Is my treehouse safe?

[TNTractor1]

Well, I was all set to add some more lag bolts, but then I read about tree damage and many who suggested using as few lag bolts as possible in small areas of the tree. So still thinking about it... Thanks for all the comments

 

[MossflowerWoods]

Great Deer Stand... I like the way you designed / disguised it as a tree house to get the wife's approval :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

YEAH BABY!!!! That's what I'm talking about!

The other tack to take is my 12 year old daughter is interested in hunting, shooting, and that cute pink .20 shotgun...

Oh Yeah! She will share her treehouse/deerstand with dear old Dad...

 

[TNTractor1]

ok, need some engineering help. I have decided to add "safety chains" to my tree house to add a backup support in case the single lag bolt on each end of a plank should fail. To minimize tree damage, I plan to attach a chain a lag bolt (or eye lag bolt) about 4 feet above each plank end. So, an 8 foot chain will loop around the end of the plank and both ends will attach to a new bolt that is attached to the tree 4 feet above. This way I can minimize the # of new lag bolts and they are also farther away from the original lag bolts in the planks which I have read is better for the tree (in theory). My question is what would be the best way to attach the 2 chain ends to a single lag bolt or eye lag bolt? Or should I just say to heck with it and put an extra lag bolt through each plank end? :laughing: I like the idea of the safety chains because it is only a back-up support and not an active support. It would only really kick in if a bolt failed... so it's a separate system that is independent of the bolts that support the tree house. Is this sound reasoning? :confused2: Thanks!

what about this: http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_390612_390612

put the pin through the eye of the eye bolt with the pin also going through the ends of the chain? Or the hook over the bolt with the pin through the chain ends?

 

[JohninCT]

What about wrapping a length of chain around the tree just under where your deck supports bolt to the tree. Cross the chain under the deck and attach the chain ends to carriage bolts put through the sides of each deck support a couple of feet away from the tree. This will effectively make a like a chain choker around the tree. As options you could add turnbuckles to tension the chain and you could put the chain through a length of heater hose if you want to protect the tree bark.

 

[derek01]

I built a tree house for my kids 20 or so years ago very similar to what you did lasted long after they were done using it eventually the movement of the trees tore the attachments at the trees apart just made it easier to tear it down when the time was right nice job hope the kids enjoy like mine did.