RollGliss r500 converted to a power ascender for tree climbing

I did not split and widen the rope shiv on this unit and it climbed OK on 11.5 mm Sterling Scion. I was dodging limbs for most of the upper half of this climb and the power ascender was very handy for this since it freed up my feet to fend off from both the limbs and the trunk. There is a thorough discussion of making these on TreeBuzz under the thread: Lazy or Clever?

[@mojoe8005]

I started using my Lewis winch for ascension love the innovation

[@marshallsahib4901]

Just wanted to add, in case it was not obvious enough in the video, that my ZigZag and rope wrench are riding above the RollGliss and tethered past it to the bridge of my saddle, so that I am NEVER at any point using the modified RollGliss for life support.

[@katejudson8907]

Love, love, love it!

[@stewartmarshall4112]

Thanks, Kate! Check out Part 3 for the latest mod so that I don't have to hold tension on the tail any longer.

[@gazmeister1984]

I was thinking of making something similar to this. Didn't know the R500 existed. I was considering a hand winch and take the handle off. Then weld a socket on where the handle was so that I can fit my half inch impact driver straight in. I was also looking at 500kg fishing braid rather than rope.

[@stewartmarshall4112]

Not a good idea to use an impact driver. They would work like a hammer, with a repeating shock delivered to the shaft. Very hard on the internal gearing of one of these devices. You need a steady rotating input like a heavy duty drill. I made two more of these videos with some further mods. Check out Number 3. It shows a mod where you don't have to hold tension on the output tail of the rope.

[@sacasanova]

Look what I started.

[@aaronmckinney7]

Do you think 1 20V battery could pull a 200lb. man up 800'?

[@stewartmarshall4112]

800'!!!! What the hell are you climbing? Well, I weigh close to that, at 190, and I have climbed several hundred feet up and down and still had battery left with a 5ah battery. If you had one of their big 8ah or 10ah batts, you might do 800'? Hard to say exactly.

[@tyhnbgtyhnbgt]

Is that a homemade rope wrench too. I just made my own rope wrench too.

[@stewartmarshall4112]

Yeah, DIY rope wrench. Works great. It has a little bungee so that it always engages no problem.

[@aaronmckinney7]

How many feet do you think 1 battery is good for?

[@stewartmarshall4112]

It varies widely depending on things like the weight of the climber and gear, and size of the battery. Also, the batteries last longer if it is warm weather. I get less battrery time if it is near freezing. I use 5ah DeWalt batteries and can easily climb up and down a sizeable 75 to 100 ft tree several times on one battery and still have plenty left. DeWalt also makes larger 20v batteries now and I am thinking of buying an 8ah. But in truth I usually climb on an afternoon repeatedly without needing to change batteries now, with the 5ah. Be sure and watch Part 3 of these videos, since I made some improvements to the gadget.

[@ascchannel9216]

I like this tool, can I ask the specification of this tool for research

[@chipper442]

It’s a great idea, but does it hammer the rope? It also sounds like that motor on that drill won’t last too long, it’s definitely working hard.

[@stewartmarshall4112]

Well, I have almost three years semi-regular use on the device now with no real impact on any of my four ropes, aside from the normal minor wear and tear, same as we get with any of our multiscenders or hitches on the same rope. And the big DeWalt drill is just loafing at this duty. This is a heavy duty 1/2 inch drill and I use it a lot harder than this just in the machine shop on other work. The smaller regular 3/8 inch DeWalt and other brands will not hold up very long, it's true. You need a heavy duty 1/2 inch drill.

[@milesburley5693]

Hey bud do you have a list or more info on how you built this I would love to do the same

[@stewartmarshall4112]

Hi Miles, there is a fairly complete discussion of these on that TreeBuzz forum I mentioned above. Do a search there on their archives. A number of us built these and there are several ways to do it. Google that forum. It is a great one for tree guys anyway. Tons of other discussion on there of every aspect of tree work and climbing. Also there are two more of these videos I did. Look for part 3. It shows some improvements.

[@mvblitzyo]

way cool ..

[@Alfalfa420]

Do your tree job save money buy a ronin

[@stewartmarshall4112]

A number of us out here have tried a Ronin and they are hard on the rope. Also have to only use certain ropes and the batteries are expensive to replace and only available from Ronin. I was not impressed with it.

[@Alfalfa420]

@@stewartmarshall4112 in reality, put your Hooks on but your gear on get two core ropes and roll your rope up the tree mechanical device nonsense

[@stewartmarshall4112]

@@Alfalfa420 It is not nonsense at age 71 if I want to keep climbing in the near future.