I got a question about what i could use for shoulder straps for a packbasket and how to attach whatever i use for straps?

13 i use regular back pack harness it works really good.

What did you make it out of - have a picture? Depending on that feature of shape and the material that it is made from, no matter what it is, your biggest challenge will be to secure a harness to that unit that remains durable through use with a minimum amount of maintenance to keep it on.

Some of the injection-molded "plastic" wastebaskets/buckets type containers become brittle in the cold weather, making the fastening of a harness to one difficult.

Jonathan

sportsman i'm also curious on what this basket looks like. if you can, please post pictures. they would most likely be appreciated by many.

alice frame packs the strapes are removeale so youmay be able to get some another source to suit your needs .some framed backpacks use a simialer design

Just a thought, I made my packbaskets (one for water line and one for dry land) out of the tall cat litter square buckets.
For the straps I used an old nylon ratchet strap. Just cut off the ends, drilled small holes in the top and lower corners of the buckets, and knotted the straps on the inside. Worked good for years!

Depending upon what you want to use it for, and what you want to carry in it, weight and size wise, try not to be too chinchy with the harness - especially if you are going to be carrying it any distance for a length of time. It should be adjustable and padded to some extent if at all possible for comfort.

This is an idea that I got from member RustyAxeCamp from Michigan late last year. I bought an Army Surplus duffle bag (heavy duty canvas, not synthetic material):



I plan on finding a "wastebasket" shaped container of a size to insert into it as he did in this photo of his that he sent to me:



Note how the upper portion of the bag is folded back down inside the container so the harness meets the upper rim of it.

There are several options - again, depending upon what type of container you plan on using to make yours. That would be most helpful to give you some more ideas.

Jonathan

looks like a 30 dallon plastic drum with the top cut off would work for that Jonathan.

Jerry, Thanks for the idea - never gave "round" a thought. I'll check that possibility out.

Jonathan

Go to a junk yard and get some seat belt straps then bolt/rivet on the basket

Just a thought I’ve never done it

I would imagine that a round basket would be a little uncomfortable on the middle of your back though. Looks like a clever idea though with the duffel bag.

Freeman, I know of a couple of trappers who have done that very thing. The trick is in securing them solidly to the container is to buffer the fastener with a washer on both sides of the attachment to the container of choice. The smaller hole diameters in fender washers is perfect for that adaptation.

Reds, That was my thought, too, after thinking about that - the flat contour being more comfortable and forgiving.

Jonathan

More cheap than clever.....

Johnathan - I will try to remember and pm you the wastebasket measurements for the one I used. Fit like a glove.

Rusty, Thanks!

How about rephrasing "More cheap than clever....." to: "Very, very clever, and economical!"

You sold me on the idea, and I am not easily impressed with much. So, park that in your neat Duffle Bag pouch. Ha!

Jonathan

Jonathan you could attach a piece of wood to make a straight edge so it sits flat against your back.

I have some of the 30 gallon plastic drums here and a couple of older sea bags so I am going to be making one or two here later.

Jerry, Now you have me reconsidering, and maybe over thinking. The sidewalls on most of those drums are reasonably flexible as I recall; however, the bottoms are fairly rigid. Wonder if the base of one contacting one's lower back could be made concave by an applied, controlled heat to soften the plastic (without melting it) to make that broad dimple there.

Might be a wayward thought, but my mind was wandering in the "can't be done" gears.

Jonathan

I just used the frame from an old backpack, added a plywood lure box and secured a piece of pvc inside the 30 gallon garbage can to secure my trowel. I also attached a canvas bag on the side to hold a spray bottle and I am finished. It was cheap to build and it has been going strong for a couple years now. I also added some straps around the garbage can for added strength.

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Necessity is the mother of invention! Good work and ideas so far!

heres mine i started, still want to add acouple more holders

mine is a old seat belt i salvaged from a guy building a stock car, i took it and doubled it over a sewed it together then attached it with 2 metal straps, one on the inside annd one on the outside, top and bottom

Does anyone know where to get one of them backpack frames?

You can try http://www.freecycle.org in your area and post that you need a backpack with external frame for hiking, that is how I got mine. Everything on that site is listed for free.

ttt

Go on ebay and look up alice pack or alice pack frame.

you can get one cheap!

If you have an Army Surplus outlet near you, that may be your best bet to find one.

Many might wonder who this Alice lady really is. It is an acronym or abbreviation for this piece of military gear.

A.L.I.C.E ("All-purpose Lightweight Individual Carrying Equipment")


The Vietnam era Alice pack and frame are well made and ergonomic. I have a complete one. They come in two sizes, medium and large. If you decide to get the unit, get the large size.

There are online sources for buying new and used ones, or the components separately - frame, harness, pack. If you shop hard and long enough, you may find your desired combination to fit your wallet. Many of those selling them new and complete seem way overpriced to me.

If you aren't familiar with the Alice mentioned, it is shown below for your reference. They can be found in different colors - camouflage, olive drab and black.

Jonathan

Complete Alice Pack





Harness And Frame



Harness

While I think of it, and forgot to mention - I started compiling and researching an assortment of information on trapping packbaskets and totes a couple of years ago to develop into an essay to post on T-man. It is in the rough draft stages now, and too early to take up this thread at this juncture.

I have accumulated photos of homemade ones from members, and the commercial products available, over that time.

Coydogslayer and Bghunter119, may I have permission to use your examples in my pending article?

Zook, I believe I got yours quite awhile ago for your white one, but not the blue one.

Thanks.

Jonathan

thanks guys thinkin i will go with the frame pack.