I'm working on a unique chair design and want to secure it to a tree trunk that's about 18 inches in diameter. I can't screw anything into the tree since I rent my home, and there aren't any horizontal branches to hang it from. I aim to lift the chair about 4 feet off the ground, making it easy to access with a step stool, while still feeling elevated. The chair will be made from hardwood and weigh roughly 20 pounds, so I want to ensure it can support a person up to 200 pounds. I've planned to use four heavy-duty bolts attached to the back corners of the chair and install curved pieces to help the seat fit snugly against the tree's curve. For securing it, I wanted to use two heavy-duty ratchet straps along with vertical wood pieces to protect the tree from pressure. I'm looking for advice on how to choose the right straps for this, as they need to hold tension with an adult sitting in the chair. I considered using climbing ropes with a pulley for tension, but I'm unsure about the logistics. Any ideas or experiences that might help?
3 Answers
You might want to consider checking out some designs used for hunting tree stands. They usually have sturdy methods for securing themselves to trees, which you could adapt to your chair idea. Definitely safer than going it completely solo!
Two ratchet straps should do the trick! Wrap them around the chair and the tree and crank them tight. Just keep an eye on them for any wear, like if birds start pecking at the straps. But you should know, even with secure straps, it's tough to avoid some damage to the tree. Maybe think about why you want it elevated—could you build a tall chair next to the tree instead?
Don’t forget to add some heavy-duty rubber or foam padding where the chair meets the trunk! This will help distribute pressure evenly and prevent damaging the bark over time. Speaking of which, just be careful not to leave those straps on too long—you don’t want to girdle the tree!
I get it, it’s not super practical. But there’s something really fun about being up high! I'm curious about what kind of damage you're talking about—is it from pressure on the bark or from movement?