There are several solutions for hanging a treehouse in a tree.
One part of the suspension is always the same, depending on the load:
- Steel cable ø 8 – 10 mm (check the manufacturer’s strength).
- Turnbuckle M14 – M20 (check the manufacturer’s strength and tension range)
- Lock bolt + thick washers + ring nut M12 – M14 (as a stop on the tree house beam)
- For additional security / redundancy we recommend a suitable Dyneema rope ø 8 – 10 mm running alongside the steel rope.
There are several ways to secure the rope in the tree:
1. Tree sling: Use a tree harness / tree sling as used by arborists. These are designed to spread the load evenly over a large area. This works very well if you have a strong branch fork or U-tip and is ideal for vertical to vertical suspensions. If you don’t have a branch fork to attach your tree harness to, simply use one of our GTS Tree Screws to prevent the rope from slipping.
2. Threaded Rod + Ring Nut: Drill through the entire trunk and attach a 20-26 mm threaded rod. For acidic trees (oak, cedar, etc.) use stainless steel. It is important to use very thick and large washers on both sides and to tighten the ring nut and nut firmly. This method is more suitable for suspensions between 45° and 90°, as a purely vertical load will cause the threaded rod to sag in the trunk.
3. GTS tree bolts: Tree bolts are primarily designed for vertical loads. Lateral and horizontal tension should be avoided. The rope angle should not be steeper than 30°. GTS treehouse bolts are well suited for preventing a tree harness from slipping by screwing them into the tree on the opposite side of the rope.
