GT3
FNG
Very nice. Looks good
Finally Built My Ultimate Day Pack. Kuiu Pack, Exo K4 Frame, Kifaru belt
- Thread starter mgstucson
- Start date
@GT3
Thanks
@Fish_monger,
Great Question. There were a few slight modifications and adaptations, but nothing that can't be reversed so that all the EXO K4 stuff still works just as intended, and all the KUIU stuff works just as intended.
Mounting KUIU bag and shoulder straps to EXO K4 frame and belt
Top of Bag Attachment
1. Notice the tops of the stays on the K4 frame only have a short stub that the bag can slip over, there is a buckle on the stay that will prohibit the KUIU bag stay pockets from fully seating onto the tops of the K4 stays.
2. These 2 buckles on the tops of the K4 stays will need to be relocated. These are for the load lifter straps on the shoulder straps. KUIU load lifter buckles are located on the bag not the stays (fortunately) so these buckles will not be used with the KUIU bag. These buckles can be twisted so that the back of the buckle is exposed from under the connecting loop on the stay. Then a small section of the back of buckle that was under the loop can be cut away with a dremel cutoff wheel, being careful not to cut the connecting loop on the stay, nor over heating the metal buckle (dip in water occasionally.) Then the buckles can be slipped off the connecting loop to allow use of the frame with a KUIU bag. The buckle can also be slipped back into the stay loop when using frame with K4 bag. Notice there is a vacant loop on top of the frame, between the stay an the carry handle in the second picture.
3. Both buckles can be relocated to these vacant loops by the carry handle, then flipped over the top of the frame and left between the frame and the KUIU bag out of the way, but available if needed. They will be used from this new position when the hauling meat between the K4 frame and the KUIU bag.
4. Now the tops of both stays on the K4 frame will fully seat into the stay pockets on the KUIU bag, The width between the stays on the K4 frame and the width between the pockets on the KUIU bag are a perfect fit. The size of the stays and the size of the pockets are a very nice tight fit.
5. Now the load lifter straps from the KUIU shoulder straps can be connected to the buckles on the top of the KUIU stay pockets on the KUIU bag.
The KUIU bag is now connected to the top of the K4 frame.
Thanks
@Fish_monger,
Great Question. There were a few slight modifications and adaptations, but nothing that can't be reversed so that all the EXO K4 stuff still works just as intended, and all the KUIU stuff works just as intended.
Mounting KUIU bag and shoulder straps to EXO K4 frame and belt
Top of Bag Attachment
1. Notice the tops of the stays on the K4 frame only have a short stub that the bag can slip over, there is a buckle on the stay that will prohibit the KUIU bag stay pockets from fully seating onto the tops of the K4 stays.
2. These 2 buckles on the tops of the K4 stays will need to be relocated. These are for the load lifter straps on the shoulder straps. KUIU load lifter buckles are located on the bag not the stays (fortunately) so these buckles will not be used with the KUIU bag. These buckles can be twisted so that the back of the buckle is exposed from under the connecting loop on the stay. Then a small section of the back of buckle that was under the loop can be cut away with a dremel cutoff wheel, being careful not to cut the connecting loop on the stay, nor over heating the metal buckle (dip in water occasionally.) Then the buckles can be slipped off the connecting loop to allow use of the frame with a KUIU bag. The buckle can also be slipped back into the stay loop when using frame with K4 bag. Notice there is a vacant loop on top of the frame, between the stay an the carry handle in the second picture.
3. Both buckles can be relocated to these vacant loops by the carry handle, then flipped over the top of the frame and left between the frame and the KUIU bag out of the way, but available if needed. They will be used from this new position when the hauling meat between the K4 frame and the KUIU bag.
4. Now the tops of both stays on the K4 frame will fully seat into the stay pockets on the KUIU bag, The width between the stays on the K4 frame and the width between the pockets on the KUIU bag are a perfect fit. The size of the stays and the size of the pockets are a very nice tight fit.
