Elkaddict
09-19-2013, 10:28 PM
I've owned a Kifaru G1 freighter frame for a number of years. It is a comfortable frame, carries a load well, but I was always unhappy with the way elk quarters fit on the frame. Full quarters were awkward to load and tie down. I had to use a mile of cord and it was really finicky trying to thread the cord through the nylon loops on the frame. The quarters never fit quite right on the cargo chair either. It was a pain. Piling boned meat in a bag and tying it down wasn't much better, as the meat sagged around the two nylon straps that held the cargo chair in place.
A couple of years back I bought a Mystery Ranch Nice Frame with a load sling. The load sling is really slick. Lay the quarter or meat bag into the pack, pull the load sling around it and cinch up the six nylon straps to tighten it in to the pack. Very quick, easy and secure.
I hadn't been on the Kifaru site for quite a while, but after reading a couple of threads here about their new frames I decided to take a look. I got interested in Kifaru again, and decided I would try one of their Duplex Timberline bags for my current frame and also a cargo panel. Well the bag will have to wait. Because I have a G1 frame, they wanted me to ship them my frame in case there needed to be any adjustments made to make their newer bags fit. I didn't want to be without a pack this fall, so I nixed that idea for now.
I did however order up a Cargo Panel, which arrived today. So far I am very impressed. It is 36" long, but can be made to attach to the frame in 3 different lengths. It has a huge number of tabs, common loops and three bar sliders to configure the panel in a number of different ways. It also comes with a strap kit (in it's own small bag) that contains everything you need to attach this panel to pretty much any pack they make. I will say, that it is pretty much twice the price of a load sling, but in my mind it also offers more versatility.
If you have an existing frame and bag, you can attach the panel to the frame and stuff it up between pack and frame. I was able to devise a way where I can roll it up and snap it to the bottom of the frame, making for a very light and compact freighter.
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w234/V1Vr/Kifaru%20cargo%20panel/DSCN0698_zpsdc9a9c5e.jpg (http://s177.photobucket.com/user/V1Vr/media/Kifaru%20cargo%20panel/DSCN0698_zpsdc9a9c5e.jpg.html)
Following are pictures of both sides of the panel. The second one compares it in size to a Mystery Ranch Cargo Panel. The Kifaru has 3 cinch straps per side plus 2 on the top, compared to MRs 2 and 2.
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w234/V1Vr/Kifaru%20cargo%20panel/DSCN0699_zpsde3d9342.jpg (http://s177.photobucket.com/user/V1Vr/media/Kifaru%20cargo%20panel/DSCN0699_zpsde3d9342.jpg.html)
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w234/V1Vr/Kifaru%20cargo%20panel/DSCN0701_zpscabc8d7b.jpg (http://s177.photobucket.com/user/V1Vr/media/Kifaru%20cargo%20panel/DSCN0701_zpscabc8d7b.jpg.html)
Last, a picture of the sling loaded with the largest thing I could find at hand. Probably a little smaller than a full quarter, maybe about the size of half a deer.
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w234/V1Vr/Kifaru%20cargo%20panel/DSCN0702_zpse0405b40.jpg (http://s177.photobucket.com/user/V1Vr/media/Kifaru%20cargo%20panel/DSCN0702_zpse0405b40.jpg.html)
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w234/V1Vr/Kifaru%20cargo%20panel/DSCN0704_zpse09b11c2.jpg (http://s177.photobucket.com/user/V1Vr/media/Kifaru%20cargo%20panel/DSCN0704_zpse09b11c2.jpg.html)
I have a Kifaru lumbar pack that attaches to the top of my frame much like a MR daypack lid. It is perfect for carrying field dressing supplies and other essentials for a day in the bush. With meat on the frame it can just attach to the back side of the cargo panel. All in all I am really impressed with this addition for the purposes of hauling heavy loads. It is small enough and light enough to get rolled up and tossed in a pack if you are self supported for a multi day but want a freighter frame as well.
I hope this is of some use to some of you Kifaru users out there. Hopefully in a couple of weeks I will be able to report how it performs in the field, and have pics of this same pack loaded down with meat! Cheers.
A couple of years back I bought a Mystery Ranch Nice Frame with a load sling. The load sling is really slick. Lay the quarter or meat bag into the pack, pull the load sling around it and cinch up the six nylon straps to tighten it in to the pack. Very quick, easy and secure.
I hadn't been on the Kifaru site for quite a while, but after reading a couple of threads here about their new frames I decided to take a look. I got interested in Kifaru again, and decided I would try one of their Duplex Timberline bags for my current frame and also a cargo panel. Well the bag will have to wait. Because I have a G1 frame, they wanted me to ship them my frame in case there needed to be any adjustments made to make their newer bags fit. I didn't want to be without a pack this fall, so I nixed that idea for now.
I did however order up a Cargo Panel, which arrived today. So far I am very impressed. It is 36" long, but can be made to attach to the frame in 3 different lengths. It has a huge number of tabs, common loops and three bar sliders to configure the panel in a number of different ways. It also comes with a strap kit (in it's own small bag) that contains everything you need to attach this panel to pretty much any pack they make. I will say, that it is pretty much twice the price of a load sling, but in my mind it also offers more versatility.
If you have an existing frame and bag, you can attach the panel to the frame and stuff it up between pack and frame. I was able to devise a way where I can roll it up and snap it to the bottom of the frame, making for a very light and compact freighter.
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w234/V1Vr/Kifaru%20cargo%20panel/DSCN0698_zpsdc9a9c5e.jpg (http://s177.photobucket.com/user/V1Vr/media/Kifaru%20cargo%20panel/DSCN0698_zpsdc9a9c5e.jpg.html)
Following are pictures of both sides of the panel. The second one compares it in size to a Mystery Ranch Cargo Panel. The Kifaru has 3 cinch straps per side plus 2 on the top, compared to MRs 2 and 2.
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w234/V1Vr/Kifaru%20cargo%20panel/DSCN0699_zpsde3d9342.jpg (http://s177.photobucket.com/user/V1Vr/media/Kifaru%20cargo%20panel/DSCN0699_zpsde3d9342.jpg.html)
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w234/V1Vr/Kifaru%20cargo%20panel/DSCN0701_zpscabc8d7b.jpg (http://s177.photobucket.com/user/V1Vr/media/Kifaru%20cargo%20panel/DSCN0701_zpscabc8d7b.jpg.html)
Last, a picture of the sling loaded with the largest thing I could find at hand. Probably a little smaller than a full quarter, maybe about the size of half a deer.
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w234/V1Vr/Kifaru%20cargo%20panel/DSCN0702_zpse0405b40.jpg (http://s177.photobucket.com/user/V1Vr/media/Kifaru%20cargo%20panel/DSCN0702_zpse0405b40.jpg.html)
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w234/V1Vr/Kifaru%20cargo%20panel/DSCN0704_zpse09b11c2.jpg (http://s177.photobucket.com/user/V1Vr/media/Kifaru%20cargo%20panel/DSCN0704_zpse09b11c2.jpg.html)
I have a Kifaru lumbar pack that attaches to the top of my frame much like a MR daypack lid. It is perfect for carrying field dressing supplies and other essentials for a day in the bush. With meat on the frame it can just attach to the back side of the cargo panel. All in all I am really impressed with this addition for the purposes of hauling heavy loads. It is small enough and light enough to get rolled up and tossed in a pack if you are self supported for a multi day but want a freighter frame as well.
I hope this is of some use to some of you Kifaru users out there. Hopefully in a couple of weeks I will be able to report how it performs in the field, and have pics of this same pack loaded down with meat! Cheers.