New! MPAC Straddle Prototype - Page 11

**Senor Buckwheat** · 07-17-2009, 10:06 AM

I'd be interested. Always can use more storage. I just bought the rear door combo package.

On a side note:

The front door bag is perfect for putting my Kahr PM9 in. When I wear cargo shorts, I just strap it on my belt. It looks like it is just a place to carry personal items (i.e. a man purse). Other times I just carry it with my hand. When I am driving, depending on what I am doing, I just put the bag in the side of the door or I keep the door bag strapped to my belt and use a WRB holster (which I carry the gun in while in the bag) and secure it to the door space with velco. WRB Velcro Stick-On Holsters

**Hindsight** · 07-17-2009, 10:47 AM

I find that the front door pouch is perfect for carring my G26 and some extra magazines...it breaks up the outline of the gun and is fairly discrete in the truck.

Doc

**spincycle** · 07-17-2009, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Hindsight previously said:

That is a great offer. I will bring it up with the engineer when we measure for the FJ M6 Straddle.

I would guess that by the time we make it the way it should have been made...IE Locking storage, extended rear compartment, real padded arm rest with matching fabric and some sort of keyless entry. It will cost slight less than the cost of reforming healthcare.

I will keep you posted.

Doc

Sounds good! Since I'm at the summit right now, I'm surrounded by plenty of funding for this project. I just need a fleet of tow trucks and flatbeds and a willing fence to pass all these fancy trucks off to, and we'll be all set.

**Moontime** · 07-19-2009, 04:28 PM

As a former bicycle frame builder, I have used rivet style nuts on frame tubes that would hold the straddle rack or the dash rack in beatifully, would only require drilling holes from the out side ( no removal of the console)

Ideally they need to be instslled with a rivet tool, but a with a little patience, an allen wrench, the appropriate sized bolt and nut and a box end wrench will do the job.

This is how i will be installing mine. If you want, pm me and give me an address and I will send you a few so you could try them out to see what you think.

Quote:

Hindsight previously said:

For those of us that will be bolting this item on, I am working on a system where the recieving nut will be retained on the plastic wall of the center console. This will require the console to be taken apart once for mounting of the hardware. After the initial installation the straddle will be able to be removed by simply unscrewing four external bolts.

Ease of removal is pretty important to us concerning this project...mostly because after working with the Straddle and the prospective bags, I feel that the best way to switch out bags will be to quickly remove the straddle.

That said, I still feel that the only people that will want to bolt the straddle on will be those who will be tugging at it (IE legal CCW carriers).

I should have some pictures in the next week.

Doc

**spincycle** · 07-19-2009, 08:41 PM

This thread is *really* making me wish I had access to a well equipped machine shop, aluminum sheet stock, a sheet bending press & cutter...I've removed my center console so many times to rearrange electronics and add antenna lines and switches and whatnot, I feel like if I don't build a new center console to suit me (with the Springtail MPAC saddle as a feature, of course!), I'm going to explode.

Maybe I should find a local shop and....beg them to let me come in in the wee hours?

**Hindsight** · 07-19-2009, 10:47 PM

Quote:

spincycle previously said:

This thread is *really* making me wish I had access to a well equipped machine shop, aluminum sheet stock, a sheet bending press & cutter...I've removed my center console so many times to rearrange electronics and add antenna lines and switches and whatnot, I feel like if I don't build a new center console to suit me (with the Springtail MPAC saddle as a feature, of course!), I'm going to explode.

Maybe I should find a local shop and....beg them to let me come in in the wee hours?

Hold your panties on!

I haven't even had a chance to talk to the engineer yet? I just got my hands on a center console friday.

We meet on thursday and the center console is on the agenda. Don't get your hopes too high though, I think it will be a tough sell.

Doc

**spincycle** · 07-20-2009, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Hindsight previously said:

Hold your panties on!

I haven't even had a chance to talk to the engineer yet? I just got my hands on a center console friday.

I'm just jazzed, 'cuz I'm (very) slowly accumulating fab skills, and looking at your work has my imagination all fired up - design ideas, etc. I really may start work on a replacement center console...at least a one-off. Aluminum. Front end basically the same, but with a redesign of everything behind the shifter, incorporating not just drink/change/storage, but electrical components (switch panel, power distribution, yada yada).

**Hindsight** · 07-20-2009, 04:47 AM

Quote:

spincycle previously said:

I'm just jazzed, 'cuz I'm (very) slowly accumulating fab skills, and looking at your work has my imagination all fired up - design ideas, etc. I really may start work on a replacement center console...at least a one-off. Aluminum. Front end basically the same, but with a redesign of everything behind the shifter, incorporating not just drink/change/storage, but electrical components (switch panel, power distribution, yada yada).

That is generally how our prototypes get made. Really all you need to make your own is a decent set of snips, a sheetmetal brake, basic tools and a rivit gun. I want to see pics of the project

I will keep working on that project on our end as well.

Doc

**Hindsight** · 07-21-2009, 05:28 PM

Update:

Here is the hard mounting that we figured out for the straddle. We found a collapsing Jack nut that works perfectly for providing a hard mount for the FJ Straddle. Installation is just around 1 hour.

After the initial installation, the Straddle can be taken off using only an allen wrench in a matter of a couple of minutes. We will also supply velcro for padding and for those who do not desire the "hard Mount" option.

I have ordered the racks today and will start a presale later this week. Keep an eye out in the group buy section. We will be doing a combo deal initailly with one "map" style pouch and a small i-pouch. Cost for the combo will be $94.00 plus shipping ($117.00 value). OR The straddle can be purchased alone for $79.50.

Anticipated delivery is roughly mid-september

Keep in mind this is only for Automatic Transmission models. The M6 will follow soon.

**Biff...** · 07-21-2009, 07:46 PM

Doc, pm me when you have the pre sale. I'm in for the pkg.