Ladder (tree) stands

[nyslowhand]

Seems to be a continual search for a well made, inexpensive ladder stand. Pretty much come to the conclusion I can't have both. If per chance you do come across one, more than likely it's on-line and the s/h puts you into another level of $$. Just started putting together a couple I bought at Dick's around last Christmas.

 

Just to vent for a minute..! In the process of putting together my 10th & 11th ladder stands. Any time I've had to write work instructions, the 1st thing you do when complete is to hand them to a novice and see if they can follow the steps or procedure. Any of you that have put together a ladder stand know what I mean. Just forget the written steps and give me a lot of detailed photos of the assembled product. Then there's the hardware!! Either missing, insufficient amount or worthless! What's with those latch pins that are supposed to tie together the ladder sections? Have a box full of them I replaced with bolts instead. And then the crappy, cheapie ratchet straps, another box full I had replaced with better ones from Tractor Supply, Lowes, etc. Who the heck designed that spanner, support bar that goes from a mid-ladder rung to the tree and gets secured by a bolt/set screw? Mine are eventually drilled and a bolt thru both spanner sections. Then one of the supplied cheapie ratchets securing everything at the same location. So, finally you get it all together with only a minor headache and miniminal trips to the hadrware store.

 

Mine are hauled into the woods strapped on a small trailer in two sections, platform and ladder. Where I'm putting up the stand I finalize the assembly. If you're foolishly independent like me, you try to raise the ladder stand by yourself. Sure it's nice to have a 2nd person to support the base on the ladder from "kicking out" when you walk the stand upright. By myself, I've had pretty good luck simply raising the platform up to shoulder height and then giving the whole thing a robust shove to bury the base of the ladder into the ground. You can also drive a stake(s) in the ground at the base to help it from 'kicking out'. Now you have it up and against the tree. Don't like how it's positioned and want to rotate it some? Here's where I can provide some input from my own bad experiences. Do NOT allow platform to come away from the tree. Baby steps; move ladder base, rotate platform and so on. If you foolishly try to have the stand vertical and not supported against a tree - disaster awaits! So it's up and positioned to your liking! Here is where a 2nd person is very helpful. That is when you're climbing the ladder to get the initial securing ratchets around the platform. This adventure gets the heart pounding! All my ladderstands are ratcheted at the top and bottom of the platform with ~2000# ratchets. You won't believe how much more secure they are than the supplied ones or ratchets of a lesser strength (~900#). And as mentioned, a 3rd one securing ladder sections to tree near the spanner bar. Almost forgot to mention the base of the ladder sections sinking into the ground or mud. I use ~24" lenghts of 2" x 10"/12" pressure treated pieces of lumber for the bottom of ladder section's leg support. Have used flat rocks or cement blocks, but they don't work as well.

 

Here's a neat product. More interesting is the fist minute or so of the product's video showing what happens when raising a ladder stand. Been there & done that!!! Will give you nightmares!! Nothing like watching you ~$150 ladder stand topple over and you can't do anything to stop it!

https://www.treestandup.com/

 

 

[Paula]

My cousin use those or something similar, looks like these could be left there if there was a locking mechanism 

[First-light]

I like the ladder stands but they do limit you on movement. The platform you stand on isn't very big. I have a combination of ladder stands and hang-ons that use climbing sticks.

[NYBuckHunter27]

I ratchet strap around the support bar first before going up the tree to ratchet around the base, the stand shouldn't twist or want to fall off the tree, much safer.

[landtracdeerhunter]

Always buy the one person stands, much easier to install yourself.

[Water Rat]

nyslowhand..............You hit the nail on the head !!!

[fasteddie]

I have several of the ladder stands and havn't had any major problem installing them alone and i'm 71 1/2 ( lol ) . The only real problem I have had is fitting them sideways between limbs that I didn't want to trim .

I strap the 3 sections to the rear basket on the ATV and haul it to the area I want the stand located . I don't mind the latch pins at all and I have never been shorted any hardware .

I put the foot platform on ass backwards so it sticks out past the ladder a couple inches . That gives me a bit more foot room to stand on .

I buy ratchet straps from Tractor Supply or Harbor Freight to strap the stand to the tree and I also like the adjustable support bar that come with the stand . Years ago they didn't adjust and that stunk plus the ladder sections just slid inside each other and there were no holes and latch pins .

What the heck do you want for $50 ?

