Ropetek Wraptor

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Of course the naysayers are young and new to industry, "footlocking is fun" (lol), give it a few years gang. Start dealing with some degenerative joints or muscles on a daily basis, then tell me what a joke the wraptor is.

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I'm one of those who thinks footlocking is fun but I'm not a naysayer on the Wraptor, I think it's one the best innovations in tree work ever. Climbing straight up a rope is cool, I don't care how you do it.
 
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Mine came in the mail today!

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When did you order cuz Paul told me he was waiting for rope walkers. Congrat's !!!

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I ordered mine just a few days ago. I see your's is on it's way. I'll be flying mine later this afternoon!

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Oh sure rub it in!!


Let me know how it went!!
 
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Mine came in the mail today!

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When did you order cuz Paul told me he was waiting for rope walkers. Congrat's !!!

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I ordered mine just a few days ago. I see your's is on it's way. I'll be flying mine later this afternoon!

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Who did you order it from Treeco?? Wasnt aware anybody else kept them in stock, maybe American Arborist??
 
OK, got it, was it you I talked to the other evening?

Keep us informed as to your experience with your unit.

Paul Cox
 
I think the question that needs to be asked is... "what do you not like about the wraptor?". I can say that I would love to have a powered ascender, as I'm sure many climbers would. However for the price, I need to make sure that I am making a smart investment. Does it break down? What is the fuel consumption? Can I use it in Cali? I don't really know the right questions to ask since I haven't seen one in front of me. Please to those who own one, what would you change? What do you wish it had or what would you change?
 
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Im wondering about the clutch.
I rode it once and was told by the instructor not to 1/2 throttle it because it was hard on it somehow.

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Likely it is because the clutch is a centrifugal clutch and at low engine rpm it doesn't fully engage...and slips. Chainsaws, hedge trimmers etc. are all like that and at rpm below full engage they heat up and wear a lot. There is also some type of braking system involved and Paul will have to explain.
 
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OK, got it, was it you I talked to the other evening?

Keep us informed as to your experience with your unit.

Paul Cox

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Yes, that was me that called. I still haven't got a chance to ride it yet! Maybe tomorrow.
 
To date we have over 70 units out there, first one SOLD was Feb 09, almost 2 years ago. To date the we have not had any real issues reported. Clutches have not been an issue, I am anal about keeping equipment running for as long as possible and it grates on me when a new Wraptorer creeps up the rope at 1/4 throttle just slipping the clutch the whole way. If the clutch is fully engaged there is no wear. The most common complaint I hear is they are too noisy, so I wish they were quieter, this complaint is commonly from researchers and such who are used to a serene workplaces.

I hear the complaint often that they are too expensive, however they are expensive to make because they are made in the US by skilled machinists in very limited production runs and it is VERY expensive to insure. One thing I have kept a priority is quality of workmanship as peoples lives literally depend on this. When demand increases for these devices and the chinese knock them off then the prices will drop and Ropetek will no longer be competitive, however trust me Wraptors will always be made in the US by craftsmen that I can meet face to face who pride themselves on their work. I have a lot invested in this project, well a lot for a tree guy, and have still a long way to go before I even get close to recouping my investment. The most satisfying part of this whole process has been talking to our customers who have become completely addicted (read lazy) just like myself

I used to bodythrust up a 60' pitch in a tree in my yard daily to keep in shape. Now at 42 my back hurts my elbows hurt and all my friends are struggling with repetitive injuries that are pushing them out of the business. I now climb trees to make money to support my family and have a lot of tools to enable me to keep in the game longer, I roll in the morning with a wheel loader with a grapple on it for dragging brush/chipping, a knuckle boom for logs and we frequently utilize a crane. If I see a method of making our job easier I will utilize it, the Wraptor is merely another tool that makes 1 specific job easier. Is it worth $2500?? To me the increased productivity and my longevity in the business says yes but remember I also spend a lot of money on other much more expensive tools.....
 
I have to find the pictures from when I demo'd Paul's unit. I definitely cut 1/2 a day off of deadwooding 5 90-100' doug-firs for my two-man crew. Due to the Wraptor, we were able to finish it in one day, saving set-up/ pack-up and two way travel, so while it was only maybe a 1.5-2 hour work saving, I was able to move us to another full day job the next day.

I don't think it is as loud as a top-handle chainsaw, and you'll have earpro anyhow, so noise isn't really a factor for arborists.

My energy and joint strain saved were great.

I would like to find a good case or bin to fit it into for storage in the truck.

When I can afford one, I'll have one.
 
Just had my first flight the other day and MAN that thing is SWEET! 65 foot tie in, lots of power(weigh 210 lbs empty), soo fun wanted to come down and do it again. Can't wait for the up and coming dead wooding jobs. Life's Good!!

Yes me too looking for hard case for the unit.
 
Like a lot of tree tools, its not something that I'd use everyday. I've used my winch on two jobs so far each time getting the jobs done safer, easier, and faster than without. The same happened when I used a Wraptor.

If I had a couple people around here that could go together on one, until the increased productivity paid it off, then work on getting another one within the group, so less sharing time conflicts, it would be easier to afford, up front.

Being a small time operation, to come up with the $$ for the initial investment is tough, but I'm sure it will pay for itself in time, much like a miniskid, that few argue makes work more productive, and more importantly, more profitable, and less straining on the body.

If you guys could co-finance with other people, I bet it would be worth it, until it paid for itself, and you would want you own to use any day you wanted, with no driving back and forth to pick it up, and no scheduling when its available.
 
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