Making a pack frame

Eric,

The recommended rods are 7071 aluminum. The perimeter can be sewn, taped, or glued.

Thanks for the tip.

Any more details? Can these be had at regular home improvement stores? What is the type of corrugated material the signs are made of? What kind of glue should one use for the ends to prevent the rods from poking through.

Thanks for any tips you may have.

Hi there Eric,

I have a whole bunch of sheets of the corrugated plastic you are talking about. You list that you are located in the Rockies. Are you in the Colorado front range area by any chance? I am in Ft Collins. The sheets are light, but expensive to ship because of there size (24"x36" or 24" by 18"). The rods can be most any metal that will keep its shape. I have aluminum and steel. I buy the wire by the coil. Steel is heavier but you need few rods for the same stiffness. Im not exactly sure where the break even point is.

To keep the wire from poking through the bottom, you do not actually need to add anything. The key is to cut the rods 1/2" – 3/4" shorter than the length of the plastic sheet. Then push the rod into the tunnel so that it is recessed about 1/4" on both ends. Then bend the sheet over the edge of a counter or over your thigh. The bends will keep the rods in place.

Ive used these types of frames quite a bit. Let me know if you have any other questions. If you are interested in the sheets you can email me at ron at r2packs dot com.

Thanks for the great tips Ron. I do live in the Denver area. We'll be taking a trip up to Rocky Mountain Park around the fourth (along with the rest of the state, from what I hear :-) I'll shoot you a private email soon if I have more questions of if there's a possibility of buying some of those materials from you.

Eric
Please do shoot me an email. I will be in SW Colorado on a trip from the 1st-8th of July. I leave for Nepal on the 14th of July until the first week of August.

So it looks like we will have to meet up before the 4th if you need it for that trip. Ill keep an eye out for your email.