5. Now the load lifter straps from the KUIU shoulder straps can be connected to the buckles on the top of the KUIU stay pockets on the KUIU bag.
The KUIU bag is now connected to the top of the K4 frame.
Attachments
Mounting KUIU bag and shoulder straps to EXO K4 frame and belt
Bottom of Bag Attachment
1. There is no attachment point on the K4 belt for the 2 buckles circled in red. These help side to side stabilization of the bag. Since the K4 frame has more and bigger side of bag straps that secure the bag to the frame, I don't think it is any problem. A strap could be attached to one of the molle attachment points on the belt without much trouble. I use this KUIU bag and K4 frame with a KIFARU belt, and it has attachment straps for these buckles, as does the original KUIU suspension system.
2. These 2 straps are borrowed from the KUIU suspension system.
3. Take the male buckle off the strap, then thread the strap through the bottom slide buckle in the K4 belt, then replace the male slide end of the KUIU buckle back on the strap. The strap is now attached to the bottom of the K4 belt. Now take the male end of both straps and snap them into the female buckles on the back of the KUIU bag,
Now the bottom of the KUIU bag is attached to the bottom of the K4 frame and belt and can be tensioned top to bottom with these straps.
Now the straps from the middle of the K4 frame can be unclipped and wrapped around the KUIU bag and snapped again and tensioned side to side. The K4 frame has 4 of theses straps on each side the bag, where the KUIU frame only has 2 on each side. The KUIU straps hook to the sides of the bag, putting stress across the front of the bag. The more weight in the bag, the greater the stress, If you haul meat in the KUIU system, it crushes everything in the bag, and puts even greater stress on the bag and the 3/4" staps and buckles. The K4 system is better because there are more straps, the straps are 1" on the K4 as opposed to 3/4" on the KUIU, and the straps wrap all the way around the bag and connect to each other, rather than connecting to the bag. This actually supports the bag instead of putting it under weight and stress. This will increase durability of the bag. This also means there are half as many buckles to fool with per strap because they snap to each other in the middle of the front of the bag, instead of snaping to the bag down each side like in the KUIU system. There are also 2 straps down each side to connect the bag to the frame, and 2 extra independent straps on each side to connect meat to frame on pack out. This makes the meat more secure to the frame, and as mentioned, alleviates a great deal of stress on bag and contents while hauling meat. This K4 system is vastly superior to the KUIU system in several aspects.
The K4 shoulder strap bottom sections are sewn to the belt at the bottom and connect to the padded KUIU shoulder strap uppers via the black strap slides with the spring release clip connection through the existing loops on the bottom of the KUIU shoulder pads. Note the 3/4" metal strap slides remain attached in the same loops, but unused, unless theses straps are used again in the KUIU suspension system.
The EXO K4 lid attaches to existing K4 attachment points on the back of the frame. The lid attaches to the front of the KUIU bag on an existing loop using another after market black spring clip delrin plastic clip.
When you use the KUIU bag on the EXO K4 frame with the K4 belt, all pieces can be used again in their respective KUIU or K4 systems. There are no permanent modifications which make any piece unusable in its original system and configuration. Only a few additional after market loop connectors, slides, or triglides are needed. All purchased on Amazon and relatively inexpensive.
The only part of using the KUIU bag with a K4 frame and belt that needs any tools at all is cutting a slot in one side of the buckles on the top of the K4 stays with a Dremel tool. The buckles remain usable, but are now able to be moved to different loops or back to the same loops as needed.
Bottom of Bag Attachment
1. There is no attachment point on the K4 belt for the 2 buckles circled in red. These help side to side stabilization of the bag. Since the K4 frame has more and bigger side of bag straps that secure the bag to the frame, I don't think it is any problem. A strap could be attached to one of the molle attachment points on the belt without much trouble. I use this KUIU bag and K4 frame with a KIFARU belt, and it has attachment straps for these buckles, as does the original KUIU suspension system.
