Adjustable bridge on Treemotion

RyanCafferky

RyanCafferky

Been here a while
Location
Hood River, Oregon
Has anyone else made their bridge adjustable length on the Treemotion? One of my friends showed me his idea of making it adjustable by putting a Wild Country Ropeman ascender on the bridge and connecting it to the leg loop d-ring with a quicklink. I tried it out today and found it to be really nice.

Then when you are walking around or ascending SRT you shorten up the bridge and then lengthen it when you are working DRT. Because of how it is set up you don't even have to change out the green cord on it though I probably will just to get a swivel on there.

I am loving this saddle. Worth every penny.
 
I tried that with my Bashlin X saddle, it works great....BUT....you must terminate the rope bridge with a STOPPER knot, in the event the ropeman fails.
 
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Has anyone else made their bridge adjustable length on the Treemotion? One of my friends showed me his idea of making it adjustable by putting a Wild Country Ropeman ascender on the bridge and connecting it to the leg loop d-ring with a quicklink. I tried it out today and found it to be really nice.

Then when you are walking around or ascending SRT you shorten up the bridge and then lengthen it when you are working DRT. Because of how it is set up you don't even have to change out the green cord on it though I probably will just to get a swivel on there.

I am loving this saddle. Worth every penny.

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There are two ropeman versions. One tests weaker than the other. I've seen another version that bolts the ropeman the other side with no quick link, to butt up against the ring. The following comments are regarding the use of a ropeman for primary support this way.

Just ask yourself if you are happy working off of an ascender that has an unknown quantity with this type of application. It could shred the rope bridge at loads over 4kN, with little room to run, possibly causing shearing when hitting the knot. Then again, it may not work properly at all. The ropeman was tested on specific diameter kernmantle rope - what rope do you have as a bridge? Will the device work as tested? How does the device work when loaded from the top, butting against the rings?

The reason I mention is because I am aware of a fatality involving a ropeman in tree work recently.

This ascender is designed as emergency back up, with other control measures. In SRT you have other controls, not a single ascender.

When inspecting lanyards with these as adjusters, the spring doesn't return after some time left on the lanyard. Also, there is no way to back off the device if an excessive force is applied.

Yes, it has a real nice effect in this application. But consider the pitfalls for your primary life support.
 
i have the ropeman set just like you said but ive got mine held in place with a tie wrap. its temporary while i play around with the length. laz, i hear the safety issue, i guess thats down to wether or not a person wants to take the risk. my own take on it is unless you fall with slack in your line you're not going to put too much force on the ropeman....and if you're climbing with too much slack in your rope you're climbing wrong anyway. maybe im wrong, lke i said, thats my personal risk assessment.
that aside, it does work really well.
 
It never ceases to amaze me how we can have technical debate on TB about such things as harnesses not being strong enough if each component doesn't meet 5000#, or two ascenders being enough for security or one ascender and a prusik. But then debate that trusting a 4kN rated ascender as primary life support is somehow OK???

The hardest lesson for me to learn, is:

Lemmings WILL leap.
frown.gif


Too many decisions are made from the heart instead of the head. In an occupation with no back up and other compounding risks, thats a recipe for disaster.
 
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I tried that with my Bashlin X saddle, it works great....BUT....you must terminate the rope bridge with a STOPPER knot, in the event the ropeman fails.

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<font color="red"> NOoooooooooooooo </font>

And NO BUT....

The harness is certified while using the in the manual mentioned "bridge" specifications.
The rope used is a "high tech" rope. This rope is VERY strong BUT.... The only way you, as an end user, are allowed to use it is by termination through the front "D rings" with the properly dressed stopper knot specified in the manual.

The use as specified ensures no sharp edges and bends on the rope. That's something essential/critical to that specified rope/treemotion/bridge application.

Tell me. What's the use in making a correct stopper knot behind a "sharp knive" (whether it's a incorrect stopper knot with a too sharp bend or a mechanical device).

Pull the Treemotion "waist belt" all the way open.
Step through the leg loops.
Put the Treemotion low, and I mean really LOW around your hips (just above your buttocks) and close and adjust the buckle.
Close the leg loop buckles.
Adjust the shock cords that go from the back support towards the leg loops so that the leg loops cradle nicely onto your legs directly under your buttocks.
Adjust the leg loops to a nice snug fit.
I've adjusted the stopper knots on the rope bridge so that the front "D rings" align the outside of my hips.
Adjust the "Ajustable length link" so that the bridge is in YOUR favorite hight (on mine the both ends on both sides are about 3-4 inches).

No need for a adjustable rope bridge for me!!!

This is not even five minutes of adjusting by yourself and it's the most confy saddle you've been in.
 
Steve!!!!!!! No!!!!!!!

Read my last post PLEASE!!!!!!!

A rope is not just "a rope".
In the green rope is a core of (don't hit me if I am wrong) Dyneema fibers. It's amazingly strong along the fibers, but less on a sharp edge or in a sharp bend.
 
ok im re-evaluating this as i have it set to where i want it now anyway. i believe i did say this was temp to decide the length of the brodge.
 
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The rope used is a "high tech" rope. This rope is VERY strong BUT.... The only way you, as an end user, are allowed to use it is by termination through the front "D rings" with the properly dressed stopper knot specified in the manual.

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What stopper knot is specified here? Just curious.
 
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the ropeman is attached to the primary life support, it isnt the primary life support itself

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Steve, I'm not trying to give you a hard time, but your system is only as strong as its weakest link. And generating a 4kn force isn't too difficult in a working situation, hence why EN813 includes a drop test. This application voids that testing procedure. As already stated, some high modulus fibres don't suffer flex fatigue too well either.

I don't believe the benefits out weigh the risks on this one, testing, competing or working. I think the TCC inspectors should take note of the issue.

Take care
P.
 
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I'll have to readjust my TM again. I didn't realize that you could adjust it enough to make the bridge change in length. So, you suggest wearing it very low and tight on the legs?

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Mark, you being the caliber climber you are I am curious of your thoughts on the Tremotion. I have had mine for about 3 weeks now. I only work part time but so far it is everything that Sherrill claims!!!
 
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