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Submitted By:   charles.long@gm.com
Email List:   Zenith-List
Name:   

Charles F. Long

Date:   

Jan 9 2005

Subject:   Low Cost, Light Weight Cargo Net
Description:   

Ever think to yourself: "Boy wouldn't it be nice if I had a cargo net for my plane like you find in many of the SUV's"? Here is a method for fabricating your own custom cargo net. It's really not that hard. Here are the materials you will need:

  • 1) 100' of Nylon Braid Cord, 1/8" diameter. Can be purchased in 50' lengths at Meynards for $4 each. It's called ParaCord by Wellington, product code #87450.
  • 2) 15' of 1/4" diameter bungy cord with 6 eye hooks for attachment. I ended up using materials I salvaged out of a truck cargo net purchased for the same purpose (didn't fit my plane at all). 1/4" is a little tougher to find but worth the weight savings and will look better too.
  • 3) 1/8" x 1" x 1" Aluminum angle material for fabricating attachment fittings (6) to rivet to the baggage area. An alternative is heavy duty picture hanging brackets that can be found at Lowes hardware stores. They have a tilting, triangle shaped eye hook that lays flat when not in use. You can get a better idea of what they look like by studying the photos. Use two A5 rivets to secure them.
  • 4) A 4' x 4' jigging fixture. I ended up using a piece of peg board with 3/16" holes already stamped in it. You can add AN3 bolts for hooking up the bungy cords around the perimeter.

    You will need to measure your baggage compartment and decide what size you want to make the Cargo Net. I opted for a diamond pattern with about 2"-3" to a side. Size is not overly critical, so make it to suit your own tastes. A simple square knot (also called a reef knot) was used at the corners of the diamonds. To secure the nylon cord to the bungy cord, a cow hitch was used. The loose ends are bound using a 1" length of shrink tubing. This keeps the knot from coming undone and provides a more finished appearance. The question comes up as to how long to cut the individual cords. I used pieces cut four times as long as the fore and aft dimension and had just enough length. You might want to cut them a little longer to be safe. I ended up with 8 pieces, each 10 foot in length.

    Once a jig is setup, the actual tieing of the knots is fairly simple. Start at the back of the baggage compartment and use a cow hitch to secure the nylon cords to the rear most bungy cord. The cow hitch is placed at the mid point of each cord. I used eight cow hitches, about 4" apart, which gives you 16 cords hanging down. Next, start tieing the cords together, one row at a time. You get a diamond staped pattern. Use square knots at the corners of the diamonds and cow hitches to attach to the Bungy cords on the perimeter. As you move forward of the Shoulder Harness attach points, it helps to taper the width to clear the shoulder harnesses. Hopefully the pictures help answer any questions on my word discription.

    As you can see, my flight bag is well secured beneath the cargo net for those choppy weather days.

    Clear skies!
    Chuck Long
    N601LE, 99% complete

  •  
        Cargo_Net_Installed.jpg Photo 1
        Cargo_Net_Jig.jpg Photo 2
        Cow_Hitch_Knot.gif Photo 3
        Square_Knot.gif Photo 4





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