Contributing Member Denise Posted January 22, 2009 Contributing Member Report Posted January 22, 2009 Lacey, What are the names of some of the companies making knock offs? I'm not familiar with them myself. Quote
Members saddles Posted January 22, 2009 Members Report Posted January 22, 2009 Hey Denise, I wish I could remember or find the info around here. Some of them it's virtually impossible to find a phone number at all as they only sell to very large manufacturing outfits. I can describe them though, we had to hunt one down last summer to replace the tree in a little junker barrel racer. The only reason we found it was because Ralide themselves gave us like three different places to call. We figured it mainly from the number on the tree, which was not a Ralide number. Also the horn was braided which they do not do. We've had to do small repairs on several others as well. The biggest tip off is the material the tree is made out of. It is not the same as a true Ralide tree. The horn placement and type is another. Hope that helps a little! Lacey Quote
Members HarryB Posted January 22, 2009 Members Report Posted January 22, 2009 Just my 2 cents worth. Don't use them in a cold climate. While in Colorado and -20 to -30 usual for the winter, the trees became brittle and didn't recover from the cold very well. Quote
Members saddles Posted January 22, 2009 Members Report Posted January 22, 2009 You're absolutely right about that! Lacey Quote
Members gloomis Posted January 23, 2009 Members Report Posted January 23, 2009 Are you sure this is off a Ralide brand tree, or is it a knock off? By the pictures of the horns I'm seeing in my catalog there's no way, unless it's pretty old, that it is a Ralide. There are several companies out there that are using various brands of injected molded trees, somehow the Ralide company gets to take the blame for all of them.Lacey This is an old one maybe 30 yrs. It came off of a barrel racing saddle,that didn't quite make it into a horse trailer. but it looks like the ones that I was forced into making when I worked in a production shop. Quote Sure, I dont like a porcupine in my tent to wake me up at night.His social graces wasn't gotten from Emily Post. He has had his own manners,before ever human had any himself. Only the porcupine's manners are steadfast-- he doesn't follow fashion's whims or fancies.----Joe Back
BevJones Posted January 31, 2009 Report Posted January 31, 2009 I was told by another saddlemaker that the quickest way to ruin your reputation is to not use a wood/rawhide tree. He said, when a customer wants a ralide tree to save money and you inform him of what could go wrong and why a wood/rawhide is better, they forget what you told them when something goes wrongs with it but remember your name when they tell others you are not a good saddlemaker. He said the best way to avoid problems and keep and get a good reputation is to use only the best. I sure do wish they could figure out a way to make a wood/rawhide tree as light as a ralide Quote
Members StolpSaddles Posted February 2, 2009 Members Report Posted February 2, 2009 With all the work to build a good saddle why waste it on a Ralide tree... Oh i guess good is the key word.. Quote Leather work for the fun of it http://www.stolpsaddles.com
Members oldtimer Posted February 7, 2009 Members Report Posted February 7, 2009 (edited) I´ll say one kind word about Ralide trees in a saddle in comparison to factory made saddles with "real" trees: The ground seat is better that average factory made saddles! I have opened a couple of saddles from well known saddle companies in the US, and I must say that I´m not very impressed with the ground seat work in them: A tin plate nailed to the tree covered with a less than chap quality leather. After a while you are riding on nailheads under your butt. That is one kind word, no more, no less! Edited February 7, 2009 by oldtimer Quote "The gun fight at the O.K. corral was actually started by two saddlemakers sitting around a bottle of whiskey talking about saddle fitting"...
Members BondoBobCustomSaddles Posted February 11, 2009 Members Report Posted February 11, 2009 I wouldn't use one for love nor money! I would rather see a prospective sale go away than put them in one, knock off or not! If I had 100 of them for free, I'd give them to a plastic molder I know and let him regrind them and make signs out of them. I know the price of a custom made saddle is not for everyone, but; you can certainly find a good used real saddle out there at most tack shops that will meet your needs, for anywhere from $250 to $750, and even if you have to spend another $200 or so to have it gone through and freshened up, you are miles ahead of the game. Up here in Michigan, you can find lots of "old timer" made saddles reasonable, Prices, Ringalero's, even the old Billy Cooks (back when Billy was actually making them) and more. For those in MI, OH, and Indiana, try Bob Jacobs Boots and Saddles in Bellville, he will either have what you want, or can find it. By the way, with respect to the way the stirrup leathers come through the ralide tree. I had a customer who took the stirrup leathers out of the brand new saddle to oil them before his grand daughter was going to start using this youth saddle. He couldn't get them back in because of the way they pass through the tree. He had to pay me (an hours labor) to take the saddle part way apart and accomplish the task. That was the first of many more times I am sure that I will see this saddle for some kind of repair. That money saving tree, will cost him in the end! By the way, he owns a tack and supply store, so it isn't like he does'nt know how to put a stirrup leather in! Like I and so many others here have said, " I wouldn't ever use one"! I think too much of my saddles, my reputation, and especially my customers. Happy Trails! Bondo Bob Quote
Members TrooperChuck Posted February 13, 2009 Members Report Posted February 13, 2009 I suspect the folks who invented Ralide trees KNEW their product was questionable. Otherwise, they wouldn't have tried to disguise it with a name that sounds so much like "rawhide". Quote "Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway." (John Wayne)
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