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XOP Climber seat as climber and platform?

donnieballgame said:
Well I guess I have no excuse, I should look into this mod, how does the summit cable work on wet slick trees, just asking because I have had good luck with the belt so far, other than the obvious difficulties in climbing that we've all encountered.
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@donnieballgame It will make the platform a game changer. It’s gona climb like snot on a frosty doorknob. Most of the issues your speaking of in the last post will be gone with the cable. And you will be able to climb bigger trees.


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The cable mod seems cool, but I'd pay to have an end cap welded on the tube and bust out the dremel and make it so you dont need the pins.
 
kenn1320 said:
The cable mod seems cool, but I'd pay to have an end cap welded on the tube and bust out the dremel and make it so you dont need the pins.
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I considered that myself but think it will limit you when you go to climb smaller trees. You might could make it work if you made shorter tubes. You will also need something to hold the cable tight down into your welded cap.
 
EricS said:
I considered that myself but think it will limit you when you go to climb smaller trees. You might could make it work if you made shorter tubes. You will also need something to hold the cable tight down into your welded cap.
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Well you have to slot the tube and open a window. At least that's how my steel summit is. Has a simple flap that covers the window so cable doesn't pop out. Maybe 1 pin could resolve the issue. Just like the belt, I'd really just plan on only adjusting 1 side most of the time.
 
My summit has a springy piece of metal that you have to pull to slide the cable. The end of it wedges on the backside of the barrel on the cable to keep it from rattling around.
 
sb220 said:
Yeah I started out with bungees, but my first time being tough I pretty much decided to change everything. I decided that if the belt hung up at all a bungee just causes you to lose some control of the climber by stretching. So Ive been trying to achieve a ski boot-like connection that's light.

current straps look like
IMG_0878_zpsod8wkyq9.jpg

not the easiest to get into, but not so bad that I'm going to change up yet. They are making the tightest connection ive had to the stand so far though.

So tonight Ive realized that just climbing down with this climber is faster than setting/packing up ropes to rappel. Climbing down is also easier than going up and may be just as fast. Exception would be if you worked past limbs on the way up.


So I strapped up the loc-on bar at hunting height and one of the lonewolf bolts bent. Probably due to the 1/16 tube deflecting on the front, but Ive got a 1/8 otw. Ive got a 3/16th but think(hoping) its overkill and unnecessary weight.
IMG_0883_zpsiurovmbr.jpg


Oh well show must go on....
A couple of dances. I wasn't sure which way to hold the phone to avoid the small screen :blush:
Both are same thing, just me moving around platform


pretty solid so far. Gonna beef up the tubing and try different types of trees
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These videos have me sold.
 
Wlog said:
These videos have me sold.
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From what Im reading guys are able to do all that without the vertical post with little to no movement. Id like to see them do a video as its very hard to believe. lol That post makes this platform solid for sure.
 
kenn1320 said:
From what Im reading guys are able to do all that without the vertical post with little to no movement. Id like to see them do a video as its very hard to believe. lol That post makes this platform solid for sure.
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The post mod seems easy enough. If it’s not needed that’s even better. My number one concern is going around limbs. A lot of the places I’m hunting don’t have many straight limbless trees. I love the idea of carrying just a platform but I can’t limit my tree selection otherwise I might as well be in a climbing stand and lose the saddle. Most times I go in to a spot there is a specific tree that allows me to shoot exactly where I need to, I got to be in THAT tree, a tree 5 yards one way or the other might be easier to get into but the funky, knotty leaning tree gives me the shot I need. I’m figuring out a way to get in that tree. I don’t want to hunt trees I want to hunt bucks. Climbing sticks get me in any tree but transporting sticks through thick cover or while mid day scouting is a hassle.
 
Wlog said:
The post mod seems easy enough. If it’s not needed that’s even better. My number one concern is going around limbs. A lot of the places I’m hunting don’t have many straight limbless trees. I love the idea of carrying just a platform but I can’t limit my tree selection otherwise I might as well be in a climbing stand and lose the saddle. Most times I go in to a spot there is a specific tree that allows me to shoot exactly where I need to, I got to be in THAT tree, a tree 5 yards one way or the other might be easier to get into but the funky, knotty leaning tree gives me the shot I need. I’m figuring out a way to get in that tree. I don’t want to hunt trees I want to hunt bucks. Climbing sticks get me in any tree but transporting sticks through thick cover or while mid day scouting is a hassle.
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I agree and the reason I would get one of these if I knew it was solid. Id carry it with sticks going in blind so I have both options. The weight shouldnt be much more than a typical small platform, so your not out anything if you carry the sticks. Now if you have a tree picked out already and dont need the sticks, win win for sure.
 
kenn1320 said:
Well you have to slot the tube and open a window. At least that's how my steel summit is. Has a simple flap that covers the window so cable doesn't pop out. Maybe 1 pin could resolve the issue. Just like the belt, I'd really just plan on only adjusting 1 side most of the time.
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The design of the summit can’t be duplicated for the hand climber be cause the arms of the summit are higher and stick out farther from the v of the tree stand than the hand climber. Fayettekong tried this first and was served limited in tree size. Not saying the holes and pins are the only solution but they are the simplest. I tried his platform out after work one morning and wow big difference and it’s just like everything else that if you slow down and pay attention you won’t make any noticeable noise.


