if it is a two man stand it is easiest with 3 persons to put it up. fully assemble the stand and have it laid in front of the tree. one man stands on the lower rung, one man to start the lifting the platform, the other has a long pole attached to the platform pushing it up to keep from bending the ladder as man two starts walking the ladder to the upright position. i've put several up and this ended up being the easiest way.