Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Power Equipment & RV => Topic started by: Fishaholic on May 26, 2013, 11:04:34 AM

Title: Homemade pack bord or buy one from the store.
Post by: Fishaholic on May 26, 2013, 11:04:34 AM: 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
Title: Re: Homemade pack bord or buy one from the store.
Post by: Bullkllr on May 26, 2013, 12:05:50 PM: 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 :twocents:
Title: Re: Homemade pack bord or buy one from the store.
Post by: Fishaholic on May 26, 2013, 12:38:19 PM: Okay I will have to look at the thrift store and stop and look at yard sales and places like that.
Title: Re: Homemade pack bord or buy one from the store.
Post by: D-Rock425 on May 26, 2013, 12:41:21 PM: Buy one.
Title: Re: Homemade pack bord or buy one from the store.
Post by: rtspring on May 26, 2013, 12:46:35 PM: Never used or owned one in my 27 years of hunting! I just back the truck up to them! :chuckle:
Title: Re: Homemade pack bord or buy one from the store.
Post by: Bullkllr on May 26, 2013, 04:20:30 PM: Quote from: Bullkllr on May 26, 2013, 12:05:50 PM
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 :twocents:
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.
Title: Re: Homemade pack bord or buy one from the store.
Post by: Fishaholic on May 26, 2013, 05:10:17 PM: I am going to find one thats cheap and will work for me untell I can find buy a good one.
Title: Re: Homemade pack bord or buy one from the store.
Post by: kckrawler on May 26, 2013, 05:49:36 PM: You ever come up north? I have an older external frame pack that has hauled several animals out, its yours if you want it...
Title: Re: Homemade pack bord or buy one from the store.
Post by: Fishaholic on May 26, 2013, 06:41:54 PM: Quote from: kckrawler on May 26, 2013, 05:49:36 PM
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.
Title: Re: Homemade pack bord or buy one from the store.
Post by: kckrawler on May 27, 2013, 08:42:48 AM: 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 :tup:

http://seattle.craigslist.org/skc/spo/3774076300.html (http://seattle.craigslist.org/skc/spo/3774076300.html)
Title: Re: Homemade pack bord or buy one from the store.
Post by: bow4elk on May 27, 2013, 09:14:04 AM: 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.
Title: Re: Homemade pack bord or buy one from the store.
Post by: j_h_nimrod on June 02, 2013, 12:59:49 PM: 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.
Title: Re: Homemade pack bord or buy one from the store.
Post by: Alchase on June 03, 2013, 10:07:43 AM: I have a tube aluminum pack frame (noisy as heck, unless you tape up the pins) I think I paid $39.00 for it 15 years ago. It gets thrown in the truck for elk hunts. I leave it in the truck until after the first load, then it goes to work.
Title: Re: Homemade pack bord or buy one from the store.
Post by: lostbackpacker on June 03, 2013, 07:44:51 PM: Bought a large Alice pack w frame at garage sale for 5$ 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
Title: Re: Homemade pack bord or buy one from the store.
Post by: ellensburgpo on June 09, 2013, 10:13:32 PM: 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/ (http://www.basspro.com/RedHead-Enduroflex-Plus-Field-Frame/product/10212624/)