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You want to build a treehouse – we explain which Treehouse Screw is the right one for your project and show you the matching Accessories.
1. Our 6 Treehouse Screws
You can choose from 6 screw models in our online shop:
Each GTS has its own special field of application:
GTS Allstar:
The GTS Allstar is the core and with 80% the most installed Tree Screw in our online shop. It is the best choice because it can take huge loads both vertically and horizontally – even in softwood (spruce, fir, pine, etc.) it can still manage up to 2.5 tonnes vertical load capacity!
In combination with “Strut GTS +” or “Cable Suspension”, the GTS Allstar can carry 6 – 8 tons in hardwood (oak, beech)!
“At Baumbaron, we always use the Allstar as the basis for our tree houses whenever possible. The other GTS screws then extend the scope!” – Vitus W.
GTS Top:
The GTS Top is an alternative to the GTS Allstar, especially in hardwood and for smaller trunk diameters. In softwood, its load-bearing capacity decreases considerably, and here it is only suitable for smaller projects. The advantage: Since it does not have a thick cylinder, it is gentler on the tree than the Allstar. The disadvantage: the tree must be smooth and straight at the mounting point for the steel plate to fit well.
GTS Friend:
The Friend is our helper for light loads. It is often used to secure the position of triangular constructions, tree swings and secondary constructions. It should not be heavily loaded, especially in softwood.
GTS Side:
The GTS Side can be used to attach wooden beams to the side of the tree, making it ideal for smaller platforms, landings and stair constructions.
GTS Free:
The GTS Free is similar to the GTS Friend, but made of stainless steel and with a slightly thinner shaft ø 34,5 mm – this allows it to be mounted directly in the tree as well as in the wooden beam. The difference to the GTS Friend: you don’t need any screw accessories & no supports. Perfect for small DIY kids tree houses with low weight and low budget.
GTS Safety:
The GTS Safety is a supporting screw for rope fastenings, awnings, fairy lights, etc. – It is not a load-bearing Treehouse Screw.
Find more details about the individual screws on the respective product pages.
Find out more about the function and history of “Treehouse Screws” here!
Comparison of screw dimensions
Our products are perfectly matched to each other:
- All GTS (except the small GTS Safety) can be pre-drilled with the sameø 36mm Auger Bit.
- For the GTS Allstar, the hole for the cylinder must also be pre-drilled, Forstner-Pin Combo.
- All GTS can be screwed into the tree with the same1″ Ratchet+ 46mm nut.
Load capacity of the screws
The load capacity of the screws depends on the following factors:
- Tree species (general, see here)
- Individual tree characteristics (growth form, strength, age)
- Local wood quality (in place of drilling)
- Lever arm (where the screw is loaded)
- Direction of load (vertical / horizontal / compression / tension)
- Type of load (static, jerky or swinging)
- Quality & precision of assembly
It is difficult to make exact statements regarding the load-bearing capacity, as we are dealing with living trees with completely individual characteristics, and not with standardised construction timber.
Horizontally, the screws have about 1/3 of the vertical load capacity.
The pull-out resistance of the large tree threads is about 300 kg in softwood and 500 kg in hardwood.
Note: Our load values are for orientation only – a safety factor >2 should always be calculated, i.e. instead of 4 tons load capacity and hardwood (average value of our tests), the GTS Allstar should only be loaded vertically with 2 tons.
In addition to the wood properties, the lever arm has a great influence on the load-bearing capacity of the screws; the lever arm is the distance from the bark to the support point of the bearing. The picture above illustrates: the larger the lever arm, the lower the load-bearing capacity of the screws.
The pivot point of the screws is in the inner quarter of the tree thread.
To prevent the supports and the beam from slipping completely outwards, Distance Rings are used.
2. Screws Accessories
The accessory parts can be attached to the large GTS (shaft ø 40 mm):
- GTS Allstar
- GTS Top
- GTS Friend
Reinforcement of the GTS with “Strut GTS +” and “Cable Suspension”.
With our reinforcements you maximize the carrying capacity of the big GTS!
This is necessary if:
- Your GTS is reaching the limit of its carrying capacity
- The wood of the tree is very soft (poplar, willow, …)
- You want to be on the safe side right from the start of a large project.
- Your GTS is already overloaded
In our tests we have been able to increase the load capacity of the GTS Allstar to almost double with only one reinforcement!
Strut GTS +
From below you reinforce the GTS with the “Strut GTS +”
Cable Suspension
From above you secure the GTS with a “Cable Suspension”.
Support and Distance Rings
A suitable support is needed to attach the wooden beams to the GTS. The supports are simply pushed onto the shaft of the GTS.
Static Support
The “Static Support” is used for single-tree treehouses, triangular constructions as well as for multi-tree tree houses as an anchor point in the most solid tree.
The “Static Support” is always the fixed point and should be additionally secured along the shaft with “Distance Rings”.
Dynamic Support
The movable support “Dynamic Support” is used for treehouses in 2 or more trees – it gives the trees room to move so that they can swing independently in the wind. This prevents forced tensions on the trees and the wooden construction.
The sturdy, thick trees are equipped with “Static Supports”, the smaller dance trees with “Dynamic Supports”.
Distance Rings
Distance Rings are small metal rings (10 or 40 mm long) which are pushed onto the shaft of the screw. The rings are used to determine the exact position of the supports, their clearance and distance to the tree.
Triangle construction with brackets
The support triangle is a popular construction. Instead of placing two screws opposite each other in the trunk, one builds a triangular construction with two screws lying under each other. This has the following advantages:
- The span (support surface for the platform) is significantly increased.
- The triangle is inherently stiffened and cannot tilt.
- The triangle can be freely dimensioned. The larger the more stable.
- Screws that lie below each other have the advantage that fewer water and nutrient lines are damaged (vessels in the trunk run vertically).
- The trunk can therefore be somewhat thinner.
The “Brackets” hold the bottom part of the wooden triangle and are pushed onto the lower GTS.
45° Diamond Bracket
The 45° Diamond Bracket is designed for large triangles and heavy loads, the braces have a fixed angle of 45°. The closed back wall allows forward cantilevered beams to be attached (3D), making even larger platforms possible.
Struts
Our struts open up more possibilities for the construction of your platform. You remain very flexible – mount several struts on a GTS or individual independent struts on thinner trees. The struts can be firmly clamped with the height-adjustable plate. Instead of thick wooden struts, you can also attach elegant steel struts!
Strut Support GTS
This Strut connector is pushed onto the ø 40 mm shaft of the large GTS – on a GTS Allstar, for example, there is room for up to 7 “Strut Support GTS”!
Strut Support Safety
This single Strut is pushed onto the ø 30 mm shaft of the GTS Safety. The “Strut Support Safety” can take up to 1000 kg load in hardwood. Perfect for targeted support of the platform from below!
Strut Support Plattform
The “Strut Support Platform” is the counterpart to the GTS Struts – it is attached directly to the platform. This saves you complicated angle cuts at the top of your strut. Or you can use it as a component for your steel struts.
3. Treehouse-Sets
The Treehouse Sets are ready-made assemblies from our products for classic treehouse constructions! Here are a few examples:
4. Tools
The tool is necessary to mount our screws in the tree. It has been extensively tested by us and is perfectly matched to our GTS screws. You can either buy the parts individually or borrow them in a toolbox.
More about proper Treehouse Building
Exact function of the GTS
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Which tree is best?
