i had to try it.
 

Weldabeast

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May 23, 2019
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Northeast Florida
But it does confirm what I suspected- the buckle will break while camming it over, not randomly while already set up.
Agreed....once it's cammed and set its going no where. I bought two of them from you and really like them. Manufactures defect is no fault of yours.
 

Murph4028

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Jan 2, 2019
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Can’t believe no one has mentioned individual size in this discussion.Lots easier for Nutterbuster to get his buckle tight enough for him than say Eric S.That ain’t quite the same animal.What we talking about a buck fifty vs 280 or so guys.I know the buckle want get tight enough for me with my Ameristeps but i had to try it.

That's a great point. I was going to bring that up as well but didn't because this thread started to get derailed. For some reason when you bring up ocb buckles emotions start getting a little high lol
 

Wolverinebuckman

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Mar 22, 2018
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Southern Kentucky
Can’t believe no one has mentioned individual size in this discussion.Lots easier for Nutterbuster to get his buckle tight enough for him than say Eric S.That ain’t quite the same animal.What we talking about a buck fifty vs 280 or so guys.I know the buckle want get tight enough for me with my Ameristeps but i had to try it.
This is a great point! I think the same principle applies to things like the primal steps platform. Most guys got theirs rock solid, but I was pulling away from the tree a lot at 250lbs.
 

Buckhole75

Well-Known Member
Aug 3, 2018
665
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Donalsonville GA
I wish the buckle would stay for me.I like the simplicity but it ain’t gonna happen.I am 6’2” and about 280 and can pull on it like a gorilla but it just wont get tight enough not to shift around a little especially on a pine tree.And if you hunt in my part of the world you gonna hunt in pines a lot.
 

Murph4028

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Jan 2, 2019
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I wish the buckle would stay for me.I like the simplicity but it ain’t gonna happen.I am 6’2” and about 280 and can pull on it like a gorilla but it just wont get tight enough not to shift around a little especially on a pine tree.And if you hunt in my part of the world you gonna hunt in pines a lot.

I had the same issues
 

Erniepower

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Oct 25, 2015
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Minneapolis MN
For pre sets. I love a good ratchet. I'll put a few ameristeps on the back side and ratchet them down tight. I don't like them for run and gun but they can be installed quietly if you are very careful. Unfortunately I'm to clumsy and awkward to pull it off consistently.


Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk
 

g2outdoors

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Oct 3, 2014
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I really like the ocb buckle however I had this happen today while camming it over. Idon't eat wheaties. This one was from eastern woods outdoors. Not knocking them.....just showing what can happen if you force them to much. The rivet failed and bent the U shaped bar. Can anybody recommend one that's a little beefier? I've also broken ratchet style before in the past. Guess i just have gorilla mits
View attachment 13065
This is not surprising. 2 small rivets are doing all the heavy lifting. I've never had one break on me though. That sucks.

Cool thing is you purchased from @DanO so you don't have to worry about getting it replaced.

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk
 

bow shot

Well-Known Member
Feb 9, 2019
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I really like the ocb buckle however I had this happen today while camming it over. Idon't eat wheaties. This one was from eastern woods outdoors. Not knocking them.....just showing what can happen if you force them to much. The rivet failed and bent the U shaped bar. Can anybody recommend one that's a little beefier? I've also broken ratchet style before in the past. Guess i just have gorilla mits
View attachment 13065
The Erickson OCB is a much better beast... there is a thread here, I'll see if I can find it.
 
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bow shot

Well-Known Member
Feb 9, 2019
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here we go: Erickson OCB go to first post, and check out the pics. Amazon, eBay. Maybe farm supply stores too.
Courtesy of well known member justsomedude.

Update 10-10-2019: I have to recant on the Erickson. After using it maybe 50 times practicing and hunting with two different straps, I'm finding that the spring that is used to keep and release the lever dies. Too bad, because the rest of the strap is great, and I find that if you "pump" the lever a few times before locking down the mechanism has little gain. The spring is a piece of junk, it is wire that CLEARLY fatigues and is NOT made of spring-intended steel. Super bummer.
 
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SloMo

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Dec 2, 2018
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I use ratchets exclusively with my platforms . I have mastered the "no clicking" method and can hang my platform without any of that. I feel the ratchets keep my platforms in place much better that buckles and eliminate shifting under load