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Thanks Steve, I'll try a small piece of carpet next time.  It can be a burden with having to set it all up sometimes, but on a two story home that's a little steep it makes all the difference to me.  As far as the anchor point I use webbing around whatever I see fit (tree, fence post, column) and I use a couple carabiners to attach the rope.  For getting the rope over I use a weighted tethered tennis ball (a dog toy) tied to a 2mm rope.  At first I tried, what I'm calling, The Underhand Slingshot Method - David and Goliath style, that didn't work too well since my aim isn't that great.  I went back to the pet store and found a tennis ball thrower.  It looks similar to a clay target thrower if you were skeet shooting.  I like using this, my aim is way better and its pretty easy to use.  It's certainly a lot cheaper than other methods and doesn't take up any space in my truck.

Posted By ChuckDeaton on 16 Mar 2012 03:46 PM
Try a fishing rod with a super ball in a net bag.

Climb to the top of your ladder and cast it over the ridge.

Whilst I have never used any type of a "fall arrest system", it would seem that whatever it is that you utilize in protecting your line from being frayed and therefore weakened by the ridgeline would also have to pull double duty in protecting the ridgeline from further damage 

Most sporting goods supply stores that retail ropes and harnesses also sell a wide nylon sleeve that protects your rope and the ridge (designed for rock climbing, but it is functional). They are usually about 3' in length, and the only hassle associated with them is sliding them along the rope as you climb. The huge benefit to these is that if your rope moves along the ridge while you are lower down the slope, the sleeve rides the ridge, protecting both the shingles and your ropes.

Kernmantle rope is very abrasive, tends to wear out garden hose, pvc and insulation pipe quickly.Carpet pad works relatively well however, most of the damage to the ridgecap and rope happens when the rope is pulled into place over the roofing structure.  Might want to take a look at this product:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sWFyRPCOXM

It can be put in place from the ground by loading it onto your rope behind your Rope Caddy. If your still not convinced then come out to my place and I will show you myself.

Better Video of Getting A Rope Over A Roof:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raNEQC9kT2w

Nice info commercial. What gets me with seeing something like this is it doesn't have the correct field condition that we face so we can see "actual true" field working conditions and how a product “actually” works. Nice RIDGE CAP, very smooth to allow rope to glide and slide right across. (We are not even talking about the tag line here either. It’s the one that you have problems with getting caught between ridge cap tabs). It would be nice to have that condition when deploying my rope over a 12/12 two story high with a full basement instead of high profile cap over Cobra vent. 

What you have works fine, but instead of the PVC pipe you could also use the top cut off of a plastic “coke soft drink” liter bottle to keep climbing rope and knot (not tag line) from getting caught. Cost = $1.29 and you get a cold drink to boot.

Also, no one has “ever” addressed how you get the suede/leather protector “exactly” in the right place on your 250-300 ft. rope where it will be directly over ridge at deployment from 2 stories below. I will buy that product right now if you explain, because the pivot point is a great idea for steep and tall hip inspections.

Look forward to hearing more.

 Here is a better Video: TAG-Line Video

"pondman" casts scepticism on getting a leather ridge cap protectector in place from the ground but in all fairness to him, so do most people... especially the groups of Forensic Engineers that we train who are shocked at how well this product actually works.

You could do as pondman instructs and:

 "instead of the PVC pipe you could also use the top cut off of a plastic “coke soft drink” liter bottle to keep climbing rope and knot (not tag line) from getting caught. Cost = $1.29 and you get a cold drink to boot."

however... the problem that we found with this process was the right angle of the bottle opening was causing it to hang up at the ridge cap and damage ridge cap shingles even when bottle cap was in place.

 50 cents worth of light gauge 4" pvc pipe works well, especially when pulling multiple lines however, we now use a 6" plastic sphere / ball that works even better than the pipe and tracks nicely around gutters.

I do apologize for the "info commercial" aspect of the video however, will not be offended in the least if anyone takes the innitiative to use this information to build their own tag-line rope placement system and safeguard their own life.

In all fairness to the other guy (i.e. Miller Fall Protection) their video on the topic can be viewed at:  
Miller TAG-Line Video

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Watch this for yourself and draw your own conclusions.