Title: Please look !
Post by: Pat B. on March 12, 2011, 09:19:00 PM
Post by: Pat B. on March 12, 2011, 09:19:00 PM
I went to move a stand this morning. Climbed the tree and unhooked the stand and let it down to the ground. I got down and started to load the stand on the 4 wheeler when I noticed a short piece of chain on the ground. Then I saw a link that had popped at the weld and was sprung open.. I thanked God for looking over my shoulder.. Fellas, inspect your stands and hardware ---- constantly !
(http://images.imagelinky.com/1299982714.jpg) (http://images.imagelinky.com/1299982714.jpg)
(http://images.imagelinky.com/1299982714.jpg) (http://images.imagelinky.com/1299982714.jpg)
Title: Re: Please look !
Post by: reddogge on March 12, 2011, 09:22:00 PM
Post by: reddogge on March 12, 2011, 09:22:00 PM
Good advice and also never leave the ground unconnected to a safety harness.
Title: Re: Please look !
Post by: magnus on March 12, 2011, 09:24:00 PM
Post by: magnus on March 12, 2011, 09:24:00 PM
Glad it happened on the ground and not while in use!
Title: Re: Please look !
Post by: Pat B. on March 12, 2011, 09:36:00 PM
Post by: Pat B. on March 12, 2011, 09:36:00 PM
I'm sure it happened in the tree and the chain just "fell apart" when I took the tension off of it when I was taking it out of the tree.. I had been in the stand several times over the last few weeks.. Very lucky that link didn't stretch open all the way.
Title: Re: Please look !
Post by: Mudd on March 12, 2011, 09:39:00 PM
Post by: Mudd on March 12, 2011, 09:39:00 PM
Here's one you can add in when you start counting your blessings.
I'm thankful that nothing bad happened that can't be easily repaired.
God bless,Mudd
I'm thankful that nothing bad happened that can't be easily repaired.
God bless,Mudd
Title: Re: Please look !
Post by: crotch horn on March 13, 2011, 03:42:00 AM
Post by: crotch horn on March 13, 2011, 03:42:00 AM
A lesson for everyone.
Title: Re: Please look !
Post by: cacciatore on March 13, 2011, 06:00:00 AM
Post by: cacciatore on March 13, 2011, 06:00:00 AM
How old was that chain?
Title: Re: Please look !
Post by: Blackstick on March 13, 2011, 07:37:00 AM
Post by: Blackstick on March 13, 2011, 07:37:00 AM
I'm like cacciatore and curious as to how long the stand had been hanging? All of mine are coming down this year for an overhaul. Thanks for the reminder.
Title: Re: Please look !
Post by: Osagetree on March 13, 2011, 08:21:00 AM
Post by: Osagetree on March 13, 2011, 08:21:00 AM
Safety harness too!
Title: Re: Please look !
Post by: bentpole on March 13, 2011, 08:40:00 AM
Post by: bentpole on March 13, 2011, 08:40:00 AM
What Joe Weed said! :wavey: Always use a SAFETY HARNESS!!!! :thumbsup: :archer:
Title: Re: Please look !
Post by: Bill Carlsen on March 13, 2011, 09:21:00 AM
Post by: Bill Carlsen on March 13, 2011, 09:21:00 AM
That looks like a Climax stand. I have two that I will be sure to check.
Title: Re: Please look !
Post by: leatherneck on March 13, 2011, 09:22:00 AM
Post by: leatherneck on March 13, 2011, 09:22:00 AM
We just changed all our Gorilla cables this past season. We had 3-break this year alone. I will replace these every 3 years like they recommend.
Title: Re: Please look !
Post by: ronp on March 13, 2011, 10:12:00 AM
Post by: ronp on March 13, 2011, 10:12:00 AM
Glad to hear you didn't have an accident. I have 2 or 3 ladder stands that have been out for 2 years now. I think I will bring them home and give them a good look over before next fall to make sure they are still safe. Thanks for the heads up!
Title: Re: Please look !
Post by: Pat B. on March 13, 2011, 10:12:00 AM
Post by: Pat B. on March 13, 2011, 10:12:00 AM
I bought that stand in mid 2010 and that is the chain that came on it.. It had been in one other tree for a few weeks but before that was unused.
I have about a dozen of these stands and really like them and will continue to use them..
It is a Climax stand but they didn't make the chain.. I'd venture a guess that like so many products these days, that chain was not made in the good old USA !
I have about a dozen of these stands and really like them and will continue to use them..
It is a Climax stand but they didn't make the chain.. I'd venture a guess that like so many products these days, that chain was not made in the good old USA !
Title: Re: Please look !
Post by: riverrat 2 on March 13, 2011, 10:28:00 AM
Post by: riverrat 2 on March 13, 2011, 10:28:00 AM
Man treestands can sure be deadly. One cannot be
to safe obviously.
to safe obviously.
Title: Re: Please look !
Post by: longarrow on March 13, 2011, 10:40:00 AM
Post by: longarrow on March 13, 2011, 10:40:00 AM
I better check mine, I have several that's been up years!!
Title: Re: Please look !
Post by: German Dog on March 13, 2011, 10:45:00 AM
Post by: German Dog on March 13, 2011, 10:45:00 AM
QuoteOriginally posted by cacciatore:First off glad you didn't get hurt.
How old was that chain?
And as far as chains go....... not treestand related but chain related..I bought new tire chains for my garden tractor that would be comparable to size as whats on the treestands and I need to cut them to fit the tires and while doing so was completely amazed at how easy the links broke at the chain welds!!!
Title: Re: Please look !
Post by: ti-guy on March 13, 2011, 10:57:00 AM
Post by: ti-guy on March 13, 2011, 10:57:00 AM
Ouf!
