Hitch Hiker Reviews

  • Thread starter Thread starter bonner1040
  • Start date Start date
  • Replies Replies 341
  • Views Views 39K
Thanks NHLoc! I'm just learning SRT myself, so I really appreciate the vid. I'm with Sean: I really can't see why guys don't want to learn this stuff. Climbed with my buddies Singing Tree Wrope Wrench that he got used off flee-bay for like $20, and absolutely loved it. I've heard the hitch hiker's even better though. Man, you got to love the one for one ration thing. Having said that, I spent the earlier part of last week climbing (dDrt style) on Butches Taught-line hitch, :rockon: and beat the new guy with all his fancy gear.

Another thing: after thinking that I was thoroughly converted to 24 strand, I went back to 16 strand, and haven't looked back. Anybody else out there found that too? Funny: I thought that it was just the fact that half-inch grips so much better than skinny rope, but, at length, I've come to believe that 16 strand just runs through the hitch-cords better. Am I nuts?
 
Any arb supply house that takes good care of their customers and business should want them to be on sites like this. The more you talk with others about what works in the way of tools the more you’re going to want/need.

Plus that post suggests that he is a person who seeks out information. Luke might like the idea of passing an invitation along Nick.
 
Any arb supply house that takes good care of their customers and business should want them to be on sites like this. The more you talk with others about what works in the way of tools the more you’re going to want/need.
Very true fits well with the obsesive compulsive gear disorder I feel I am becoming addicted too:rolleyes:
 
I was at a rec climb Labor Day Sunday with a bunch of working arborists. I might have been the oldest and the only amateur. One friendly respectful climber was admiring my Hitchhiker. He said (respectfully) “I wonder why the Hitchiker went out of fashion?” Way to make me feel old, brother!

I have a question for Hitchhiker users. I need some help! These early discussions helped me decide to go with the HH. One feature often mentioned is easy conversion from SRT to DRT. I never used that option for 10 years. Now I want it and I can’t make it work.

I want to use it with a 3 to 1 for going out on a downward sloping limb and coming back.
I have done this with Petzl ID and with a normal friction hitch and micro pulley DRT device. I have been going back and watching

@yoyoman

Richard Mumford’s YouTube videos.
He has one that was enlightening about too much friction and taking the rope out from under the lower carabiner or SLC pin friction point. I tried that and the hitchhiker gets into a weird angle when the 3 to 1 pulls it up.

I have Paul’s HH2 and Richard’s HHX
Some of Richard’s videos have me thinking that the HHXF may have solved this problem!

Anyone have any ideas that would save my from buying another HH?
 
A diagram of your exact 3:1 might be helpful. That isn't something I've done with my HHXF. I'm unfamiliar with the other variants, but I don't think the design changes of the XF would make it significantly different.

What I'm imagining is the rope binding up at the HH where it redirects. If that's the the problem, I'd look into ways of incorporating a pulley below the HH to increase the rope angle, and make less of a sharp return coming off the bottom.
 
Thanks John and Sean. I appreciate the suggestion to make a video. I have been experimenting on the ground and I think I have my 3 to 1 problem solved.
The thing I saw on Richard’s video about removing some friction might maybe sense for DRT but in this 3 to 1 my full weight is on the hitch so I need all the friction points.
I think I need to keep a little weight on the system to keep everything aligned. Otherwise the HH can fold like a shrimp with the upward pulling of the 3 to 1. This is the same with the Pezl ID.(As a side note) Richard talks about the dangers of slack induced temporarily in the system and then it fails to grab upon weighting.
IMG_0151.jpeg
 
This was the first handy branch I found. It slopes upwards so I didn’t need the 3 to 1 to return but I used it anyway. Now that I think it works I want to practice more.
Eventually I do want to figure out how to use MRS with my HH2 and also retrievable redirects.

 
This was my 3:1 before I didnt need it any more.
Petzl basic with a revolver carabiner up top and all I have is a bent gate carabiner under the HH to help the radius.
Edit:
Actually this was the first version, no bent gate at bottom, that was a later improvement.
As is a 'Holster' for tending instead of the random piece of accessory cord
.
HH 3to1 with basic.jpg
 
Back
Top