Homemade pack bord or buy one from the store.

[Fishaholic]

Was thinking about making a  light weight pack frame for this year. Will pvc work? maybe copper tube? I am using a frame out of an old army ruck sack and its small and is heavy.  I might buy one but I dont know what I really need for a pack bord.

Thanks
dj

[Bullkllr]

I'd probably just buy one. And I'm about as cheap and DYI as they come.

I see older but serviceable frames in thrift stores and yard sales all the time. Probably get one for less than parts to make your own let alone time investment.

I got 2 Coleman Peak 1 frames a couple years ago for 5$ each. Older tubular frames maybe even cheaper. My

[Fishaholic]

Okay I will have to look at the thrift store and stop and look at yard sales and places like that.

[D-Rock425]

Buy one.

[rtspring]

Never used or owned one in my 27 years of hunting!  I just back the truck up to them!   

[Bullkllr]

I'd probably just buy one. And I'm about as cheap and DYI as they come.

I see older but serviceable frames in thrift stores and yard sales all the time. Probably get one for less than parts to make your own let alone time investment.

I got 2 Coleman Peak 1 frames a couple years ago for 5$ each. Older tubular frames maybe even cheaper. My

Wasn't implying you will find a cadillac frame at a yugo pack price; but any comfortable to wear frame is going to be better than no frame, and some can be had pretty cheap. When I was a kid all we had was "Trapper Nelson" boards, and as I recall they were tough but no fun at all. I also recall a cheap tubular frame that I destroyed the first time I used it to pack meat.

If you keep looking, you will likely find one that will at least work, then save or keep an eye out for a deal on a better quality frame.

[Fishaholic]

I am going to find one thats cheap and will work for me untell I can find buy a good one.

[kckrawler]

You ever come up north? I have an older external frame pack that has hauled several animals out, its yours if you want it...

[Fishaholic]

You ever come up north? I have an older external frame pack that has hauled several animals out, its yours if you want it...

how far up north? I am very interested.

[kckrawler]

Live in Granite, work in Everett...could drop it off anywhere in that general vicinity. If I were to put it on Craigslist, I'd probably ask around $20. I'm not sure that you'd save anything by making a special trip up here though, there's a lot of cheap ones closer to Aberdeen. Sup to you 

http://seattle.craigslist.org/skc/spo/3774076300.html

[bow4elk]

Before you go making something, you should consider finding an older aluminum frame backpack from garage sales.  I have a 1980's era REI frame pack that is a great meat hauler.  Empty it weighs almost nothing and being welded aluminum, it's durable as all get out.  I just cut the floor out of the upper section and a whole elk hind qtr will drop right in.  Remarkably it rides really well, even compared to my Badlands packs.  Just a thought.

[j_h_nimrod]

You can't build one for twice the price that is half as good as one you buy.  I could build a very nice one out of tubular aluminum or steel with the tools I have access to in the shop but could not make one even near as useful as one you could pick up used.  Plus I would then have many hours into the thing before I even thought of putting straps on it.

Bi-Mart sells a pretty nice frame by Hideaway that periodically goes on sale for ~$45. It is not great but better than I could make in a week.

Try putting out a wanted posting on Craigslist or Freecycle, there are a lot gathering dust in attics that people would be more than happy to part with.

[Alchase]

I have a tube aluminum pack frame (noisy as heck, unless you tape up the pins) I think I paid $39.00 for it 15 years ago. It gets thrown in the truck for elk hunts. I leave it in the truck until after the first load, then it goes to work.

[lostbackpacker]

Bought a large Alice pack w frame at garage sale for 5$  had a friend take some airplane metal from certain airplane maker and he made me a meat shelf and riveted it on the Alice frame

[ellensburgpo]

Not sure if you figured out what your are gonna do but this is cheap.

http://www.basspro.com/RedHead-Enduroflex-Plus-Field-Frame/product/10212624/