We’ve decided to switch to all ladder stands because of our growing girth and age. I have 15 to 20 Ameristep hang on stands with the rapid rail sections that nest together with it. PM me if anyone is interested. Figured someone can use them. No idea what they’d be worth but any offers would be entertained. I can get more info later today on exactly how many I have.
DMarley83
DMARLEY83
I switched to all ladder stands as well. Safer for sure and go up fast.
I Also feel better about my kids being in ladder stands as well.
Don't hide quite as well however they get it done.
Something I started doing years ago is lagging them to the tree with 5" ledger locks.
Incredibly stable
Steve-O
World Member
Well.. you know us kids are invincible! .
Im usually only about 8-10' off ground so hopefully the "jump" isn't too bad.
Can hide ladders pretty well in cedars..then I add fake foliage and seems to work well to cut the outline
tall@wide
PMA Member
These were some of my favorite steps in past years. I still have a lot of them. The problem is that they don’t make replacement straps for them anymore. These have the special straps with a metal latch. I’m sure you could still make them work with rope or a ratchet strap though.
CottonwoodCanyon
PMA Member
Where are you located? I'd be interested in the stands and maybe sticks.
Daver
PMA Member
Curious...how do you allow for tree growth and/or movement due to wind, etc? Do you remove the "fixed" lag seasonally? TIA.
DMarley83
DMARLEY83
Another thing I always do is.
Teak screw every ladder piece together. Also lag the ladder braces to the tree and bolt them to the tree stand. I usually add ladder braces so at least two per stand. At the end of the day they seem very solid and most of the cold squeaks are gone.
Teak screw every ladder piece together. Also lag the ladder braces to the tree and bolt them to the tree stand. I usually add ladder braces so at least two per stand. At the end of the day they seem very solid and most of the cold squeaks are gone.
DMarley83
DMARLEY83
Another corky thing I always do is I buy four tree stands to make three. I take a ladder section from the fourth one and add it to each of the other three. Cannibalize some of the other parts to make extra braces....
It gets the tree stand height up above the normal ladder stand height.
Usually at the end of the year season, menards will discount.Their latter stands substantially. Almost always.I have a palette of tree stands to put together at home....
It gets the tree stand height up above the normal ladder stand height.
Usually at the end of the year season, menards will discount.Their latter stands substantially. Almost always.I have a palette of tree stands to put together at home....
203ntyp
PMA Member
Good question Daver.
I learned the hard way that the ratchet straps I use need to be loosened while your shed hunting in the spring. A few years ago, I didn't loosen them on one stand. I went to that stand early one morning for the first time that year and "crap", the stand pulled apart as the tree grew! I had to kneel on the ground until the sun came up to safely get up there to loosen the top strap and get it back together. Next time I took ss bolts to secure the ladder from being able to come apart.