I carry a couple sections of rope with me when installing a ladder stand . I tie to each side of the seat and when I get the stand against the tree , I criss-cross the rope behind the tree , and tie it to each side of the ladder to hold it in place so it will be stabilized and I can climb up and ratchet strap the seat platform to the tree .

I usually put some weigh on the ladder rung to press it into the ground as it is a rarity to have both rungs equal . If they are equal , I use a piece of 2"X4" board and a couple of spikes . I drive the spikes in the 2X4 and slide the spine heads into the ladder rungs .

I have 12 ladder stands on 5 different properties and have a couple new stands to install this summer .

 

 

[Water Rat]

But you have to admit that the rectangle seat cushions that come with the ladder stands are the most uncomfortable cushions on the market. Come to think of it .....the wire mess seat is to narrow and to low to the platform.

 

[fasteddie]

But you have to admit that the rectangle seat cushions that come with the ladder stands are the most uncomfortable cushions on the market. Come to think of it .....the wire mess seat is to narrow and to low to the platform.

 

Yes ! Those seat cushions are very uncomfortable and I seldom use one of them . I use my old standby 1" seat pad . I have short legs so the seat height is okay . My butt isn't that wide so the wire mesh seat is fine .

 

And once again , for 50 $  , you can't beat it !

[Water Rat]

Yes ! Those seat cushions are very uncomfortable and I seldom use one of them . I use my old standby 1" seat pad . I have short legs so the seat height is okay . My butt isn't that wide so the wire mesh seat is fine .

 

And once again , for 50 $  , you can't beat it !

Your absolutely right.........for $50.00 it can't be beat.  I'm 6'2" and it feels like my knees are in my throat sitting there. My butt isn't wide either. As a matter of fact , my wife says that I have no butt. Maybe that's why I'm uncomfortable....lol

[sits in trees]

Seems to be a continual search for a well made, inexpensive ladder stand. Pretty much come to the conclusion I can't have both. If per chance you do come across one, more than likely it's on-line and the s/h puts you into another level of $$. Just started putting together a couple I bought at Dick's around last Christmas.

 

Just to vent for a minute..! In the process of putting together my 10th & 11th ladder stands. Any time I've had to write work instructions, the 1st thing you do when complete is to hand them to a novice and see if they can follow the steps or procedure. Any of you that have put together a ladder stand know what I mean. Just forget the written steps and give me a lot of detailed photos of the assembled product. Then there's the hardware!! Either missing, insufficient amount or worthless! What's with those latch pins that are supposed to tie together the ladder sections? Have a box full of them I replaced with bolts instead. And then the crappy, cheapie ratchet straps, another box full I had replaced with better ones from Tractor Supply, Lowes, etc. Who the heck designed that spanner, support bar that goes from a mid-ladder rung to the tree and gets secured by a bolt/set screw? Mine are eventually drilled and a bolt thru both spanner sections. Then one of the supplied cheapie ratchets securing everything at the same location. So, finally you get it all together with only a minor headache and miniminal trips to the hadrware store.

 

Mine are hauled into the woods strapped on a small trailer in two sections, platform and ladder. Where I'm putting up the stand I finalize the assembly. If you're foolishly independent like me, you try to raise the ladder stand by yourself. Sure it's nice to have a 2nd person to support the base on the ladder from "kicking out" when you walk the stand upright. By myself, I've had pretty good luck simply raising the platform up to shoulder height and then giving the whole thing a robust shove to bury the base of the ladder into the ground. You can also drive a stake(s) in the ground at the base to help it from 'kicking out'. Now you have it up and against the tree. Don't like how it's positioned and want to rotate it some? Here's where I can provide some input from my own bad experiences. Do NOT allow platform to come away from the tree. Baby steps; move ladder base, rotate platform and so on. If you foolishly try to have the stand vertical and not supported against a tree - disaster awaits! So it's up and positioned to your liking! Here is where a 2nd person is very helpful. That is when you're climbing the ladder to get the initial securing ratchets around the platform. This adventure gets the heart pounding! All my ladderstands are ratcheted at the top and bottom of the platform with ~2000# ratchets. You won't believe how much more secure they are than the supplied ones or ratchets of a lesser strength (~900#). And as mentioned, a 3rd one securing ladder sections to tree near the spanner bar. Almost forgot to mention the base of the ladder sections sinking into the ground or mud. I use ~24" lenghts of 2" x 10"/12" pressure treated pieces of lumber for the bottom of ladder section's leg support. Have used flat rocks or cement blocks, but they don't work as well.

