Kent Tooling Box Roof Rack

Buddha Boy

Hi All,

I recently purchased one of Kent Tooling's excellent J-boxes for the Inspo Classic. I've now got it all setup with the 2 x 3l and 2 x 7l all mounted to the sides. Now, the only problem was is where to mount my 1.5l argon (air) bottle for suit and lift-bag inflate. It won't go on the pre-drilled lid as the 7's are in the way. Nor would it go at the bottom due to the 7l 1st stages. I didn't want to mount it outside the 3's or 7's due to width/profile issues.

I've been chatting with Richard and John Perrin at KT and have sent over a drawing for the type of bracket that I think will solve my problems. It will be made from 2.5mm stainless, laser cut, drilled and deburred (as with all KT kit) and will extend over the top of the box, from side-to-side, using the 4 no 8mm holes already available at each side corner at the top.

The bracket will be orientated towards the back of the box to avoid hose-rubbing, with the 80mm wide 'platform' at 120mm above the centre of the mounting holes (if you're struggling to get the picture at this stage, think of a 'roof-rack' for a J box ).

I plan to mount my KT quick release bracket attached to the argon bottle to the top, however, Richard has said they'll make slots in the top so that a variety of kit (bottles, lift bags, etc ) can be mounted either with brackets or bungie/snoopy loops. The sides will also be slotted to save weight and allow mounting of kit.

Richard was working on the CAD yesterday, so hopefully will be able to confirm the layout soon.

I approached them thinking it would be a one-off for me, however, John has said that he will make a small run anyway so more will be available to those interested. Basically, if you have the same problem as me with large bottles attached to the sides and can't use the space in the middle or see the top of the box as currently 'dead-space' then this little beauty will allow you to make use of it.

At this stage, it'll be best to drop John or Richard a line 01227 700015, sales@divingproducts.co.uk) and let them know if you're interested. Price-wise, it hasn't been confirmed yet and this statement doesn't fix or second-guess any price that John will set, but in the region of £40-£50 each has been discussed.

I'll post pictures once I've added the roof-rack for your delectation.
Cheers,
Pete

ajmtucke

Hi,
Took delivery of my nice shiny KT frame on tuesday to set it up exactly like yourself, with 2x3s and swappable 2x5s or 7s

just wondering what you are using to attach the 7s. KT brackets, metalsubs or cam bands ?? and i take it they are steels with valves down ?

The argon rack is a great idea as i would use it for my GF F2 battery pack, so will fire off an email now

Just another quessie, are there any major reasons why you use a separate argon cyl and not run suit inflation from your lean bail out ??

ash

Buddha Boy

Hi Ash,

The 7l Faber steels are fixed using KT large quick-release brackets. The 3's are secured using cam bands so I don't have to have the KT brackets on my separate air and trimix dil bottles. It also makes life a bit easier when travelling without the bottles; you just cam the boat provided bottles straight on. Re the 7's, yep, they're mounted up-side-down. Good idea re the battery pack BTW.

I use the separate argon bottle for suit inflate and lift-bag inflate. Even though the cost of trimix is substantially lower than the bad old days of OC , I'd much rather be chucking cheap air overboard and not good gas. It's also there and available in the 3l dil for any sanity breaths required when bailing out to the 7l.

Cheers,
Pete

colinicky

Sounds like John has managed to solve another one of problem .re your battery pack ,I use a Custom divers CDH10 with my KT frame Vision & the pack will fit nicely in the rear right corner as you wear the unit The scrubber then comes into its own by holding it tight with no extra strapping .The gland from canister to cable is then kept at a nice fixed angle & cannot be damaged with the cable coming out the top of the frame over my right shoulder & clips of on my chest D ring .Just a thought .
BTW I hope you only dive of hardboats with lifts ,I don't want to try hauling that into a large Rhib !

__________________
Colin

I trust my rebreather completely ,
I just don't trust the user

onwards & downwards

ajmtucke

spoke to John yesterday after pinging over an email and he mentioned trying to fit the F2 battery pack into the frame, same as yours Colin, so i will try that shortly...

he also managed to convince me into ordering a lifting bar, which with the weight of the 3s/7s and unit might come in handy !!

a

Buddha Boy

Ash, good move re the lift bar, it's dead-handy once all that kit's strapped and bolted on, watch for the hernia though

Colin, you're not wrong re the hard boats; only boats with a good lift and a strong bench need apply! Tend to do all shallow stuff (max 40m) off rubba-dubs so wouldn't take the off-board 7's.

colinicky

I still do rhib diving which is why I sling my bail outs for handing up & when the SE coasts new super rhib arrives I will probably be doing more rhib diving than hard boat

__________________
Colin

I trust my rebreather completely ,
I just don't trust the user

onwards & downwards

NickK

Hi Pete,

Do you have any pictures yet? Have KT box too. Will be very interesting to see how "roof" mount looks like.

Thanks,
Nick

sisco

Hi all,

anyone have any pictures of this roof rack they can upload am thinking it might come in handy but would really love to see a picture first

thanks in advance,