Biggest platform saddles

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islandshooter
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Re: Biggest platform saddles

Unread postby islandshooter » Tue Jan 15, 2019 11:20 pm

Go to saddlehunter.Com and search the anything platform thread. A couple things I have seen are that xop no longer sells the seat as a replacement, the lone wolf seat might not be as strong, xop is out of tree brackets, don't just buy ANY aluminum post it needs to be a certain hardness, and with all the pieces/parts you're almost at the predator price. I bought a used xop seat platform and then a predator, haven't used either enough to give an honest review, but they both cam over and both are rock solid. Good luck, hope you had a great season!


BassBoysLLP
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Re: Biggest platform saddles

Unread postby BassBoysLLP » Wed Jan 16, 2019 12:45 am

islandshooter wrote:Go to saddlehunter.Com and search the anything platform thread. A couple things I have seen are that xop no longer sells the seat as a replacement, the lone wolf seat might not be as strong, xop is out of tree brackets, don't just buy ANY aluminum post it needs to be a certain hardness, and with all the pieces/parts you're almost at the predator price. I bought a used xop seat platform and then a predator, haven't used either enough to give an honest review, but they both cam over and both are rock solid. Good luck, hope you had a great season!


The Lone Wolf seat works great but both XOP and Lone Wolf are prone to failure if you arent careful. If you are careful you should be OK. Also worth noting that the Elite seat is almost exactly the same size as an Assassin platform. You can build an Assassin sized platform at a fraction of the cost, but like the Predator, the Assassin (and the Kuhnert Ambush) is considerably stronger.
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Re: Biggest platform saddles

Unread postby d_rek » Wed Jan 16, 2019 2:04 am

I do believe Ernie still sells the post kits (i could be wrong) but the issue is you can no longer buy the XOP cast seat seperately, it has to be purchased as part of the XOP I-Beam upgrade kit which effectively make it's a much less attractive DIY option than a commercially available platform like the predator which is a finished product that comes with a strap for the same price as the i beam upgrade kit.

Heck after you bough the i beam kit, ernies kit, batwing brackets, and a strap or rope you'd probably be sitting around $200~ for a finished DIY platform.
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greenhorndave
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Re: Biggest platform saddles

Unread postby greenhorndave » Wed Jan 16, 2019 6:37 am

Yeah, that's what I was looking at last night.

The Predator seems a little pricey at first, but isn't too far out of line if you tried to do it another way.

I applaud anyone who can build something safe for less, but I think I would probably just budget for a bit more cost and get the product actually designed for the job.
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BassBoysLLP
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Re: Biggest platform saddles

Unread postby BassBoysLLP » Wed Jan 16, 2019 8:53 am

Dewey wrote:
jbone23 wrote:Is there anyway to get the post kits still? Is it possible to convert a LW hand climber to a platform? I would like to have it with the post kit option for added lateral stability.

I haven’t tried this yet but looks like it would work pretty well.

https://youtu.be/LV2NDFCv_7c


this works fine. I used it a few times this season as well.
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Dewey
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Re: Biggest platform saddles

Unread postby Dewey » Wed Jan 16, 2019 9:16 am

BassBoysLLP wrote:
Dewey wrote:
jbone23 wrote:Is there anyway to get the post kits still? Is it possible to convert a LW hand climber to a platform? I would like to have it with the post kit option for added lateral stability.

I haven’t tried this yet but looks like it would work pretty well.

https://youtu.be/LV2NDFCv_7c


this works fine. I used it a few times this season as well.

What type of strap did you use to fasten it to the tree for stabilty once at hunting height?
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Acer18
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Re: Biggest platform saddles

Unread postby Acer18 » Wed Jan 16, 2019 9:45 am

^^ bat wings and versa button are all available on lw site. And seats are there for that matter- just an fyi anyone who doesn't have one..

post can be had online 6061 aluminum or 7075 (I believe those were the two two grades recommended..) 1/8" 1"x1".. (DIY sportsman has a video on diy sticks with aluminum post info..)

Be nice if we could get our hands on just Dan's antler brackets to use on a platform post.. :L:
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Re: Biggest platform saddles

Unread postby BassBoysLLP » Wed Jan 16, 2019 11:21 am

Dewey wrote:
BassBoysLLP wrote:
Dewey wrote:
jbone23 wrote:Is there anyway to get the post kits still? Is it possible to convert a LW hand climber to a platform? I would like to have it with the post kit option for added lateral stability.

