Building a pallet rack Tower Blind - two types of build.

[farmhunter]

Occasionally factories will swap out their pallet racking for new ones, for various reasons - not usually because they wear out! Every so often I've been lucky enough to be able to pick up some being scrapped out. There are two ways to go about it - One is to use the steel rack- floor to ceiling in the frame - and the other is to build a box on top the platform.

The 1st box we built last fall - and we built it about 7 ft up and boxed around the frame (floor to ceiling). We cemented the feet in but did not run poles into the ground as extra support. The heavy stairs help to make sure that this tower cannot "tip over" in a big wind. This construction had advantages in that its very rigid - but the cons are that the wood is difficult to cut to fit - and gaps were inevitable - there was no prefab mfg - we had to do it all up in the air - and that has drawbacks.

Here's a look at last year's fall project.

 

[Podad]

Very good looking stands

I have 4 that are made from the racks like you used. Mine are not as deluxe as yours. I did most of mine back in the early 90s
They are still in good shape. I have had to do some maintenance on the roofs and sides.

 

[farmhunter]

so this summer - we've started the second tower and this one we are building a bit different. In this case the tower will look over our main food plot complex. Its a 15 acre field that we've broken up over 10 years with tree plantings and smaller plot rotations within. The Tower over this windswept field will be for late season hunting and otherwise for scouting and photography sessions.

Because of the winds here - I dug three foot holes - for treated 4x4 supports bolted to the frame - then I sunk the metal feet 6" underground into the cement I poured to fill the holes. The result was a very strong and rigid frame.

Once the cement set and everything was set, square and level...... I moved the bottom rails back aup to 8 ft - where the treated 2x4 and treated plywood floor will go. As mentioned in the 1st build summary - building this way - it let us prefabricate the box - and dry fit it on the ground where we could take our time and prove our plan out on the ground. Currently we are about 1/2 done with this build -and I will post pictures of this second build and updates to both!

in comparison - its a joy to build with new wood, and square product. Prefabrication allows us to make an air tight quality box. It will be disassembled and built up again on top the frame when we are done. We've planned to build the roof attached to the front with hinges and I hope to capture this assemble procedure to share.

more to come....

 

[farmhunter]

Very good looking stands

I have 4 that are made from the racks like you used. Mine are not as deluxe as yours. I did most of mine back in the early 90s
They are still in good shape. I have had to do some maintenance on the roofs and sides.

would love to see some pictures - thanks!!

 

[outdoorstom]

Nice work......looks very solid!

 

[Wiyfzr]

Nice.My brothers company just gave him 2 of these racks.We have been thinking about doing the same.Now I see yours im going to try it out.

 

[farmhunter]

Nice.My brothers company just gave him 2 of these racks.We have been thinking about doing the same.Now I see yours im going to try it out.

Good luck! hope my thread helps. We'll be putting the box up on the new one soon - With the 1st box - climbing on top to put the tin roof on was no fun at all. On the one we are building now - the Roof will be hinged to the front wall. We'll put the front wall up first and brace it -then hinge the roof to the front wall on the inside of the building. When the tin is attached we will flip it up and put in the back wall.

 

[Sam]

Great work. I really enjoy hunting my box stand.

 

[farmhunter]

OK so this weekend we finished the hard work and the actual build was difficult but we got it done! I should have taken more pictures but Often I was holding on to a side of a building or screwing in walls or braces as fast as I could.

Yesterday we finished dry fitting it and we were concerned that we made it a bit to tight - so knew to take care not to fasten everything down to quickly. After we had it all together -we took it apart and painted it and pre cut the metal roof.

Again sorry no fabrication pics. We used the tractor bucket with a pallet strapped to it - to get the base and the front wall up. Once the front wall was up and braced - we pulled up the lightweight roof - and hinged it on inside of the front wall front wall - we pre-planned this too and had a 2x4 scab at the exact height in the inside of the front wall to stand the ceiling onto and screwed in the hinges into the top sill plate. then we pulled up the metal and screwed in on the the vertically positioned roof. When that was all done - we hinged the roof up to 7 feet and braced it up. then we pulled up the back wall - got it in place and plum and braced. Then we dropped the back of the roof onto the back wall and tacked it together. Then we pulled up the side walls and popped them in - this was a bit challenging as it was all so tight - but........ Walla! with a little persuasion we had them in as well. Then we went around the inside - and screwed the sides all tight - Popped the windows in and here she is....... the South Tower!

And a view across the SW corner of the field.

and a couple pics from the field in 2 spots.

Glad to have it done I was dreading that build!!!

 

[Podad]

would love to see some pictures - thanks!!

@farmhunter
I found a picture of one of my pallet rack stands. This one has been in place for about 20 years. Lots of great hours have been spent by 3 generations of my family hunting from this stand. It overlooks a 3/4 acre food plot with fruit trees. One of my grandsons got his first deer from the stand, a young doe. My son got a good 8 that he has mounted from this stand. I got two good bucks that I have mounted from this one as well.

As you see the milder temps here in the south don't require as much closing in as those NY temps do.

 

[farmhunter]

pretty much finished up the South Tower
Stairs are in and need a window in the door yet but that should do it -

just have to remove the old box and the scaffolding pallet rack now -

scouted out of it last night - and enjoyed watching a bachelor group of bucks with no knowledge that I was there -

Ready to hunt it!

 

[farmhunter]

All done! Small window for the door - probably 50% of shots will be through that little window. Also - had a long piece of camo burlap hemmed and made doubled up curtains for the big windows in case I need to keep it dark inside. Got the landing railing done and trimmed down - so we are officially done with this project.