Treetom15

As the title suggests, is this something that can be done? I’m looking at getting a mk6 hilux as a tipper conversion, and noticed the max overall weight of the truck is fairly low. I know you can uprate newer trucks to 3.5t, but I wasn’t sure about the older ones (for ref the mk6 is approx 2010 age) 

Anyone out there in the know? 

Almost looks like a belay device with the release handle on the back. Made by Stein I would assume? 

How dare anyone suggest that brexit may have been a bad idea 🙃

4 minutes ago, trigger_andy said:

Perhaps it’s because these worthless parents are already being handed money to pay for the dragging up of their spawn including all their meals? If even then they refuse to feed their children and their only decent meal a day is a free school lunch then in my eyes that’s child abuse and these children should be taken into care. 
 

There is no accountability at all. Neglect and child abuse is rewarded not reprimanded resulting in another generation of feckless idiots who will repeat the process. 
 

 

I would argue the care system does more harm than good. Surely the best way to break the cycle is to educate and offer opportunities to those effected, not punish their children who only know the lifestyle they’ve been raised in? 
 

Look at our prison system-punishment often does nothing to deter people from poor actions, education & rehabilitation however does 

I really don’t understand why people are against the free school meals……

I appreciate that some of the parents and their benefit claims are “questionable” but that does not mean their child should suffer? At the end of the day it means a hungry child gets fed. Take any politics, “parents should know better” out of the equation, it is literally that simple. And punishing a child because their parents don’t/can’t provide for them is very cruel. 

6 hours ago, AA Teccie (Paul) said:

The "backup system" in this situation would likely be your flip line (in addition to your climbing line.) 

In reference to that, I have been told that both ends of you climbing lines must be able to reach the floor, so your lanyard wouldn’t be appropriate? 

@AA Teccie (Paul)

Thanks for being so open and replying to everyone👍
Do you think that the AA will ever be open to a re working of the 2 rope working method, and in doing so this would help towards making it non compulsory (at least in the eyes of the HSE)? It just seems to be so widely disregarded, surely it would be good to have a middle ground that the majority of staff would actually stick to?

I have just finished working for a fairly large firm, AA approved etc. Not a single member of staff used 2 ropes, and this isn’t to knock any of them but it simply wasn’t practical. Especially when the majority of the work is crown lifts, small/medium section fells….

Personally, I have used 2 ropes whilst climbing but probably less than 10 times in my whole time climbing-as someone above said only when you’re traversing from an anchor point into an adjacent tree, or on a very long limb walk. 

I don’t understand why it isn’t just a recommendation, rather than insisted on, as surely the AA know 90% of contractors don’t use it or enforce it? 
 

Also regarding the AA, I’ve always been confused as to how a company can be arb approved when they only audit 1 team on 1 day? I know there must be more to it, but some of the worst working practice I’ve seen is from approved contractors……

4 hours ago, bigtreedon said:

Are we really going to say 1 handing is something that experienced climbers don't or shouldn't do

I never said don’t/shouldn’t do. I just find it odd that he feels the need to make videos that are purely pro-1 handing, we all do it from time to time but no need to make such a big deal from it? 

20 hours ago, maybelateron said:

Do you include August Hunnicke in the 99%?

Depends. The guy is clearly brave/experienced etc and some stuff is very skilled-however some is pretty questionable (a lot of 1 handing etc). The only person worth watching for learning IMO is Reg. 
 

Honestly, 99% of American arb videos are worth avoiding. The fact he’s used a “bucket truck” for a tree like that says a lot in itself

I know a few people who used to used to use a system like this (with a ZZ before the chicane came out) personally it looks like you’ll have to tend the wrench every time you stop ascending away from your hitch/zz etc.  

For not a lot of money this looks like a good option-

Simarghu Double Leg Tether - Honey Brothers

HONEYBROS.COM

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Simarghu Double Leg Tether from Honey Brothers. The largest equipment specialist in the tree care industry.

I don’t think it’ll put you in massive amounts of danger, but for the sake of a few quid it would be a much smoother setup with something like the above

Would the Yale Blaze work well with a ZZ/chicane? I know it’s smaller than the recommended size for them but just wondering if anyone had any experience using them on it 

I’m in this position now with exactly the same 2 ropes mate-what conclusion did you come to?

Quick update- spoke to the local councils tree dept this morning, turns out the customers house is NOT in a conservation area, so happy days. All hassle saved by a 5 minute call

1 hour ago, Doug Tait said:

Be interesting to hear his reaction to what you've said...

Oddly enough, he was absolutely fine…which makes me wonder why he was so adamant about ignoring it in the first place. I think perhaps as I’ve offered to do the legwork he’s happy with that, either way he’ll he getting the bill for it!