 

Here's a neat product. More interesting is the fist minute or so of the product's video showing what happens when raising a ladder stand. Been there & done that!!! Will give you nightmares!! Nothing like watching you ~$150 ladder stand topple over and you can't do anything to stop it!

https://www.treestandup.com/

you should just hunt from the ground.

[josephmrtn]

LOL, sits in trees says to hunt from the ground?!? lol lol

Edited May 25, 2013 by josephmrtn

[fasteddie]

you should just hunt from the ground.

 

You had to quote Slowhand's lengthy post just to say that ????????

 

[phade]

Two pieces of rope at the top section where you ratchet. Put up stand and grab rope...wrap around and tie to trees in fro. Of stand. It will not move and you can climb up safely. I own more than 40 of those stands from dicks.

[GreeneHunter]

I bought one from Dicks 7 years ago and put it up and have'nt moved it since ... of course I tighten things up every year before the season and have changed the seat pad but it produces every year !

Edited May 26, 2013 by GreeneHunter

[fasteddie]

I periodically check the straps and change them . It's cheap insurance .

[nyslowhand]

Some good input!

 

To each his own prefered method of hunting. I like to hunt from ladder stands. More power to those than bow hunt from the ground!!

 

Just to make sure we're on the same page, my original post was about those full sized ladder stands with substantial platform size, 15-18' high to platform, full height arm rests, flip-up seats, gun rail, etc. Do have a couple of those $50, 13' versions and hated myself after buying them. When your size 13 boots extend out past the platform while sitting and the arm rests only come up to your thighs - not for me!

 

 

[Paula]

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/big-game-16-ultra-view-dx-ladder-tree-stand.aspx?a=826536

 

 This what i got for my first stand. I wanted to go big because i wanted room for my feet and i thought about seat size also. I wanted something i could see 2 fields. But my most important reason was i wanted a bucket up there. Being a female it is not so easy to go to bathroom like guys. I didn't want to have to keep getting down to use bathroom. Took three of us to get it up and now i am thinking about moving it. Hate to see my husbands face when i tell him that

[SteveB]

I use the 2 ropes like Eddie and Phade.

I also use another ratchet strap above the support bar around the tree when climbing the 1st time.

Locks it in real tight for the final climb to put the top ratchet on.

[2012_taco]

I use the 2 ropes like Eddie and Phade.

I also use another ratchet strap above the support bar around the tree when climbing the 1st time.

Locks it in real tight for the final climb to put the top ratchet on.

good idea using a ratchet strap above the brace, I hate the way the stand shifts as you get to the top and have to reach around the the tree to fasten the ratchet strap. mine is a cheap 15' from dick's and I hate the metal seat, I like to stand up next to the tree and the seat is in the way. I'm thinking of cutting the platform seat out and making a padded fold up seat to replace it. Summer project. Also, when I set up the stand I always place a 2"-3" branch under the first step and set it by jumping on the step, keeps the stand in place and it can't sink past the branch.

[nyslowhand]

First year I used a ladder stand, I bought some of that leaf-cut camo netting. Wrap it around the platform and it conceals a lot of movement while sitting. Problem is, you're lucky if you get a 2nd year's use out of it before it deteriorates. Have some stands with Camo-Flex faux leaf limbs tie-wrapped to the platform and ladder sections. Costly, but works great and last a long time. If you can find the right sized real branches, they work also. Even after the leaves fall off! Anything to conceal your profile or movements!! Have even tried to camo paint the stand to try and break-up its' outline. Not so sure that is worth the time, spray paint or effort!

 

Paula - LMAO!

[fasteddie]

I put one of the cheap 15' stands up at my SILs but the only way I could put it on the tree was facing straight out . Sooooo , I took a chain-on that I had laying around and mounted it side ways a few feet about the seat of the ladder stand so it's about 20' high . Works great !

 

Oh , and I buy the cables and locks at Harbor Freight . Almost all of my stands are locked to a tree .

[Paula]

My husband and brother added extra ratchet straps and a cable lock or two on it. I had a hose from bucket down into ground, thought i had such a great idea, right. No i had plumbing issues, by that i mean freezing.  LOL

 I have to figure something else out for this year.

[RangerClay]

For an extra $10, I use these to ratchet my stands to the tree.  Much, much easier to use than the ratchet straps they give you and if you choose quality rope, they last a long time.  http://www.lowes.com/pd_54992-72607-10020_4294934403__?productId=3658424&Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNs%3Dp_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&facetInfo=

[josephmrtn]

I weld stop sign posts together.... strongest/ HEAVIEST stands ever