Converting Zeagle Ranger to BP/W

[aftersun]

Hi,
I'm looking for a system to dive with doubles (D7 or D8) and I've got a Zeagle Ranger BCD. I've seen that there is "mounting plates" that you can buy and use for doubles with the BCD just as it is. The problem though is that I want to get rid of all the big pockets, extra stopping etc. etc. in order to get rid of all the positive flotation.

The Zeagle Ranger is built in a way that makes it possible to remove the wing completely, and looks like this;



My question is that if I can just buy a backplate from any other manufacturer as well as a harness system and use the wing from the Ranger?

Thanks in advance,
Andy

 

[diversteve]

Zeagle sells two backplate/harnesses that work with any of their wings. Backplate BCs - BCs - Zeagle Dive Systems

As well as a few accessories: Backplate Accessories - BC Accessories - Zeagle Dive Systems

 

[claymore]

When I got my dry suit I went to a SS backplate take some of the weight off of my belt. I found a used Zeagle SS backplate with harness and mounted the 44# wing from my Ranger on it. Zeagle plates have holes drilled in the plate that allow you to bolt the wing to the plate with the clips on the wing. There are holes for singles and doubles mounts. Some of their wings may not be designed for doubles mounting.

Mounting a Zeagle wing on someone else's plate is a question for Zeagle and the maker of the othere plate. Zeagles customer service is top notch give them a call or post in there forum here if you have question.

 

[g1138]

You can only mount the Ranger Bladder on Zeagle plates. The majority of their wings that come on their stock BC's are made with proprietary connections. With other plates you can drill into the metal to allow you to connect the Ranger bladder. This requires metal working tools though, might as well buy a new wing if you don't have those.
Other plates mount their wings on center holes 11" apart, even Zeagle. It just happens that Zeagle also has properly positioned side holes to mount the stock BC bladders.

Here's an example of a Zeagle wing with the center holes. This is the standard Bp/W connection:


The good news is you can buy your harness from anywhere or make your own. The plate has to be Zeagle however for that bladder.
The bad news is, your Ranger may not be wide enough to stabilize and accommodate your doubles.