Title: Re: Please look !
Post by: Mack Marine on March 13, 2011, 12:00:00 PM
Post by: Mack Marine on March 13, 2011, 12:00:00 PM
My guess chain made in China about everything we buy now is made there. Looks like that link was never welded... You were luck each time on that stand!
Title: Re: Please look !
Post by: Ric O'Shay on March 13, 2011, 06:54:00 PM
Post by: Ric O'Shay on March 13, 2011, 06:54:00 PM
As the old saying goes, "A chain is only as strong as its weakest link." Problem is, we never know which is the weakest link and how strong it really is. Glad you didn't wake up on the ground and in pain.
Title: Re: Please look !
Post by: LONGSTYKES on March 13, 2011, 07:03:00 PM
Post by: LONGSTYKES on March 13, 2011, 07:03:00 PM
Pat, you are a lucky man. My hunting partner only has a limp, he is a lucky man. His stand broke and he went straight down. Always check your gear and stands, even when new.
Title: Re: Please look !
Post by: PAPA BEAR on March 13, 2011, 07:29:00 PM
Post by: PAPA BEAR on March 13, 2011, 07:29:00 PM
you really gotta watch import chain,some of it very weak.i bought a towchain once, made in korea stamped on it.it snapped the first time we tried to pull someones car with it..buy american when it comes to chain.or at the very least tac weld each link at the joint.
Title: Re: Please look !
Post by: EL Mejor on March 13, 2011, 11:08:00 PM
Post by: EL Mejor on March 13, 2011, 11:08:00 PM
EYE OPENER...THANKS FOR SHARING
Title: Re: Please look !
Post by: whitetail_downer100 on March 13, 2011, 11:50:00 PM
Post by: whitetail_downer100 on March 13, 2011, 11:50:00 PM
Great post thanks for getting everyones attention focused on a real issue that some of us have a hard time remembering (myself included)!
Title: Re: Please look !
Post by: legends1 on March 14, 2011, 01:26:00 AM
Post by: legends1 on March 14, 2011, 01:26:00 AM
Thanks,good advice.
Title: Re: Please look !
Post by: lpcjon2 on March 14, 2011, 06:18:00 AM
Post by: lpcjon2 on March 14, 2011, 06:18:00 AM
I always have a ratchet strap as well as the chain to secure the stands I hunt as a secondary fail safe.
Title: Re: Please look !
Post by: Friend on March 14, 2011, 09:22:00 AM
Post by: Friend on March 14, 2011, 09:22:00 AM
A worthy reminder that needs to be reviewed each season and every time we set-up, climb, sit-in, decend or take down a stand. Takes only one incident to possibly forever change or end our life. Others depend on us.
Thankful you are fine and found the issue.
Thankful you are fine and found the issue.
Title: Re: Please look !
Post by: Roy Steele on March 14, 2011, 09:22:00 AM
Post by: Roy Steele on March 14, 2011, 09:22:00 AM
That was close. I had a couple chain ons a while back. But still added a ratchet strap.I was a welder JUST NEVER TRUSTED WELDS WHEN IT CAN TO MY LIFE.
Title: Re: Please look !
Post by: Tim on March 14, 2011, 09:24:00 AM
Post by: Tim on March 14, 2011, 09:24:00 AM
Inspect not only for wear and tear but for foul play. !["[dntthnk]"]("graemlins/dntthnk.gif" "\"\"")
It's amazing what other hunters will do to spite their fellow hunters these days.
It's amazing what other hunters will do to spite their fellow hunters these days.
Title: Re: Please look !
Post by: landman on March 14, 2011, 09:25:00 AM
Post by: landman on March 14, 2011, 09:25:00 AM
I think i'd contact the manufacturer pretty quickly. I hunt in an area where theft is pretty common and I always use an additional chain with a lock to secure my stands. It's a good idea for safety reasons as well. Sure glad you weren't hurt.
Title: Re: Please look !
Post by: far rider on March 14, 2011, 09:47:00 AM
Post by: far rider on March 14, 2011, 09:47:00 AM
Man, oh man! Glad that happened on the ground.
Title: Re: Please look !
Post by: SEMO_HUNTER on March 14, 2011, 10:30:00 AM
Post by: SEMO_HUNTER on March 14, 2011, 10:30:00 AM
Might want to invest in some better quality chain?
I always go heavier than needed just for that reason alone. If I'm using nylon straps I go with beefier than needed, it may seem like over kill, but I'm a big boy and I don't leave anything to chance. I also change out my straps often and inspect them often.
Glad you weren't sitting in that stand when the link decided to give way.
I always go heavier than needed just for that reason alone. If I'm using nylon straps I go with beefier than needed, it may seem like over kill, but I'm a big boy and I don't leave anything to chance. I also change out my straps often and inspect them often.
Glad you weren't sitting in that stand when the link decided to give way.
Title: Re: Please look !
Post by: Bernie B. on March 14, 2011, 03:52:00 PM
Post by: Bernie B. on March 14, 2011, 03:52:00 PM
I guess that I take my stands for granted and don't pay enough attention to them each year. That will change this year! Glad you didn't have an accident, and thanks for the wake up call!
Bernie Bjorklund
NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin
Bernie Bjorklund
NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin
Title: Re: Please look !
Post by: Gen273 on March 14, 2011, 06:52:00 PM
Post by: Gen273 on March 14, 2011, 06:52:00 PM
Good Post, and Praise The Lord that you are ok.
Title: Re: Please look !
Post by: buckster on March 14, 2011, 09:50:00 PM
Post by: buckster on March 14, 2011, 09:50:00 PM
Sound advice, thanks.