GTS Free – Tree bolt up to 1,400 kg load
Solid Treehouse Screw for little adventures!
✔ Secure fastening for very small & light projects
✔ Easy to attach to trees and wooden beams
✔ No accessories required – great deal
✔ Robust stainless steel – Made in Germany
Includes 4 x fully threaded wood screws, ø8×120 mm!
Tax included. Shipping calculated at checkout
GTS Free 2.0 – Product Details
Dimensions & technical data
Load Capacity – GTS Free 2.0
Guidelines for the load capacity of the GTS Free 2.0 when loaded in the centre of the shank (lever arm 7 cm):
- Vertical: 600 - 1400 kg
- Horizontal: 300 - 600 kg
- Pulling out: 300 - 600 kg
These values are guidelines - the exact load capacity depends heavily on the type of tree, lever arm and direction of load!
The load capacity should never be pushed to its limits!
Further information can be found in the blog post ‘GTS Studies and Tests’.
Product innovations 2.0
- NEW – Tree Thread 2.0
The double-threaded thread has been specially developed for living trees. The optimised geometry maximises load transfer and facilitates installation.
- NEW – Quick Start Pin
The smoothed tenon allows direct insertion into the drill hole – for faster, effortless installation in the tree.
- Seal +
The flared cylinder seals the drill hole and ensures a secure fit.
- Shaft ø 34.5
With a diameter of 34.5 mm, the shank fits precisely into the 36 mm drill hole of the auger drill bit – the wooden beam can be pushed directly onto the screw without additional accessories.
- Stainless steel
No rust, even in acidic woods!
Assembly instructions & video
Detailed instructions can be found here ...
Assembly video:
Please note that the dimensions in the video may differ. The dimensions on the product page always apply!
Shipping & Delivery
- Ready for dispatch in 3 - 5 working days
- Delivery time depending on zone 1 - 14 working days
- Shipping costs according to weight (see shopping cart)
Further information here: Shipping service
The gateway to the world of treehouses – Version 2.0
We developed the GTS Free in response to high demand for an affordable tree fastening. The idea behind it: direct fastening to the wooden beam eliminates the need for expensive accessories.
The vertical load capacity is 600 kg in softwood and up to 1,400 kg in hardwood (e.g. beech).
Important note: The GTS Free is not suitable for swing beams or cantilevered, rotating or moving platforms. In these cases, we recommend our large GTS Screws with the appropriate accessories.
Installation without accessories
The clever thing about the GTS Free is that you only need a 36 mm drill bit for installation: Use it to drill a hole in the tree into which the GTS Free is screwed. Use the same drill bit to drill the hole in the wooden beam, which is then pushed onto the slightly thinner 34.5 mm shank.
Reinforce beam
The weak point of the GTS Free is the hole in the wooden beam, which can fatigue and crack under excessive loads. Fully threaded screws are supplied for this purpose, which strengthen the wood fibres around the drill hole. Of course, steel plates or self-welded beam brackets are even safer!
Stick to the limits
The load capacity of the GTS Free in the tree is very good – as mentioned, the weak point is the drill hole in the wooden beam. If you do not install reinforcement plates here or weld your own brackets, you must keep the platform and weight very small – ideally less than 10 m² (107.6 ft²)!
Important note: How not to use GTS Free!
Our GTS Free is very popular, BUT it is really only intended as a low-cost solution for small, lightweight projects. Here are two customer projects where a larger GTS with accessories would have been a better choice.
Example 1: Treehouse too large
This treehouse built by one of our customers is too large and too heavy for the GTS Free. Although the screws hold well in the hard oak wood, the wooden beam could be damaged by the permanent and concentrated load on the thin shank of the GTS Free.
Beams poorly secured
The beams rest unsecured on the short shank of the GTS Free. This means that the beams are unnecessarily close to the tree. In stormy weather, the beams can rub against the tree and damage the bark or, in the worst case, slip off the screw.
Solution: large GTS + accessories
For such a large and heavy treehouse, you need larger tree bolts and sturdy accessories to keep the beams apart. The thick trees would be perfect for the GTS Allstar. You could mount a triangle on the rear tree and move the support beams further outwards.
Example 2: Movement during a storm
Even though this customer's tree house is small and light, we do not recommend the GTS Free for platforms between two trees. The thin tree on the right (X) in particular will move significantly during a storm. This movement can damage the drill hole and the wooden beam over time.
Beams too close to the tree
The support structure on the left tree is structurally sound, but the growth of the tree is unnecessarily impeded by the closely spaced beams (4-sided pincer grip). It would be better to mount the triangle under the longitudinal beams and position them further out. This will make the platform more stable and give the tree more room to grow.
Solution: Larger GTS + accessories
Since we have two thin trees, I would work with two slightly larger triangles here, on which the longitudinal beams rest further out. To make the whole thing more stable and ensure that it stays secure even in stormy weather, we recommend the GTS Friend or GTS Top with Tribeam Bracket.
Alternatives to GTS Free
For platforms larger than 10 m², we always recommend our black tree bolts with accessories – they are safer and offer many more options for designing your platform.
