Kifaru Tahr and Mountain Rambler

[rhunter424]

Anyone with a tahr also have the mountain rambler to take a comparison shot?

 

[sr80]

I used to have the rambler ,but sold it and got the tahr. For me, the tahr is going to be a better pack. I really like how the top folds over as a make shift lid. I just leave the top un cinched and fold it over. When I need my spotter and tripod I just unbuckle two clips and open it, super quick.

 

[rhunter424]

I used to have a mountain rambler too and didn't care for it due to the way it attached to the frame.

I have a tahr and it's awesome.

With the sale going on I bought a nomad and mountain rambler that I'm going to hack and combine and make a nomad rambler. It should fix the floppiness issue.

 

[White Mamba]

Im doing the same as rhunter, just ordered the Nomad on sale and will make my own scabbard, the Rambler has to many issues

 

[VAHunter01]

What issues does the Rambler have?

 

[rhunter424]

What issues does the Rambler have?

My issues with the rambler can be described in one word: floppy.

Floppiness applies to:
- top connection to the frame.
- connection on the bottom
- meat shelf material on the back

I also don't like how the lid connects to the frame. I prefer the hypalone sleeve.

I'm planning on taking the nomad and cutting off the wings. Mounting that to the duplex.

Then I'm going to cut the meat shelf off the rambler. Attach the bottom compression straps to the nomads bottom straps and tie the side of the rambler to the nomad side tab loops.

It's pretty simple and should alleviate the flop.

 

[mrbillbrown]

Why couldn't you just cut the meat shelf off the rambler and add a hypalon sleeve up top. You might even be able to use the meat shelf material in place of the hypalon sleeve. Would save you buying and hacking a nomad.

 

[White Mamba]

My issues with the rambler can be described in one word: floppy.

Floppiness applies to:
- top connection to the frame.
- connection on the bottom
- meat shelf material on the back

I also don't like how the lid connects to the frame. I prefer the hypalone sleeve.

I'm planning on taking the nomad and cutting off the wings. Mounting that to the duplex.

Then I'm going to cut the meat shelf off the rambler. Attach the bottom compression straps to the nomads bottom straps and tie the side of the rambler to the nomad side tab loops.

It's pretty simple and should alleviate the flop.

Exactly! A lot of other posts with people saying the same thing. In addition I think the side pockets should have lids, otherwise all kinds of crap gets in there. It would also be nice if the straps had the option of going under the side pockets instead of just over so I can compress my loads as needed.

 

[VAHunter01]

Well crap...I have everything in my cart (Rambler/Duplex set up) and ready to order, now yall got me second guessing it.

 

[rhunter424]

Why couldn't you just cut the meat shelf off the rambler and add a hypalon sleeve up top. You might even be able to use the meat shelf material in place of the hypalon sleeve. Would save you buying and hacking a nomad.

You have a source for me to add a hypalon sleeve?

I figured the nomads hypalon sleeve and the straps pulling the nomad down to the lower portion of the frame would be very tight and secure. Then 550'ing the nomad's tab loops on the side and the ramblers tab loops on the side would make it even more secure. It would be easily removed still though because none of that would be attached to the frame except for the side buckles and the hypalon sleeve (just like all the other Kifaru bags).

 

[rhunter424]

Here's kinda a mock up of what I'm envisioning. Slight thread drift but if you're interested:

 

[mt100gr.]

Good ideas above for sure. As much as I like the size of the Rambler, I have learned I much prefer carrying a rifle the way my Nomad carried it: butt down and nothing below the frame. For me, unless the rifle is exactly centered I sometimes hit the barrel with my ankles when it's in the scabbard. Also, with it hanging low behind me, should me feet go out from on under me, the barrel gets ground into the trail. Stepping over big logs and or hopping off them also puts the barrel in harm's way.

Now that the season is over (about 2 hours ago) I will tear it down and fire up the sewing machine! Winter wolf hunting will give me plenty of trips afield to find a design that will work better.

 

[rhunter424]

Well crap...I have everything in my cart (Rambler/Duplex set up) and ready to order, now yall got me second guessing it.

You can always return within 30 days.

 

[VAHunter01]

You can always return within 30 days.

Yea I saw that so went ahead with the order.

Looks perfect for my needs and being on sale helped with justifying the cost.

 

[elkhunt]

I have the Rambler and hunted with it this year. The pack did bug me with the shifting. Now I have the two lower straps running all the way across and that has stopped the shifting! Just training with weights and some gear has shown me that it stays in place now. I have a camping trip in January that will really show me if it works. I like having the shelf for my gear to drop at camp then go day hunt mode. Didn't get to try it for bringing out an elk yet but the pack works for me.

 

[rhunter424]

Now I have the two lower straps running all the way across and that has stopped the shifting!

The lower horizontal compression straps? What do you mean all the way across?

 

[elkhunt]

The way it comes is three straps on each side. The top ones for the pockets I don't see a way to change. The two lower ones I take the buckles off and have one set so they meet in the middle.

 

[squeekieslayer]

I have the nomad and use an eberlestock scabbard. Works really well with my 7mm a bolt and pretty well with my big 338 edge with large scope and 3+ inch barrel.

The only thing i didnt like about the nomad was that I had to undo a ton of straps to use anything in side. I recently got the guid lid. It fits great and i keep the frequently used stuff in there.

Its not for everyone.. but works great for my need

The idea of the nomad/rambler combo seems to me like you are adding another level of straps and buckles to undo to get into anything. 2 on lid, 3 on nomad, and then however you have the rambler closed and compacted... may be enough to drive me nuts

I know a lot of people are not fond of the nomad but i have had great luck with mine


Joe

 

[mt100gr.]

Mod 1. I will post pics when I can, but I sewed a strap across the back of the pack bag- only attached at the ends just above the highest tab loop. It crosses where the bottom of the hypalon sleeve would be. It's a tight fit around the top of my duplex frame but to get it on, all that needs to be undone are the load lifters. It snugs up the top a lot and is easy on/off. I think I could still use the scabbard with it hooked, too.

This also connects the top of the bag to the frame so the lid straps don't need to be routed through the common loop at the top of the frame meaning so the lid can be pulled down lower than the top of the frame and actually covers the drawstring opening on the top of the bag. ...more to come.

 

[rhunter424]

The idea of the nomad/rambler combo seems to me like you are adding another level of straps and buckles to undo to get into anything. 2 on lid, 3 on nomad, and then however you have the rambler closed and compacted... may be enough to drive me nuts

My original idea of combining the nomad and rambler would involve removing the nomads wings and not using any of the compression straps from the nomad. See photos above.