cargo bag

[Flybyjim]

I am fitting the cargo bag and wondering how well the side attachments work and what we are to stick them to. It seems that just the sticky stuff is to hold these two areas.

[WWhunter]

Jim,
Not sure it is the same but in the Model IV I recently sold there was a lot of Velcro included with the cargo bag. It seemed that every edge/seem had another piece that needed to be applied to a tube. The Velcro had a double sided type tape on it that was very strong once attached. Hope this helps!

[kitfox2009]

Hi Jim
I solved the side issue by sliding a wooden dowel in the velcro pockets. The dowels are just long enough so each end rests on the cross tubes at the seat back and the rear of the cargo bag. Easy to install and remove. Hope this helps.
Cheers Don

[jiott]

I have found that the Velcro self adhesive strips don't stay put very well on the frame tubes. They stick pretty good at first, but over a few years they slip and move around, probably during hot summer days. Am interested if anyone has found a better way to stick them to the tubes?

[kitfox2009]

Mine is a late 90's Vixen and must have a different configuration. The velcro male and females are sewen to the bag and the flap. These flaps just fold over the aircraft tubing and velcro sticks to each other . No velcro ataches to the tubing. The dowels I referred to are only to provide support for the sides where there is no tubing.
Difficult to explain . Maybe I will try for a few pics next time at the hanger.
The system is very strong and would support much more than you would ever carry in your cargo bay.
Good luck
Don

[jrevens]

I have found that the Velcro self adhesive strips don't stay put very well on the frame tubes. They stick pretty good at first, but over a few years they slip and move around, probably during hot summer days. Am interested if anyone has found a better way to stick them to the tubes?

I had that concern in my mind also, Jim. What I did to make it better for me was to add some aluminum "ledges" along the perimeter of the area that the Sack covers... this gave me a nice flat surface, the same width as the Velcro, to attach it to. I hope the pictures help explain what I'm talking about... they run along each fuselage side as well as partially down the edge under the triangular windows.

[Paul Z]

I have found that the Velcro self adhesive strips don't stay put very well on the frame tubes. They stick pretty good at first, but over a few years they slip and move around, probably during hot summer days. Am interested if anyone has found a better way to stick them to the tubes?

Get some thin zip ties one at each end around the Velcro, and one in the middle, situation of them coming loose solved.

[SkySteve]

I made my own cargo bag. To reinforce the top left and right sides, I took an old fiberglass fishing rod and cut it to fit both sides, the same as the wood dowels mentioned. I then ran it through a folded over "sleeve" in both top sides of the cargo bag and held the fishing rod "dowels" in place with zip ties to the airplane frame. Very strong and light.

[jiott]

Thanks John and Paul, I like both of your solutions. I think I will try Paul's simple and easy method first, then later install John's "ledges". John, are those ledges aluminum angles, or just strips? Hysoled on.

[jiott]

Don and Steve, yes your configuration is different. My SS7 also uses the sewn on male and female Velcro sleeves for all the major weight supporting places. The Velcro that sticks to the perimeter tubing only anchors some cosmetic flaps to make a nice finished appearance. Thats why I haven't worried too much about it for 4.5 years. Now I'm at the stage where I am looking for small detail projects to make things better/nicer; such as fairings, Velcro, gap seals, cold air ingression, oil cooler shutters, camera mounts, overhead shades, etc.

[jrevens]

Thanks John and Paul, I like both of your solutions. I think I will try Paul's simple and easy method first, then later install John's "ledges". John, are those ledges aluminum angles, or just strips? Hysoled on.

I bent up some thin angles for under the windows, and Hysoled those. They are similar in thickness to the window frame material. The side pieces over the baggage opening are thicker flat strips, attached with non-cushioned Adel clamps and a little Hysol.

Paul Z - I wanted something where I would be able to “zip & un-zip” the Velcro without having to mess around, particularly to access my ELT. I wanted it to look clean also. I’ve seen too many that look messy to me, with the velcro peeling up here and there, even with zip ties

[Paul Z]

Once I zip tied my Velcro strips I no longer had problems with them coming up. When I was getting my plane ready to sell, they were still working well. I would imagine if you zip tied them at each end when first installed you would never have them come loose.