If you have never used this type of stand before, they are quite a bit of work. We used 16penny nails in our stand, and with the wind blowing the two trees(1 tree, split) differently, we had to fix the stand each year. We use the stand each year, and it is about 7 years old. Its the size of a pallet, 25+ feet up, and no railings or what not. I don' t like siting up there.