I haven’t tried this yet but looks like it would work pretty well.

https://youtu.be/LV2NDFCv_7c


this works fine. I used it a few times this season as well.

What type of strap did you use to fasten it to the tree for stabilty once at hunting height?


overcenter buckle ie boat buckle. You can add an extra ameristep or 2 if you want more steps.
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Dewey
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Re: Biggest platform saddles

Unread postby Dewey » Wed Jan 16, 2019 12:11 pm

BassBoysLLP wrote:
Dewey wrote:
BassBoysLLP wrote:
Dewey wrote:
jbone23 wrote:Is there anyway to get the post kits still? Is it possible to convert a LW hand climber to a platform? I would like to have it with the post kit option for added lateral stability.

I haven’t tried this yet but looks like it would work pretty well.

https://youtu.be/LV2NDFCv_7c


this works fine. I used it a few times this season as well.

What type of strap did you use to fasten it to the tree for stabilty once at hunting height?


overcenter buckle ie boat buckle. You can add an extra ameristep or 2 if you want more steps.

I have a couple of those on my boat trailer. The ratchet mechanism is very loud. Is there a different one that I don’t know about?
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Re: Biggest platform saddles

Unread postby BassBoysLLP » Thu Jan 17, 2019 4:28 am

Dewey wrote:
BassBoysLLP wrote:
Dewey wrote:
BassBoysLLP wrote:
Dewey wrote:
jbone23 wrote:Is there anyway to get the post kits still? Is it possible to convert a LW hand climber to a platform? I would like to have it with the post kit option for added lateral stability.

I haven’t tried this yet but looks like it would work pretty well.

https://youtu.be/LV2NDFCv_7c


this works fine. I used it a few times this season as well.

What type of strap did you use to fasten it to the tree for stabilty once at hunting height?


overcenter buckle ie boat buckle. You can add an extra ameristep or 2 if you want more steps.

I have a couple of those on my boat trailer. The ratchet mechanism is very loud. Is there a different one that I don’t know about?


There is no ratchet. It's just an over center buckle. I use one on my camera arm base too. This is the only video I can recall with it in action. Advanced to 2:39

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MNLb-yL_2Q

https://www.amazon.com/BoatBuckle-Tie-D ... oat+buckle
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Dewey
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Re: Biggest platform saddles

Unread postby Dewey » Thu Jan 17, 2019 4:41 am

BassBoysLLP wrote:
Dewey wrote:
BassBoysLLP wrote:
Dewey wrote:
BassBoysLLP wrote:
Dewey wrote:
jbone23 wrote:Is there anyway to get the post kits still? Is it possible to convert a LW hand climber to a platform? I would like to have it with the post kit option for added lateral stability.

I haven’t tried this yet but looks like it would work pretty well.

https://youtu.be/LV2NDFCv_7c


this works fine. I used it a few times this season as well.

What type of strap did you use to fasten it to the tree for stabilty once at hunting height?


overcenter buckle ie boat buckle. You can add an extra ameristep or 2 if you want more steps.

I have a couple of those on my boat trailer. The ratchet mechanism is very loud. Is there a different one that I don’t know about?


There is no ratchet. It's just an over center buckle. I use one on my camera arm base too. This is the only video I can recall with it in action. Advanced to 2:39

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MNLb-yL_2Q

https://www.amazon.com/BoatBuckle-Tie-D ... oat+buckle

OK. Got it. Makes sense now. I have used that type of tie down before and they are quiet. Just ordered one.
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peteherbst
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Re: Biggest platform saddles

Unread postby peteherbst » Thu Jan 17, 2019 4:52 am

Are all of you guys using that seat to climb as well? I’ve played around with the idea of setting it up when I get to hunting height.
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BassBoysLLP
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Re: Biggest platform saddles

Unread postby BassBoysLLP » Thu Jan 17, 2019 5:52 am

peteherbst wrote:Are all of you guys using that seat to climb as well? I’ve played around with the idea of setting it up when I get to hunting height.


Yes. If I take the hand climber seat its my climbing method. Think of it as the lightest climbing tree stand on the market. Tough to beat 4.5 lbs.

Most of the time I'm using my Predator platform and climbing the tree with spurs, ropes, stepps, sticks, bolts, etc. Its a more versatile system than the hand climber seat. Its worth the little extra weight if I don't know where I'm going.


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