vt and a hitch climber

[tree md]

Another thing you might try, when you get the length all figured out: get your VT all set up, hold the pulley in between the two fisherman's knots, then pin the whole assembly with just one carabiner.

Less metal in the way, and it presses the tail of the rope into the pulley very nicely. Then roll the carabiner around so that throat opens on the downward side, and then you have only one carabiner holding the whole mess together...and it is still available for attaching to whatever you want to hang from it.

Look real close, and that is pretty close to how it is rigged in the starting photo to this thread, before you add the "hitch climber" parts.

I don't know what thread it was in, but I learned that little trick here on AS.

Capitol Idea!!!:yoyo:

 

[Ghillie]

Capitol Idea!!!:yoyo:

He explained it a lot better than I did. I guess I should be a man of a few more words.

 

[Adkpk]

The load end hitch is what advances the tending pulley, as the load end goes up the hitch raises bringing the pulley and your climbing hitch with it. Not sure why two biners though.

I think I need the second biner in order to detach the prusik after the ascent.

I think he has it set up as an extended bridge. the terminal end of the line runs down through his attachment on the saddle and up to the lower biner. the third biner is for attachment of the prusik keeping the hitch climber rig from getting out of reach while hip thrusting.

Thanks Ghillie, this is true. I was so tired last night I had no strength to write it all down. And now I am late for work but hope to get a better pic and more explanation.

I think I saw that in the PDF link JPS put up on the hitch climber. Looks like Adkpk has been studying!

Big thanks tree md. I am fascinated with tree work and life and strength of trees, lately. I appreciate you pointing it out.

 

[canopyboy]

I recently started using the VT as well and absolutely love it. I keep it real short though compared to most I've seen. The prusik is about 27" eye-to-eye on 7/16" line. I only use one biner. The whole thing stretches out less than 12" when loaded. I started with the pulley between the two prusik eyes on the biner, but also found a snap directly to the rope worked just as well for me. No problems at all with it grabbing if I'm not touching the knot (had more problems with it before shortening). And of course as soon as you just tickle the knot it will move for you like no other knot I've tried. Did I mention that I love it?

 

[Tree Pig]

I think I need the second biner in order to detach the prusik after the ascent.

ya but there is two above the pulley wouldnt one do the same thing.

 

[masiman]

I think he has it set up as an extended bridge. the terminal end of the line runs down through his attachment on the saddle and up to the lower biner. the third biner is for attachment of the prusik keeping the hitch climber rig from getting out of reach while hip thrusting.

Thanks Stihl-o-matic and Ghillie.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

what technique you climbing with that looks like a huge pull to take up slack and advance the not any.

Looks like 3x the cordage needed.

 

[tree md]

Thanks for the advice Treeco. I really appreciate it. I would go out and try to work with it today to get it dialed in but it won't stop raining!!!

 

[tree md]

Ha, so far I have shed a biner and a micro-pulley from this setup. I like it when you can simplify things in your climbing system!

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Your tress cord is way too long! It needs about eight inches off of each leg, IMO. See attached picture.

I'd take 18 off of one side

 

[tree md]

I'd take 18 off of one side

That's why I like tied eyes, easier to adjust for needed length.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[Ghillie]

ya but there is two above the pulley wouldnt one do the same thing.

If you have the third 'biner attaching your "length minding prusik", you do not have to open your loaded line and system to change it. That way you never have an open biner that may become suddenly loaded. IE... you don't have to make a second attachment point to remove that prusik.

hmmmm...... why would you need to remove that prusik unless you are attaching directly to your harness and opening up the system anyway??

Alas, I have confused myself.

 

[Bermie]

I really don't see why you need that third biner at the top.
If you need to lengthen the setup initially and temporarily to enable a good reach for hip thrusting, just use a loop runner at the bottom, then take it out once you get up to your tip.

I hand over hand the slack above the VT for few feet, then pull the slack through, once I'm up a reasonable distance the weight of the rope pulls it through, it also works well with a pantin.

I agree though, its 'da bomb' for branch walking and manouvering in the canopy.

The hichclimber is the next evolution from just a single hole slack tending pulley, it looks like a lot of kit but it really doesn't get in the way or cause any additional problems than just a single biner and pulley.

 

[LTREES]

Thanks fellas, I learned something here. I will try the load prussic out tomorrow. I have been using the VT for about a month and really like it. I use a 30" prussic cord, just picked the cheap one to try it. I would like to go shorter yet, and try a better grade of cord.

LT...

 

[tree md]

I shortened mine up with about 4 or 5 inches of tail behind each of my double fisherman's knots and it seems to be grabbing a little better on the line. That's just playing around on the ground though. I have to grind stumps tomorrow and it's supposed to rain some more this weekend so I won't get a chance to climb on it until I do a large removal I have scheduled for next week. I've got three braids under 4 coils right now but will take one out if need be. I'll trim the ends of the prussic once I get it dialed in. Thanks for the advice all. I'll take some more pics and let you guys tell me if it looks OK later.

 

[oldirty]

one too many biners bob. and i thought you hated that thing?! lol


i also am not really getting how you are running it but that's cool. where'd you see it set up like that?

i clip the bottom biner to my bridge and run the prussic ( martin) off that same biner. then in the second hole i clip the biner that i deadend to. i do not have a spliced climbing line and i find the scaffold/double fisherman knot that i terminate with gets in the way if in the first hole (top hole if looking down at it) when the knot is trying to set it self. so i go with the top hole open.

i am thinking that if you run it they same way your spliced eye can go in the top hole no problem.

also as bermie said, if i want to get some serious hand over hand going add a sling and biner. cow hitch to the bottom biner of the hitchclimber and clip the slinged biner to your bridge. bang, hand over hand like crazy.

that said. i absolutely love to footlock this thing as is on my bridge. all you are doing is holding the rope because its your feet that are pulling the slack. its the bomb for just hopping on your rig and going.

have fun with that thing man. stay safe!

 

[Adkpk]

one too many biners bob. and i thought you hated that thing?! lol


i also am not really getting how you are running it but that's cool. where'd you see it set up like that?

Ya know, I did send the first one back. But then I needed to do a traverse (and still need to that traverse). I was searching for ideas and wound up on the treemagineers, hitch climber web site. Once I saw how you keep it out of your face by setting it up like in my pic I wanted to try again. I honestly didn't think there was hope for me to hip thrust up a tree and was amazed at how easily I got to where I did on my first attempt.

I've yet to use it for limb walking. But see how well the hitch performs compared to a blakes. If it is not set it will run but once you get it set it's quite a danty knot.

I am working on the setup and will post when I get it straight.

 

[oldirty]

is the dead end (spliced end) of your rope going under your bridge and then clipping to the biner?

 

[Adkpk]

is the dead end (spliced end) of your rope going under your bridge and then clipping to the biner?

Ya. Look it up, google treemagineers, hitch climber and scroll down a bit till you see the different uses for the thing.

 

[oldirty]

i shall.