Eberlestock J34 load lifters

[mmw194287]

So all of the sewing machine talk around here lately had me thinking about a thread I saw sometime ago (couldn't find it for reference or else I'd link to it here) where someone had heightened the stays and loadlifters on their Blue Widow. I preordered some webbing and velcro from strapworks.com, bought some stock aluminum down at Ace hardware and bent it to fit the standard stays, came up with a design, and started watching Craigslist for a few weeks. Yesterday I got my hands on an old Deluxe Zigzag. Thing worked perfectly without a hitch, and I found an PDF owners manual online.



After messing around with some old denim (and getting pretty pissed off for a good hour or so, I started in on the webbing--I think I might've managed to pull it off! They might be a little high (and I can cut them down), but I'll see how I like it with some weight--I do really like a backpack that has some positive lift. Seems pretty stable, and my stays fit in the sleeve with the standard stays, so if they fail I can just pull them out, unvelcro the straps, and it'll be like new.







40 bucks for the machine, 10 bucks in thread and needles, and 9 dollars in webbing. Hopefully it makes a difference with heavier loads!

 

[mt100gr.]

nice. I did mine on my Blue Widow. Didn't go as tall, though. I also used another piece of aluminum and made a cross piece that slips into pockets and is locked in with horizontal webbing and a ladderlock. looks like the top of the bikini frame...now its going to the classifieds...

 

[mmw194287]

Yea, I thought about putting in a crosspiece, but I couldn't visualize how I'd go about doing it. Would you mind sending me a picture of how you rigged that?

It's kind of tough to figure out if I should keep doing a few 10 dollar mods or just put the thing on the classifieds and buy an SG or exo. I really like the organization/layout of the pack, and I also love the scabbard.

 

[Hunt'nFish]

For the cross piece mod this might help. http://www.rokslide.com/forums/showthread.php?5956
This link is for the OPW stay mod, but it should be applicable to your Blue Widow.
Hunt'nFish

 

[mt100gr.]

I will take some pics of it and get them to you in the next few days. Photobucket won't let me in so PM me your email and I'll send em that way.

 

[mmw194287]

Hunt'nFish--That's a really useful thread--gets the wheels turning. Thanks for sharing.

mt100gr.--PM sent.

 

[mt100gr.]

PM answered. And pics sent. Post mine up in here too if it's not to much trouble.

 

[mmw194287]

Here are the pictures of mt100gr's mods (thanks again for sharing):

"The pocket for the horizontal stay is sewn to the back of the vertical frame stay flap. the horizontal strap is sewn over the pocket to sandwich the aluminum between the vertical stay material and the strap. with the horizontal strap pulled tight and tension from the front on the load lifters it really locks it in there and keeps the load lifters from pulling your vertical stays in toward each other...our out if you have really wide shoulders."

 

[Fishin-RN]

Cant see the attachments. Ive been thinkin ill do a similar mod to my blue widow. Looks nice and functional.

 

[MesaHorseCo.]

Good idea.

 

[jcodyc40]

Upgrading to the eberlestock large padded waist belt that comes on the battleship and destroyer was worth every penny. I also put together a system with adjusters on the sides that puts even pressure on the entire belt and sucks it up pretty good.View attachment 14379

 

[mmw194287]

Hopefully those pictures of mt100gr's set-up are visible now.

jcodyc40--I've been thinking about upgrading to that belt for a little while now. Good to know that it makes a difference.

 

[jcodyc40]

I'll try and get the attachment to work after work, the mod I did is what really makes the belt more comfortable and can be done on the original. It is completely removable and can be used on any belt that has molle.

 

[Fishin-RN]

Here are the pictures of mt100gr's mods (thanks again for sharing):

"The pocket for the horizontal stay is sewn to the back of the vertical frame stay flap. the horizontal strap is sewn over the pocket to sandwich the aluminum between the vertical stay material and the strap. with the horizontal strap pulled tight and tension from the front on the load lifters it really locks it in there and keeps the load lifters from pulling your vertical stays in toward each other...our out if you have really wide shoulders."

View attachment 14380

View attachment 14381

View attachment 14382

View attachment 14383

This looks nice! I'm convinced to give this a go after I finish my stove. Thanks for putting these up!

 

[jcodyc40]

I think I have the photo figured out, here is a shot of a waist belt mod that works really well for me.

 

[tdenham]

Where did you get the new stay pieces?

 

[mmw194287]

I just bought some aluminum bar stock at Ace Hardware--I think I got 1"x1/4" in four foot-sections. I just bent it by hand to fit the curve of the factory stays and then cut them to length once I slipped them in the sleeves to get an idea of how high I wanted them.

Something like this--

http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay...gId=10051&cmRelshp=rel&rel=nofollow&cId=PDIO1

 

[mt100gr.]

I got my aluminum from another pack. It's has been cannibalized for all sorts of materials. Buckles, drawcords, stay material, fabric, etc. It's living on as parts of other, modified, packs.