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So I have been looking for brackets

All...I'm new to saddle hunting. Trying to get in cheap in case it doesn't work out and have been looking for a ring of steps solution.
This seems great!
Why have several folks mentioned these as a good "preset" option? Seems to me that they would pack in just fine.
 
Eric Frankhauser said:
All...I'm new to saddle hunting. Trying to get in cheap in case it doesn't work out and have been looking for a ring of steps solution.
This seems great!
Why have several folks mentioned these as a good "preset" option? Seems to me that they would pack in just fine.
Click to expand...
You could totally pack them in on the day of hunt. But here are the obstacles you'd have to contend with: They're metal - they'll clang if they bump together. Not loudly, I think, but definitely not a sound you'd mistake as "natural". They have to be tightened quite a bit - usually that means a ratchet strap, and that's another noise. They'll take some positioning and load testing, but that's not unusual for any platform.

The noise factor, and the "cheap" factor (4 of these = $25. 4 ameristeps go for $50-60, I've seen 5 for $80) make these a relatively low-cost may-as-well-set-up-early option, i.e. presets. If I were setting up ameristeps or a platform on public land, I would definitely figure on some going missing. These would be less to worry about, that's all.
 
To deal with any noise I have placed felt on them and it works well. But I also just cut up some socks to slip over them; even better.

I can get them set up on the tree in a minute or less.

I like them so much that I have another 15 coming. They are stuck in customs right now. Uggh.
 
Peterk1234 said:
To deal with any noise I have placed felt on them and it works well. But I also just cut up some socks to slip over them; even better.

I can get them set up on the tree in a minute or less.

I like them so much that I have another 15 coming. They are stuck in customs right now. Uggh.
Click to expand...

Just got mine in. Haven't used them yet. Soon.


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I still need to drill my slots out, but will be doing that soon. And give these a go. Seems like 3 to 4 will be enough for 1 tree.
 
I'm seriously debating ordering some myself. But I have a few other irons in the fire so I'm holding off.
  1. I accidentally told my wife I was done spending for the month (bwahahaha)
  2. I have a Hawk Hangout ground seat and some lone wolf standoffs I want to try together. By itself, the seat & default brackets are "meh" without much sideways stability; thought some wider $5 standoffs might help. Sure wouldn't be the lightest option, but is pretty cheap. The problem with them is that the LW standoffs seem like they'd spin against the seat tube. The included brackets have shoulders that lock them from spinning.
  3. Found a lady on facebook selling a bag of her husband's "useless, old recalled" ameristeps for $30 and she's supposed to get back to me soon.
  4. There was a video of traditional Japanese climbing a bit back that makes me wonder about weaving rope around a length or 2 of hockey-stick against a tree to see if I can get it tight enough and secure enough to stay put under various leans.
  5. I have Helium sticks and can't help thinking that like the Stepps platform there should be a way to slide something over the top to make a slightly bigger platform. Thinking along the lines of that drain grate cover, or plastic shelving cut to size, etc. Needs to be light, secure and strong.
It's hard for me to settle on something and spend the money when I have such a restless mind that wants to try out everything.

Edit: Also... at the Outdoor show where I talked with Boudreaux, he hinted that there might be more products coming this year - or at least that he'd spoken with people about ideas. I'm not dragging him into public comments about unofficial "maybes" but more platform/step kinds of options, if they did come out this year would be pretty cool - so I figured I'll try to be patient.
 
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My 5 showed up yesterday. I think these could be awesome. I'm planning to play with them to see if I can make them a decent run and gun option. Was thinking a zippered sleeve out of a stretch material may keep them quiet during transport. Will provide updates if I find something that works amazing...or decent for that matter.
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Why not hit them with some SEM self etching primer, do the tops in truck bed liner, then spray the rest in plastidip? they do an olive drab now. Also, personally, I would mimght do two things: instead of using the back slots for the strap, I would drill and file slots in the sides so that the back of the hole would be flush to the back of the bracket--I would put these parallel to the elongated slots already there. Then, I might put a short bolt and lock nut through the two bottom hols on the back plat and slightly sharpen the end of the bolt protruding from the lock nut--may not be necessary, but just a couple thoughts if the seem to be kicking out at all.
 
Vtbow said:
Why not hit them with some SEM self etching primer, do the tops in truck bed liner, then spray the rest in plastidip? they do an olive drab now. Also, personally, I would mimght do two things: instead of using the back slots for the strap, I would drill and file slots in the sides so that the back of the hole would be flush to the back of the bracket--I would put these parallel to the elongated slots already there. Then, I might put a short bolt and lock nut through the two bottom hols on the back plat and slightly sharpen the end of the bolt protruding from the lock nut--may not be necessary, but just a couple thoughts if the seem to be kicking out at all.
Click to expand...
I think kicking out is unlikely thanks to the tabs on the back.

I may try side slots on one to see how it reacts. If I don't like it, the back slots are still usable.

My concern with a spray coating is how much weight would it add. I really think a thin felt on the side may be sufficient and barely add any weight. We'll see...I've barely had my hands on them at this point. I "need" to go to Menards to explore options!
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Ah! Missed that they had tabs on the back, sweet! Do you hunt where it is cold/or wet? My dislike of felt comes from some felt backpack straps that I used to use....absorbed water and froze solid one winter...I can only imagine they might get slippery then! though if just wet they should work awesome like felt sole waders.
All good points and great ideas, like you said, you'll just have to play with them a little. Liking this thread !
 
Vtbow said:
Do you hunt where it is cold/or wet? My dislike of felt comes from some felt backpack straps that I used to use....absorbed water and froze solid one winter...I can only imagine they might get slippery then! though if just wet they should work awesome like felt sole waders.
Click to expand...

I get plenty of cold and wet. I'm only thinking felt on the sides. Only because my thought on transporting is to slide them together on the strap and make a sleeve that holds them fairly tight. The felt would only be to prevent them from clanging together.
 
I'm thinking that you could spray paint them with black FlexSeal. It's thick and rubbery. it would quiet them and make them less slick.
 
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skell said:
I get plenty of cold and wet. I'm only thinking felt on the sides. Only because my thought on transporting is to slide them together on the strap and make a sleeve that holds them fairly tight. The felt would only be to prevent them from clanging together.
Click to expand...

Some old scent free socks would do the trick transporting them too like DaveT1963 does with some of his gear.


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PJC said:
Some old scent free socks would do the trick transporting them too like DaveT1963 does with some of his gear.


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Click to expand...
I'm keeping that idea in the back of my head. I like the idea of them tight together in 1 line. I think this will make overall transport and handling easier. And I would only have one sleeve to lose vs 5 socks LOL.
 
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skell said:
I'm keeping that idea in the back of my head. I like the idea of them tight together in 1 line. I think this will make overall transport and handling easier. And I would only have one sleeve to lose vs 5 socks LOL.
Click to expand...
you might try drilling a hole in the sides of each in the same place so you could run a length of Nite Ize through the whole set and cinch them down that way.
 
skell said:
I get plenty of cold and wet. I'm only thinking felt on the sides. Only because my thought on transporting is to slide them together on the strap and make a sleeve that holds them fairly tight. The felt would only be to prevent them from clanging together.
Click to expand...

I have 8 of them at home that I haven't had time to mess with. I plan on using them for presets but, one idea that occurred to me to get them to pack together was to cut off one of the angled sides. This would allow them to nest together. I am not sure if they would still be strong enough with support on only one side but, for less than $5 a piece I thought about trying it.
 
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