Contacted him and have said either we do it correctly or I won’t carry out the work-I’m thinking there may be more issues underlying and as a lot of you have said, it won’t take much to ruin a reputation. 
And as said above, no not new to the industry but I usually sub to company’s or work direct, so this aspect of it isn’t something I usually deal with. 

I’ll speak to the council Monday, I’m hoping as they’re mostly self set trees they shouldn’t have any preservation orders on them. It could be a quick way to ruin a reputation and I don’t want that sh1t on my doorstep!

Definitely not crazy money-however the chap is minted and insisted that any fines he would pay. Best thing I can think is to speak to the local TO Monday and see what they say?

Hi all

As the title suggests, I’ve been asked to remove a couple of trees in (what I think) is a conservation area. Now I know usually there should be an application with the local council etc etc….however, the homeowner is certain he doesn’t want to go down that rout, he says all the neighbours are in agreement that the tree (s) should be removed (medium cherry tree, causing damage to parking space etc, no more than 30ft) and he is completely happy to pay any fines etc should they be incurred. 
 

Basically my question is, if I carry out the work am I liable if I have advised the homeowner to do the relevant applications and checks and they haven’t done them? I don’t want to do the work if I will get fined, I’m not sure if I would be if he has said he will sort any fines (should it come to that)

I want to keep it tidy and above board, but the customer was very sure he did NOT want to speak to council TO’s🤷‍♂️

Sorry just answered my own question-didn’t spot the strap with hook in the link! Looks like a great idea in that case!

1 hour ago, ledders666 said:

So I've done some research and come up with this as a reasonably priced alternative to the winch the Stein use
 

BHW Brake Hand Winch - Tiger Lifting

WWW.TIGERLIFTING.COM

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It has a 1200lbs lift, a little less than steins theirs is 1500lbs. but a slightly faster ratio to wind it in at 4.1:1. Steins is 5.1:1. And importantly an automatic brake so the load stay up.
I found all the winch info on a Reg coates video detailing the RCW3001 winch. And this is the closest I can find for a low a cost as possible.

You can get the tiger winch for a out £70 inc VAT and postage.

So I'm going for one of those so then it will be a case of cutting the top bit of the bollard and fabricating a mount for it.

I'll keep posting progress

 

The only issue I could see (and I’m probably wrong) is that you would have to wind your rope onto the drum to Add tension-how Will you then add wraps onto the bollard to lower the piece as you can’t lower it on the winch? 

I’d been considering doing similar with my rc2001 and using something like this-

Pull Winch 4000kg

WWW.TOOLSTATION.COM

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Perfect for manoeuvring vehicles, large industrial equipment, crates and other heavy objects. This multipurpose 4...

Not sure how much lift you would get but it would work well enough with a prussik on the rigging rope, and you could back it off once the pre tension is on? 

38 minutes ago, Big J said:

 

Quality construction is entirely possible (see most of the rest of Europe) but the housing lobby is very strong here in the UK and any regulation that enforces better building regulations is bitterly resisted. 

 

The other fundamental issue is that we (as a nation) don't have a track record of valuing efficiency and quality in our houses. We treat them as investments, not homes, and whereas spending £30k on a house to save £50k in bills over 30 years makes perfect sense, it's not realised in the market value of the home, so it's rarely done. 

 

Many green technologies need a bit of space too. So geothermal boilers are a bit bigger, well insulated walls are thicker and external heat exchangers need a suitable location outside the property. The way that new houses are packed in, it doesn't allow much space for these things.

 

But you are right though. The cost difference between a well constructed house and a typical British house isn't that much. Until planning laws are completely overhauled so as to advantage self builders and people stop treating housing as an investment, we're doomed to living in the smallest and least environmentally efficient houses in Northern Europe.

Very good point re how we treat houses- our build (due to the financial cap on the resale price) will mean that to build we would be in negative equity should we want to sell it in the future; the bonus is we don’t want to sell it, so will happily spend more than it would be worth as the money/energy saved in the long run. 
Also spot on about space saving etc-our walls are approx 400mm of insulation, plus provision externally for the ASHP, plus all the additional things that go with that (larger hot water tank etc), which again could quite easily be introduced by building companies but it would definitely impact on the way In which they squeeze every mm out of the building plots. 
 

Personally, I think people who own 2nd, 3rd homes and/or rentals etc should be taxed far higher than they are. There is no need for one person to own so much property, especially when the replacements being built is so poor

21 hours ago, Dan said:

I was talking to a friend (who is often in the know) today about the energy ratings on houses and how poorly insulated most of the housing stock is here in the uk. He thinks that the government aren't going to regulate the house builders and landlords, but they are looking at telling mortgage lenders that their portfolios must have an average c rating across all properties. Its and interesting thought thats for sure. 

Surely it would make so much more sense to insure that the houses being built meet a good standard rather than trying to encourage people to buy from a smaller number of properties? I refuse to believe that construction companies couldn’t afford to build a house with slightly better insulation, solar PV, ground source heating etc?