Thoughts on my DRT rig?

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Hellanon

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Manufacturers suggest not using a knot to connect the hitch climber pulley as it can hang in the top of the prusik.

Well this setup cures that and gives me the added advanage of an adjustable bridge to hitch distance.
I run a short non-adjustable bridge.

When you pull/thrust the DMM carabiner pulls up. It tends the hitch. When you let off the DMM pivots away and down.
With the VT variation I use the clove hitch does not contact the prusik.

I can also lanyard in, unclip my saddle, unclip the clove hitch, clip a beanbag with my saddle end beaner, tend slack, and toss my line over the next limb.

I have experimented a lot with variations. I like this best.
Anyone see any reason why this isn't fine and great?

0315201727~2.jpg0315201733.jpg0315201754.jpg
The second pic is the angle it sits to the hitch with weight.
The third pic is how it sets while tending.
 
The only disadvantage I see is you lose a bit of your stroke. Not much at all and not really noticably
 
Looks good to me. Adds a little bit of time and fiddling if you're moving past branches frequently. Depends on the trees you work.
 
A couple thoughts:
1. It doesn't look to me like the hitch will auto tend as you're pulling yourself up unless your hitch is loose or there is a lot of weight on your rope tail, possibly causing you to manually tend as normal.
2. Looks like a lot of fidgeting to get over branches on your ascent. I might keep a carabiner permanently attached to the clove and just snap it in and out of the middle ring on the hitch climber pulley for crossing over branches.
3. Your hitch climber pulley seems very far away from your bridge attachment point. I like mine low and tight, allowing for quick and easy slack tending right down by my hip where it is consistent and much easier on the arms.
Those are just my thoughts and I could be wrong, just sharing them. I run a zigzag most of the time because it self tends anyways above say 10ft up and it keeps my MRS (DRT) system simple, fast, consistent, and clean. It's a great investment in my opinion.
 
A couple thoughts:
1. It doesn't look to me like the hitch will auto tend as you're pulling yourself up unless your hitch is loose or there is a lot of weight on your rope tail, possibly causing you to manually tend as normal.
2. Looks like a lot of fidgeting to get over branches on your ascent. I might keep a carabiner permanently attached to the clove and just snap it in and out of the middle ring on the hitch climber pulley for crossing over branches.
3. Your hitch climber pulley seems very far away from your bridge attachment point. I like mine low and tight, allowing for quick and easy slack tending right down by my hip where it is consistent and much easier on the arms.
Those are just my thoughts and I could be wrong, just sharing them. I run a zigzag most of the time because it self tends anyways above say 10ft up and it keeps my MRS (DRT) system simple, fast, consistent, and clean. It's a great investment in my opinion.
I did this to gain distance.
No tending issues.
It works great so far.

Continuing the ascent to the next brance is as simple as slipping out the clove and unclipping the bridge.
It adds one knot and the clove to tending pulley carabiners gate must be set up so that the gate can allow you to slip off the clove.

I made a video on it I wish I could share here.
 
Do you switch it back for descent? I can't stand not being able to reach the hitch. Your hitch is gonna run into the branch before you can reach it, which isn't a problem on all trees but can be a real nuisance on some. Have you tried an alpine instead of a clove?
 
Do you switch it back for descent? I can't stand not being able to reach the hitch. Your hitch is gonna run into the branch before you can reach it, which isn't a problem on all trees but can be a real nuisance on some. Have you tried an alpine instead of a clove?
Alpine would prob work great but the taughtness of the clove helps stabilize the carbiner. For decent I just clip my ascender between the clove hitch and the saddle.
It can hit branches. For decent I havent needed to switch yet but if I want it closer for descent I can just lower the clove closer to my bridge.

I love the adjustable reach.
I have some pretty bad upper back issues and its always better for me to get a pull from above rather than in front.
 
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