Tree stand ladder conversion

The title doesn’t really explain what I am after in this post. I have hang on tree stands and stick ladders as our main hunting stands. The normal ladders are 20′ and that means the bottom of your hang on is at about 17′ above the ground. Deer seemed to be able to easily notice the “bump” on the tree that low. So I started buying more ladders to make them taller. Add one section and its a 24′ ladder and bottom of the stand is at 21′ and two sections and its a 28′ ladder and the bottom of the stand is at 25′. The change from17′ to 25′ really seemed to make a difference, at least to me.

Except the one stand I put as out and call the “Trail Stand”. It overhangs the access trail and you can see easily 100 yards each direction in gun season. The problem is it really does over hang the trail. The deer always seem to pop out of the woods and kind of do the super hero pose, like “Ta Da, I’m here” and pose before walking and munching some Multiflora buds on the edges of the trail. The huge blog of a person in the stand makes all the does instantly look like “What the hell is that?” then settle in as it doesn’t move.

But anyways I digress from the subject at hand. The ladders come with 5 sections, 1 top, 3 center and 1 bottom. The centers you just add to any ladder as you bought them. The bottom you need to cut off the cross bar and drill a hole for the hitch pin. The top doesn’t have the crimped end to be able to slide into the section to sit on top of it. So it cannot be used as a center section without being modified.

So Modification started above as you see. I used a sharpie and marked were the groove should be and where it should be cut. I cut the top cross top off and got ready to make the crimped section. The small brick chisel gets the groove started but is too aggressive and wants to start cutting the steel wall. The wider brick chisel worked best. Tap down the center and fold it in some. You need an anvil or other hard resounding surface to hit it on. Two sides are are easily done on the floor, but the two sides with the steps needs to be elevated. I have a railroad track anvil I got at yard sale and cleaned it up a bit. Keep going and turn 90° and do the next side and the next and the last. Keep going doing a bit on each side until it is all folded down and crimped to be able to fit into another ladder section.

Above the top section that was cut off is used as a test piece to verify it is crimped down enough and snuggly fits into the tube.

A factory top on the left and my home made crimp on the right. Now just paint it with truck bed liner, let it cure and put it out in the field.

Enjoy!