Back Inflate vs BPW

[wetb4igetinthewater]

Well look at that photo of me. Band and small strap across... pretty much entire front of body yes?

Yes, but not clean/empty as compared to a harness

 

[NW Dive Dawg]

You need the newer 2020+ for the 10 sp transmission. The added gears nice for towing any kind of real weight. I often have 11k lbon the hitch of our 2020 denali 3500 and it doesn't even care.

Yeah....... That's an awesome rig you have there. I actually looked at a new Chevy and GMC HD 2500's just last year and really liked the new additions like the 10speed I'm stupid, the side bed steps and the DEF filler right at the fuel door, etc....... Just couldn't justify pulling the trigger on an $85K truck....before tax! My 2015 Duramax 2500HD Z1 now has 130K, is paid off and hopefully I'll get another couple hundred K out of it... I've got the 6 speed Alison I'm stupid and the "tow mode" really helps to keep it from "hunting" gears on uphill grades. Also the jake brake is really nice.

@NW Dive Dawg

I may have missed your answer to @wetb4igetinthewater ’s question about your current technical dives but my question is how many decompression bottles are you carrying on your technical dives?

Any stage bottles?

I'm 68 and no longer do any tech dives.... but then again I'm not sure exactly what exactly defines a "tech dive". My last planned deco dive was about 10 years ago using a Black Diamond back mount BC with an HP 120 and a back mounted 30cf pony........ so no side slung stage bottles...although I don't see why I couldn't have slung them if I wanted to.

I use DIN on all my first stages...I have a big head...LOL

Yeah..... totally agree that DIN is best for sure. I have the angled valves on my good old Genesis HP Steel 102's and 120's and that extra "angle" also helps a lot with the head banging issue....... and I also have a big head!

I think my Ford Ranger could handle it. 3.2l turbo diesel 470nm torque around 346 ft pounds.

View attachment 759836

Yep..... I bet that would do it. I've heard great things about the Ford TD's. Especially the MPG's. I get about 17-18 average with just the truck and that goes down to 12 when towing the boat.

 

[Tracy]

Yep..... I bet that would do it. I've heard great things about the Ford TD's. Especially the MPG's. I get about 17-18 average with just the truck and that goes down to 12 when towing the boat.

I get about 25 driving normally and 4 when I am towing this boat. 6 when towing the charter boat.

 

[NW Dive Dawg]

Have you or anyone ever seen someone doing tech dives with a Zeagle Ranger?

I'm still not exactly sure what constitutes a "tech dive"........ but if planned deco dives count then yes I've seen it. One of my DM's around the 2000 to 2001 timeframe dove double steel 102's along with a 19cf back mount pony..... but the guy was a monster sherpa and best DM I ever had. In my teaching days a BP/W would not have been allowed to use in classes because the shop didn't sell the components and only shop sold equipment could be used....

Here's a crappy quality YT video showing how doubles are easily configured on a Ranger..

 

[tursiops]

I suspect one of the reasons that back-mounted "ponys" have been mentioned twice as being used for planned deco dives with a BCD is that the D-rings -- especially the hip rings -- are not optimum for slinging a tank; the hip rings are often in the wrong location for good slinging, and are wobbly.
In any case, a pony would not normally be thought of as part of a planned deco-dive; it is for emergency use, not for part of the plan. Thus, for example, a 120 cuft tank with a pony means a single 120 cuft tank was the plan for a deco dive......no deco gas for accelerated deco. Barely a deco dive.
I've tired using a BCD with two slung tanks, one for extra main gas (i.e., independent doubles), one for deco. Horrible experience....I wobbled all over the place.

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

I'm still not exactly sure what constitutes a "tech dive"........ but if planned deco dives count then yes I've seen it. One of my DM's around the 2000 to 2001 timeframe dove double steel 102's along with a 19cf back mount pony..... but the guy was a monster sherpa and best DM I ever had. In my teaching days a BP/W would not have been allowed to use in classes because the shop didn't sell the components and only shop sold equipment could be used....

Here's a crappy quality YT video showing how doubles are easily configured on a Ranger..

Couple of things. I don't like horseshoe wings/bladders.

Second thing, when set up for doubles, how much does the lift of the bladder go down? It is listed as 44 lbs, but with the backplate, it certainly won't be as much as I don't see it fully expanding.

One thing I've learned about equipment (stereo, cars, dive gear) is that nothing does everything well. You either specialize or have mediocre implementation. BM/SM harnesses are another example. Sure you can do it, but there are compromises.

There is a reason why today people dive twinsets with a BP/W and not something like the Zeagle Ranger.

 

[happy-diver]

Best thing about my Hilux is the tyre pumping manifolded 50s I've bolted in the back

Straight onto the beach no more cliff walking for me

Found a wreck, it's a bit sanded up

Had to put a lid on it

Gone before the others hook their thumpers up

Diving in the Ranger, good place for lead, a backplate sort of place

Before I converted it into a chestmount harness

Magnificent!

 

[BoltSnap]

Had to put a lid on it

Why?

 

[rhwestfall]

Why?

thinking (more) secure & (improved) environmental storage?

 

[BoltSnap]

thinking (more) secure & (improved) environmental storage?

That's what I thought also but also thought "Happy" may have his peculiar enigmatic and poetic reasons.