I have several Baby Gorillas stand that have been in the woods for about 5 years now. Every year I am prepared to retire them but they look and test to be fine. When is it time to say when? Thanks. BILL
to me it is when they start "showing". This means squeaks, or other issues you can't make go away. Sometimes they just need a little sanding and painting, and some TLC. I however, never leave mine up. Some of mine are now 12-14 years old.
I try my best not to leave them out all year. Squirrels eat the straps, seat, and one time had so many acorns in the seat when I put it down at oh dark thrity,it sounded like 50 pounds of marbles in a garbage can.
I usually bring them in every year, inspect them, replace any susupect bolts, sand and paint any rust, and I have even replaced seats. Like any equipment, you get out of it waht you put into it.
I know one thing, I ALWAYS inspect each one before I climb on. One time I found an attachment strap literally hanging by threads...tree rats. If I had climbed aboard, it would have been a fast thirty feet to the stone wall below. Now I use chains.
Dont forget to inspect your steps, or climbing system either. I have had tree growth bend a solid step to the point it broke...another reason to recover gear after season.
the only stand I have that gets weathered in my ladder stand... end of season I take it out of the woods and store it. I check it over really good.touch-up paint when needed.
i have several stands of all makes and models and agree with what has been stated above. i also will recomend checking the vinyl coated metal wire used to hold the platform in place,this is the only place that makes me nervous.
I've got Screaming Eagle lock-ons that are 20 years old. They are in near perfect shape, despite once or twice being left out from one year to another. About the only thing that has deteriorated it the rubber coating on the chains, and even that has basically held up very well.
There is no apparent reason that they won't last me another 20 years...
you have to check every stand every year. I have a climber that is 12 years old and needs a few replacement parts. As for lock-on type stands, make sure there are no cracks or squeeks and they will last for a long time.
I have about 15 stands. Most I've had and used hard for about 13 years. I do exactly like ishiwannabe and they are holding up well.
I have 52 stand sites that is down from over 100 a few years ago. I have a few old chain ons that have been in trees for 15 years or more, I still sit some of them. I went to a bracket system about 5 years ago and leave them in the ood year round. I go in in May and check them all and loosen them up and re-set them, never a problem. Last year I started using Chippewa wedge-Loc stands and make the brackets myself. I put 31 up last year and left them out, I will see how they faired in about two months! I agree with above though, ya should not leave stands out from year to year and check everything over very well before each season. I know what it is like to fall 23ft. when a step that has been in a huge old oak for 5 years breaks. The fall was not bad, the sudden stop at the bottom did me no good! Shawn
until stollen :0)
If they are steel, they will rust from the inside out. If left to the elements for an extended time you can never be sure how bad they really are.
I pull mine at the end of every season and spray the inside of the tubing with Rem Oil, then spray paint the areas where the paint is chipped off. This seems to protect them well and the odor is gone by next season. I also hang them and inspect them with a load on them before each season. Keep an eye out for bolts that get worn through also.
Something else to look for is ice damage. Sometimes you get enough moisture inside the tubing to form ice that will expand and/or crack the tubing.
If you take care of a well made stand, there's no reason it shouldn't last your entire hunting career.
I have and still use a Woods and Water climber for the last 20+ yrs. Back then, it cost well over 200 dollars, which was a lot of money for a stand. Every yr I give it a look over--tighten a bolt or two and check the straps. I have been extremely pleased with this stand. It was made with airplane grade aluminum in Wisc. I heard the owner of the company was trying to sell it. Do any of you know what happened to this company? Peace!!
I have a tripod stand (1) and will not leave out for the year. Why tempt those who may not be "too" honest. And if not left out in the elements, it will last longer.
For owners of steel framed stands, spray the inside of your tubing with autoboy undercoating (the tar like stuff) though it does make the stand heavier, it surely slows down ol man rust.