2. These 2 straps are borrowed from the KUIU suspension system.
3. Take the male buckle off the strap, then thread the strap through the bottom slide buckle in the K4 belt, then replace the male slide end of the KUIU buckle back on the strap. The strap is now attached to the bottom of the K4 belt. Now take the male end of both straps and snap them into the female buckles on the back of the KUIU bag,
Now the bottom of the KUIU bag is attached to the bottom of the K4 frame and belt and can be tensioned top to bottom with these straps.
Now the straps from the middle of the K4 frame can be unclipped and wrapped around the KUIU bag and snapped again and tensioned side to side. The K4 frame has 4 of theses straps on each side the bag, where the KUIU frame only has 2 on each side. The KUIU straps hook to the sides of the bag, putting stress across the front of the bag. The more weight in the bag, the greater the stress, If you haul meat in the KUIU system, it crushes everything in the bag, and puts even greater stress on the bag and the 3/4" staps and buckles. The K4 system is better because there are more straps, the straps are 1" on the K4 as opposed to 3/4" on the KUIU, and the straps wrap all the way around the bag and connect to each other, rather than connecting to the bag. This actually supports the bag instead of putting it under weight and stress. This will increase durability of the bag. This also means there are half as many buckles to fool with per strap because they snap to each other in the middle of the front of the bag, instead of snaping to the bag down each side like in the KUIU system. There are also 2 straps down each side to connect the bag to the frame, and 2 extra independent straps on each side to connect meat to frame on pack out. This makes the meat more secure to the frame, and as mentioned, alleviates a great deal of stress on bag and contents while hauling meat. This K4 system is vastly superior to the KUIU system in several aspects.
The K4 shoulder strap bottom sections are sewn to the belt at the bottom and connect to the padded KUIU shoulder strap uppers via the black strap slides with the spring release clip connection through the existing loops on the bottom of the KUIU shoulder pads. Note the 3/4" metal strap slides remain attached in the same loops, but unused, unless theses straps are used again in the KUIU suspension system.
The EXO K4 lid attaches to existing K4 attachment points on the back of the frame. The lid attaches to the front of the KUIU bag on an existing loop using another after market black spring clip delrin plastic clip.
When you use the KUIU bag on the EXO K4 frame with the K4 belt, all pieces can be used again in their respective KUIU or K4 systems. There are no permanent modifications which make any piece unusable in its original system and configuration. Only a few additional after market loop connectors, slides, or triglides are needed. All purchased on Amazon and relatively inexpensive.
The only part of using the KUIU bag with a K4 frame and belt that needs any tools at all is cutting a slot in one side of the buckles on the top of the K4 stays with a Dremel tool. The buckles remain usable, but are now able to be moved to different loops or back to the same loops as needed.
MuleyFever
WKR
I put a KUIU on my K4.
I have always been a fan of Kuiu bags. I have a Kuiu bag modified to fit a Kifaru frame. This year I decided to grab a K4 on the BF sale so I started messing with getting it on the K4. Turns out it was pretty easy.
The top of the frame lined up perfectly. The only issue is that the pocket on the bag is deeper than the length of the part that goes into it. So the bag just folds over a little.
The bag has loops at the top for buckles so I added some and this allows the bag to be detached for using the meat shelf.
On the top side attachment I used...
The top of the frame lined up perfectly. The only issue is that the pocket on the bag is deeper than the length of the part that goes into it. So the bag just folds over a little.
The bag has loops at the top for buckles so I added some and this allows the bag to be detached for using the meat shelf.
On the top side attachment I used...
Nice job. I see you used the K4 shoulder straps. There is always more than one way to skin the cat.I put a KUIU on my K4.
I have always been a fan of Kuiu bags. I have a Kuiu bag modified to fit a Kifaru frame. This year I decided to grab a K4 on the BF sale so I started messing with getting it on the K4. Turns out it was pretty easy.
The top of the frame lined up perfectly. The only issue is that the pocket on the bag is deeper than the length of the part that goes into it. So the bag just folds over a little.
The bag has loops at the top for buckles so I added some and this allows the bag to be detached for using the meat shelf.
On the top side attachment I used...
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