Anyone have experience with the extended baggage kits for the C180/185?

I installed and liked the Selkirk kit for my C170. My only real complaint was that it seemed a bit flimsy on the bottom. The total kit was 11lbs. I see Hitchkock has a carbon fiber unit that is half the weight at 5lbs. Selkirk is $700 and Hitchcock is $1000. Just looking for the best option.

I will be moving the batt forward in order to install a flat floor.

Thoughts?

http://hitchcockaviation.com/detail.php?item=31&cat=Cargo%20Pods

http://www.selkirk-aviation.com/extend_bag.html

I have the Selkirk with firewall battery. My only complaint is that is seems to have dropped a little in the middle. Not sure if the carbon fiber would be stronger. Otherwise I like it.

Thats my thought. The center was always a bit flimsy. I was really careful not to put a single load (like my hand when I was back there) in one spot. Always heard "cracking." I wonder if anyone is running the CF?

Greg-

Selkirk in mine...Flat floor is a must. Have never understood the 3-4 inch rise in some of the extend versions. Would make it hard to sleep in.

Hard to see here but....its flat...and the 4 lb sling seat.



And the forward battery


AKT

Great question.

I have been researching this very topic as well. From my research, I have found that carbon fiber is stronger, lighter and is more rigid (in general). I would like to hear comments from anyone that has the Hitchcock extended baggage installed to see what they think. I too have see a few fiber glass baggage floors cracked on the back lip and felt they were a little flimsy for long term durability.

Keep the comments coming.

I think airmetalfab has an aluminum one that is probably best, now that I think about it so does Selkirk they offer one with a metal floor and fibreglass bulkhead for 1300.00

I think both of those are not flat floor

You may be right, I have seen a metal flat floor one somewhere I'm almost sure it was airmetal who had made it , might be worth a call at least.

I installed the AMF extended baggage and really like it. It's not a flat floor but I don't sleep in my plane and don't want the battery on the nose. I have had a heavy nose before and personally do whatever I can to avoid adding extra weight to the nose. I also like having the lift up storage areas for things that are always in the plane and I don't want to find some way to strap down.

Having said this, I know that AMF has a flat floor model available now. When I bought mine it hadn't been STCd but there are enough of the flat floors in you shouldn't have a problem getting it approved.

I haven't seen the Hitchcock CF floor but the Selkirk fit, finish and lack of strength leave a whole lot to be desired. My brother put one in his 182 and we ended up pulling it because it was such a POS, IMHO. He installed the AMF kit... Both of us really like them.

Hmmm... But what does it weight? There is something to be said for a 5lb CF floor kit. The pounds do add up.

And as for sleeping in the plane... Dont knock it till you tried it.

Not sure of the weight.. haven't done the W&B yet and can't recall from the paperwork. I'm sure it is the heaviest of the three discussed but it also doesn't "crack" when you load it. I can lay on it when i need to access the rear pulleys and have never heard it crack. I have slept in many planes just don't like to.

Pounds do add up, you're right. I just couldn't spend money on the Selkirk job. The cf Hitchcock unit may be the ticket just don't have any experience with them. I know the AMF product is top notch and very useful.

No doubt that lighter is most always better, and CF can be light.

That said, has anyone read the load restrictions on either of these extended baggage compartments? THAT's the reason you'll experience a little flex if you put a lot of weight back there....they're not designed for it. Nor are they approved for it.

I have the Selkirk in my 170, and opted to cut a door (hatch) into it to install a 406 beacon under the floor to get it out of the way, yet accessable. Worked fine, though had to be careful where to cut the hole to keep from cutting one of the stiffeners.

The Selkirk does what it's designed for. No experience with the CF unit.

MTV

Its not that I want to put tons of weight back there. My C170 has a 50lb limit for that area.

Its that if you need to pull the back fiberglass bulkhead and get in the tailcone, its a bitch cuz you cant put a hand or knee down for fear of cracking the thing in half. I guess that's the deal with the entire airplane. It aint a 4x4.

I have loved the Selkirk EX Bag kit in the C170. Just wondering if anyone has bought the Hitchcock. Im counting calories so for me, weight it key on my project!

Got Mine done at Beegles in Greely, they get field approval on their own design and its a great job. It is solid. Of course it does not help if your not in the area. I really like their work, they figured out firewalling my 24 volt battery too, which turned out beautiful.

Brad

Well I made the decision and bit the bullet.

I had a good conversation with Todd Hitchcock today and he swayed me to bite on the more expensive carbon fiber extended baggage. We shall see if it is $300 more better....

Stay tuned!

I have the CF baggage in mine.

I too bought it from Todd. It is a Landis product, so the quality is awesome. The install is probably one of the easiest things you will do on your plane. The fwd rivets go in holes in the fwd bulkhead that are already there

Everything (all two pieces ) is rivnuted for super quick and easy in and out. The way it is self supporting is rather ingeneous, but it too has flex, and you will hear familiar 'cracks' if you get to heavy handed with it... I would strongly recommend 1/4" closed cell foam for the baggage area, and loading it yourself. Because any dent in the baggage will be a dent on your fuselage

I don't know of any that a truly 'flat floored' in a 180 and this is no different.... There will be about a 3/4" lip going into the baggage, and worse yet, the baggage kinda runs uphill going aft, from the rest of the floor.... None of this is all that bad, and with some thought to what you put on the floor, you will even be able to sleep in it. I have quite a bit...

Given the weight, or lack of, this is one of the best things going for a 180.... I honestly don't think it weighs the full 5 lbs...

Mine prolly does, because I put a full length hat shelf down it. Using the formers down the skin. This gives me a place to store gear when I am sleeping in it, and splits the load so the CF floor isn't carrying everything.

As far as W&B goes, if you take 2 sleeping bags, pads, pillows and a tent that area will be half full and no where near a dent in the W&B.... Leaving your normal baggage area for heavier things, or things that you may want more handier. This baggage is a no brainer in my opinion.

I think it's a bargain over the competitor, given the weight savings...


Take care, Rob

That Hitchcock extended baggage looks nice.... I wonder if it could be field approved for a 170B??

I put Selkirk's metal one in. It is very light, I can't remember what exactly, but it's not much more than the 5 lb. It is a high floor and has a battery bump. For those not wanting to move the battery, I recommend it. It was one of the better mods I did.

Wayne

One thing to be careful of is carbon fiber in contact with aluminum. The galvanic potential is large enough between carbon and most alloys that the aluminum can desintegrate over time.

Well it took a better part of six weeks to arrive, but UPS dropped of the Airglass extended baggage kit I bought from Hitchcock.

First impressions... LIGHT!!! I cant believe how light it is compared to the Selkirk. It looks flimsy at first, but its super strong. Im going to test fit tomorrow, but it looks like it is way better than Selkirk. There is nothing under the floor like Selkirk. Just a several sheets of CF pressed together. We'll see how it takes a knee in the middle...

The only downside so far is the vertical has some pretty poor fit/finish. There is a large defect in the panel. Looks like someone swirled their finger in the carbon fiber while it was setting. Nothing structural, but ugly. I am kind of confused how someone could actually look at it and say, "ok, good to go!" Not sure what I am going to do, but I will most likely call Airglass and have them send another. Certainly not acceptable for $1k.