Yup Tom I am all for the third arm too! Just so you guys don't think I am a freak of nature, the first few times I used the RAD set-up, I took the foot loop (prussik cord) and tied a 4 coil prussik above the gri-gri. I repelled down the length of the cord using moss's 2 handed approach. I then reached up and slid the prussik hitch down, then repeat. I think most of us OLD climbers have trust issues with new technique and equipment UNTIL we use it for a while.
As of yesterday, there is another convert. My son, who works for a Utility trimming Co. is really excited about setting up his own RAD system.
As I have quite a selection of saddles, we tried a comparison between a leg strap saddle (Weaver 1038 w/2 floating D's) and a butt board saddle (Petzl miniboss). We were both of the opinion that the butt board, made the acsent easier. This of course goes against the thinking that a leg strap saddle is easier to get around the crown of a tree to prune.
I have spent about two months tinkering with the RAD system, and have even done a comparison on the three systems (DbRT/SRT/Hybrid). Each has its own merits, and IMO the climber should select the system which will make working the tree, as efficient as possible. For instance it would be redundant to set up a hybrid system to climb up 30 feet and remove 1 little hanger.
The reason I started exploring the RAD system is that I wasn't using my legs as efficiently as possible. Because of a major accident (NOT tree related) I am unable to footlock. I actually had a tree to work early this summer, that had a 8" diameter fail at the trunk. The limb tip landed on the roof of a cabin, and was still attached by a few fibres at the trunk. As I had only heard about the RAD system, it wasn't an option. I used a DbRT set-up to climb the side opposite of the trunk. If I had of used the RAD system, I could have accessed the tree many feet away from the swing path of the limb, kinda like my old Karate instructor used to say, "best defence is NOT to be there".
I was trying to figure out what was the most efficient system from that other thread. I have come to the conclusion that it is the system that keeps the INDIVIDUAL climbers energy level reserve high.
I am probably WRONG!