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kenn1320 said:
From what Im reading guys are able to do all that without the vertical post with little to no movement. Id like to see them do a video as its very hard to believe. lol That post makes this platform solid for sure.
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Well post 192 in this thread has a video of side loading one of these. Ya the guy in the video feels fine, but thats not how I want my platform. Besides feeling unstable, my luck there will be noise from the stand shifting on the bark. I would need to lock it down somehow to enjoy using it.
 
kenn1320 said:
Well post 192 in this thread has a video of side loading one of these. Ya the guy in the video feels fine, but thats not how I want my platform. Besides feeling unstable, my luck there will be noise from the stand shifting on the bark. I would need to lock it down somehow to enjoy using it.
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That's how I feel watching that video. That's why I'm going to do that vertical post mod. The videos of the platform with that mod seem just as solid as a predator or any other platform.

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kenn1320 said:
The cable mod seems cool, but I'd pay to have an end cap welded on the tube and bust out the dremel and make it so you dont need the pins.
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That would work but take away the fine adjustment of the multiple holes. You would also need a keeper like the spring clamps on the Summit. Also I see a lot of guys on here won’t use it if it wiggles. Well I can tell you it does. But before you make any changes try climbing with it first see for yourself the changes you really need. I personally have never needed the rock solid platform but on the other hand never liked the way the belt climbs. So have been waiting for someone to come up with this cable mod. I will mod mine when I get home. When you have used this setup for a very small amount of time you will know when it’s going to move. It doesn’t move out of the blue it moves when you move. After you have used it for a little while you will know by standing all day board to death exactly what it will do because you have tried everything known to man to make it move.
Not always but most of the time you see the deer your going to shoot and and have time to adjust for the shot.
I guess I’m just trying to say don’t make the platform moving more than what it is before your sure it’s a problem.


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bongo said:
That would work but take away the fine adjustment of the multiple holes. You would also need a keeper like the spring clamps on the Summit. Also I see a lot of guys on here won’t use it if it wiggles. Well I can tell you it does. But before you make any changes try climbing with it first see for yourself the changes you really need. I personally have never needed the rock solid platform but on the other hand never liked the way the belt climbs. So have been waiting for someone to come up with this cable mod. I will mod mine when I get home. When you have used this setup for a very small amount of time you will know when it’s going to move. It doesn’t move out of the blue it moves when you move. After you have used it for a little while you will know by standing all day board to death exactly what it will do because you have tried everything known to man to make it move.
Not always but most of the time you see the deer your going to shoot and and have time to adjust for the shot.
I guess I’m just trying to say don’t make the platform moving more than what it is before your sure it’s a problem.


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Have you ever tried the clear vinyl tubing over the cable? Works awesome on an old api climber chain I have. Still flexes but makes it stiffer. You can heat it up for a couple of minutes in hot water then slide it on. You wouldn’t cover the entire thing just the center 12-16 inches or so, so that your adjustment notches are still exposed on the ends.
 
Wlog said:
Have you ever tried the clear vinyl tubing over the cable? Works awesome on an old api climber chain I have. Still flexes but makes it stiffer. You can heat it up for a couple of minutes in hot water then slide it on. You wouldn’t cover the entire thing just the center 12-16 inches or so, so that your adjustment notches are still exposed on the ends.
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No sir I haven’t. If you put hose on strap your trying to create the cable. The cable is much smaller and stiffer less friction. But I did try 1” heater hose 16” and first tree I put it on belt hung and wouldn’t advance. I’ve been using mine for four years and trying to figure a way to put a Summit cable on it for three. FayetteKong figured it out for me and I’m going with it. I have owned a Summit open shot since it came out and like the way they climb. I used to have an API Grand Slam with chain also.


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@bongo the chain seems the easiest to swap over to but would probably weigh about as much as the stand. @Letemgrowitllshow the platform does wiggle some. If you’re going to use with sticks try putting a ratchet strap or boat buckle around the tree hooked to the casting and see if that’s stable for you. The video is also on a light pole. It doesn’t wiggle that bad on most trees.
 
EricS said:
@bongo the chain seems the easiest to swap over to but would probably weigh about as much as the stand. @Letemgrowitllshow the platform does wiggle some. If you’re going to use with sticks try putting a ratchet strap or boat buckle around the tree hooked to the casting and see if that’s stable for you. The video is also on a light pole. It doesn’t wiggle that bad on most trees.
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I had an API Grand Slam with a chain the small cable works better IMO.
I’m gona try the cable for sure.


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I have some summit replacement cables sitting in my cart, might have to try this out! I think folks that think the platform is unstable and that it needs to be fixed have been using other platforms that cam over and are super secure, but if you spend some time on one of these platforms like @bongo has mentioned you quickly realize that it is stable enough and if you tie it down you can't quickly pick it up and slide to the other side of the tree, which is a really nice feature. I've also never had a huge issue with side pressure, I think @EricS has mentioned this before but as long as you have downward pressure on the platform it won't move. Just try the platform for a half dozen sits, if you still need to secure it take a strap with you. But, I like simple solutions and I know that doesn't work for everyone, but in this case I don't think it needs a solution. Cable mod will most likely make climbing easier but it also might affect the stability, especially on wet slick trees, curious if anyone has had issues with wet and slick trees with a summit climber?
 
well the good news is we are all different and there are lots of options. I have an old man climber with the rubber covered cable(or something inside) and it squeeks in the cold. I have a steel summit climber and a LW climber. Been so long since I used the summit, I cant remember if it climbs better, but dont have any real complaints about the LW belt other than how hard it is to cam it in the cold weather. I need to find an xop and test, thats all there is to it. lol
 
I have been using the hand climber to climb/platform. The summit cable mod seems like it would make the climb a little easier but I feel I might loose some platform stability. I just plan on at least one adjustment and soft bark trees are a pain no matter what. I'm 6'3 260 with All my gear on and I don't have any stability issues with the xop strap. Only gripe is it can Creek a little on soft bark trees. I typically am a leaner and always keep weight on front of the platform, don't have to side load much since I can reposition the platform at anytime. I still use one stick to get it set at head height to start

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