Mr. Squirrel

Truth.

The delivery times are mental. I ordered in January, deposit paid and all that, and was told June. Checked a few weeks later and was told October. In January. I politely told them they could find one sooner or I'd go elsewhere and surprisingly it actually worked.

Picked mine up in March, I got it on the 0% PCP with a 15% discount from the dealer. It drives and pulls really nice, and it's a very comfy truck. The auto is really nice, if a bit revvy sometimes. I really like it, however it does feel a little half finished sometimes...There's a two pin socket in the arm rest which is a bit odd, the load bed on mine is squint and the gaps around the tailgate are so big that getting anything like a seal with a canopy is proving very challenging. Being my first pickup I think it's crazy thirsty too. I used to average about 37mpg in my transit custom, closer to 50 on long burns down the motorway. currently getting 27-28mpg in the hilux 😬

If you actually want to be a climber then doing your time on the ground will be important and worth it. It isn't great but you could do far worse in my opinion. If the cost of tickets and the poor initial wages (and to be fair relatively poor wages long term) put you off then I'd just not bother.

I'd imagine that a 6-7 year old length of rope would be much stiffer than a brand new piece. Worth speaking to the supplier but I doubt there is anything amiss...

Ah right. In terms of the rope being flat, this is pretty common in new ropes when they come off the reel. Nothing to worry about and it'll sort itself out within a few weeks generally. Double braid ropes are pretty baggy and so if you can pinch it that tight along the entire length I'd say it's likely just down to the loose construction, rather than being core damage. Check the recall notice mentioned but I wouldn't be concerned about that. Regardless however, I doubt you'll have much luck returning a used rope...

Sorry to say but I'd expect any self respecting retailer to tell you to do one.

It’s honestly not an issue at all. If anything they’re better. Really nice for putting them on up a tree.

Yeah man, because you’re a comic genius 🤨

Euro gaffs are awful. If you think you're gaffing out now be prepared for a shocker with those. I switched from alloy distels with velcro to the new distel carbon click ones last year and they're worth the extra imo. Never liked the velcro, and always found the tension on leather straps a bit 'all or nothing' the clicks are perfect. Had my alloy ones ten years and they were fine, but everything about the new carbon ones is better so far.

Nice job man. Did you do much in the way of reduction as well? I agree 100%, some fairly simple steps to keep an old tree in the game a bit longer are for more enjoyable, and admirable, than any big rigging jobs. In my mind anyway. Good work ✊🏻

That’s funny, I used the spiderjack for years then tried the zig zag. Thought the zz was really on/off and jerky. I don’t use either nowadays, but the spiderjack is a better built, more predictable piece of kit in my opinion. You can also replace every part of it.

I just used to use any old leather rigger gloves. They're only going to get nakerd anyway. I tend not to bother with gloves these days though. Let the rigging device do the work, it's why it's there.

Black diamond haul bags/arbortec cobra style ones. Can fit rope + portawrap in them easy. Same as Mark my bollard/winch live in boxes and they’re annoying to carry. But they always will be. No point packing a portawrap with a 16mm rope really. If you actually need that rope then you need a bigger device. And it probably won’t park or carry very pleasantly.

You need EL if you're paying someone else. It's a legal requirement. PL is more of a moral requirement, but you'd have to be daft to do our work without it. Premiums are based to some degree on turnover, so if you're only doing bits and pieces the cost should reflect that. You gotta pay to play unfortunately. That's the rules.

I’ve done a load of fiddling with db splicing for hitch cords and come up with a splice that works really well and breaks high. Definitely not in line with manufacturer or any other splicing instructions though... Best starting out on scrap rope, then try a lanyard. Don’t rush it.

Jesus. That’s grim.

Hey, if you're concerned enough about it that you feel you have to use a second system, and you're only wanting to tick the box then it seems a good enough solution. Smoke and mirrors like, but I guess it'll get in your way less.

A positional strop is a no brainer, and I can't imagine not using one. I can see their thought process, but it feels like a great deal of energy invested in the wrong area to me. A couple of recurring themes in those accidents are branches breaking and not having a stopper knot. I imagine that the sort of people who put their main attachment on branches small enough to snap under their weight will continue to find ways of maiming themselves. That said. I wonder if we as individuals are somewhat complicit by not calling out people when we've felt they've been taking unnecessary risks. Eg. I've seen guys lanyard in to a small branch while advancing their climbing line, when they could've just as easily gone round the stem. It's probably strong enough, but why take the risk? Does the general attitude of letting people do it their way as it's worked for them so far let us down as an industry? I would guess yes... I'm in it for the long haul and will continue to focus on safer, more ergonomic methods of working. Two ropes is wallpapering over the cracks in the walls rather than looking at the issue, imo. I don't debate the position we're in legally, but I feel the supporting argument for it lacks substance and insight, and after careful consideration can't adopt these methods purely to maintain compliance.

I don’t understand why you’re getting in such a tizzy about two ropes paddy. On your average job they won’t magically make you any safer. Nor will omitting to use two ropes make your working day any more dangerous. People need to slow down and think about their limits. Safe working requires confidence and composure gained from years of experience and the knowledge and skill that goes with that. Not an extra rope.

I think you've go the right idea there. Certainly with council owned trees, if you aren't annoying anyone or giving them cause to ring the police I can't imagine you having an issue. A friend used to climb in council parks, he'd just chuck some signs out and get on with it.

Doesn't sound awfully positive! I wonder if they've sorted these niggles with the 19/20 facelift, 2L models... I imagine part of it is bad luck. My transit custom has 85,000 on it now and the only issue I've had is the key fob, the battery in which is non-user replaceable. I've met others who passionately hate the custom, so there's always a bad egg. The ordeal you had in getting it sorted though sounds extremely off putting...

Digging up an old on Pete, but how's this been? I've been looking at Rangers then came across this. Ha!

I would imagine costs would be included in the tm companies quote? Whenever I’ve used tm (granted only every needed single lane closure) it’s included informing council and sorting out paperwork and been considerably less than that.

I’ve no idea about the peculiar fitting, pretty sure that went straight in the bin for me. It’s an odd concept though isn’t it? I really easy to use no leak nozzle that you... take off after every use? 🤔 I’ve been lucky and have never really had issues with the auto fill nozzles. Think one of my oil ones is nearly ten years old. But I’m using it myself mostly, rather than employees.