I would definitely go online for the manuals to make sure that first, you have all the parts and second, it's put together properly. They can be ingenious little bits of engineering, which makes them sometimes less than obvious to assemble safely. I was surprised with my first ladder stand that it really helps to have a second person hold the base of the ladder in place when you go to raise it because they are so very top heavy. Above all else, after you get it up, still use a safety strap on yourself. The things that can happen are called accidents because we don't think they'll happen. Gravity kills.

The "straighter" the tree the better.
Good luck and good hunting.

i would fined the exact directions some have certain directions and there very specific about it. Its never not worth taking some time for your safty so you'll be able to have many more hunts and successful ones to come!