Model IV Cargo Pod

[henrysamson]

Hi,

I am in the process of installing the "bomb" cargo pod on my model IV. It seems that the factory either neglected to weld the two forward attachment points on my fuselage or there is something I am missing. The three rear ones are there. So, it seems to me that the forward ones should be attached to the fuselage tube that crosses the cabin floor from left to right just under the aft edge of the wood flooring. I am hoping that a member that has a Model IV (even if it doesn't have the cargo pod) could verify that for me and also give me the distances from the outside "edge" of the fuselage to each of the tabs.

There are also two extra eye bolts included. I say "extra" because they are not shown in the single page diagram that I have for instructions. Perhaps they are mounted up through the floor board in a similar fashion as the radiator. Perhaps I am missing some instructions.

Hope to be flying soon! I want to have this done before inspection just in case it is considered a "major modification".

Thanks for the help!

Henry

[t j]

Henry, the front cargo pod mount tabs are welded on horizontal and do not stick down through the fabric like the rear ones do. Heres a picture during my construction.

I drilled the floor boards through those tabs just incase I wanted to install a pod some day. This picture shows the left front mount hole. I suspect the eye bolts are used to attach to the two front mounts. I don't have a picture of the right hand side one but I remember it is a couple inches in front of the right stick mount hole in the control colum.

You may be able to feel them by pushing up on the fabric in these areas. if you don't find them and no one responds with the measurements I can measure the location for you when I get down to the airport.

[wwillyard]

The eye bolts go through the floor board. Added the cargo pod to my Classic IV a couple of years ago.

[henrysamson]

OK, I drilled those holes also although I didn't know what they were for and I bolted my floorboards to the tabs through the holes. It will be an easy matter to cut the fabric and remove the bolts and replace them with the eye bolts. But, the problem with me using them is that they are directly over where the Grove landing gear cross the bottom under the fuselage.

Anyone have the pod on a IV with grove gear? They still sell it with no caveats regarding excluded models. I bought it with the kit so I assume I got the version for a IV with spring gear.

I found this posting on another list. There must be a way!

http://www.homebuiltairplanes.com/forums/completions/87-rex-phelps-kitfox.html

If need be, I can mount the eyebolts on pod a little further apart. This will move the forward bracket further forward and then just bolt up through the floor boards (ahead of the gear and behind the radiator) in the same manner as used to attach the radiator and air scoop. But it won't be as strong.

Thanks for the responses!

Henry

[wwillyard]

I have the Grove gear on my Classic IV and the eye bolts are aft of the gear.

[henrysamson]

Are your eye bolt attached only to the wood floorboards or also to the tabs that TJ shows the location of in his pictures?

Thanks,

Henry

[wwillyard]

There are no tabs on my air frame. I used a fender washer on the top side and a standard AN washer on the bottom side. Plenty strong with a 40 lb. limit for the pod.

[henrysamson]

Thanks for all of the help on this!

Henry

[Spook712]

Hi all,

here is a picture of my underside of the aircraft.
Model 4 Speedster from 1996.

I can see no taps to put teh eyebolt on.

[t j]

I think I see the tabs Spook. The rear ones stick straight down from the lift strut carry through tube and it Looks like there is a bolt installed through the left front one on the diagonal tube about 4 inches in front of the landing gear bungee tube.

Top View.

[Spook712]

Thanks for the reply.

The rear ones I know, but I think the one in the front with the bolt belongs to the control column.
I can't see tne ones for the cargo pod.

Any ideas what to do without them?

[t j]

Okay, I see now you are missing the front tabs. If you still have not covered the belly you can put adel clamps on the diagonal tubes there. On the diagram above I have penciled in the measurements from the front bolt holes in the control column mount bearing to the holes in the tabs.

The left one (Pilot side) is 2.5 inches left and 1.3 inches forward.
The right one is 2.25 inches left and 1.3 inches forward.
Center to center the holes in the two front tabs are 17.0 inches apart.

[airlina]

I would caution against using adels for this type of application. As I found out the hard way they are not meant to be used in areas that need structural integrity. Do a search on this site for the "battery box service bulletin" that I posted a few years back and you will see what i mean. A better solution is to make up some of the simple 4130 steel tube clamps that can be custom made to fit over existing fuse tubes to secure your cargo pod. (photos are included in the service bulletin) Bruce Lina N199CL

[Paul Z]

Here is a neat Cargo Pod, I have been thinking of Ordering one. The man at the pod company said one of their customers took their pod and mad the Bomb Pod. Having worked defense industry for 35 years, I just gotta have one!