Help me design a deer stand

[wiskioti]

Hello TBN'ers!

Exciting times are just around the corner for us Wisconsin TBN'ers! Yes, the annual gun deer season is fast approaching (it's always during the week of Thanksgiving).

Over the last couple years, I've wanted to build a tower-box blind that is portable. I have a couple sets of wagon running gear that I believe will make a good portable base. I've thought about just hammering together some simple walls with windows but I've started to look at the commercial box blinds that are available, and for the price, I don't think it's worth going any other way. Something like this:



Now, what I need help with is thinking of a way to be able to raise and lower that blind up to maybe 10 to 12 feet off the ground. I could build it right on the running gear but that would only be about 2.5 feet off the ground, and what fun would that be (insert Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor grunt HERE). I'm thinking that the ability to lower the platform will be crucial to being able to move the blind through the woods.

Help me out TNB'ers! How can I build a platform (with the blind attached) that can be raised and lowered?

 

[ruffdog]

Movable stands:

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/403147-moving-box-blinds.html

 

[Topzide]

Find a scissor man lift for sale. Make wide base axles for it. That helps with towing and tip over when extended to hunting heights. Keep it well greased to aid in noise. Always been an idea for me to build if I had property to hunt!

 

[Roadworthy]

Do you really need an enclosure? How about a light wight extension ladder and a platform in a tree?

 

[EddieWalker]

From what I've seen, people build the platform on it's side and then raise it into an upright position. If you are set on having it on a trailer, then I would design it so it so it's over the trailer when laid flat on it's side, and then when you raise it, it's off of the trailer and sitting on the ground. Probably have two legs on the end of the trailer and two legs off of the trailer. Probably need a winch to raise and lower it, but that is going to take a little thinking to figure out. Instead of a vehicle winch that only pulls, you will need one that lowers and pulls. I think they are used for bringing stuff up into an attic, but I forget what they are called. Looks like a winch, but it goes in both directions.

 

[zzvyb6]

They'll NEVER see you !

 

[Woodeye]

I bought that same Terrain two man five sided tree stand, last winter the snow collapsed the roof. I never saw that coming, now I will put a light weight jack post in the center and a ratchet strap around the very top of the walls after season is over. The blind wasn’t cheap, $700.00 at Fleet Farm. The roof is now 6” lower and the top of the side walls are bowed out.
We had an unusually heavy snow last year here in central Wisconsin, but still didn’t expect that.

 

[airbiscuit]

 

[airbiscuit]

 

[nyone]

$700 for basicly a large outhouse size building and the roof collapsed? Sounds like there not made very well.

As for the lift i would make it lift with a scissor style lift. It can be made from square tube just not sure how you would lift it and be silent. Mabe a hand pump hydraulic system. I guess you could always raise it all season and use a ladder to get in/out.