What are the options out there for purchasing a behind the front seat 185 cargo nets? I've seen the post for Mountain Wave's nets, nice but the time line is a bit far out.

Thanks.

I agree. If a bit more knowledge could be consolidated here, I'd have one made locally. What I lack is the specific hardware for the side and roof attach points, and the clamps for the rear of the seat rails. Also, the hooks that are sewn into the net. Does anybody have a source they can point us to?

I buy a lot of nylon web products from a company called Campbell Mack Supply here in Calgary. Mostly hoisting slings, and they're sewn in house. They also make custom cargo nets.

The problem with aircraft cargo nets is two fold:

1) Attach points, as noted here, are absent in most if not all aircraft.

2) If you tell a manufacturer of nets that you're going to use this in an airplane, generally you'll be talking to a dial tone very quickly. Liability has scared most folks away from making anything that says airplane on the side.

MTV

Mr. Ed wrote:What are the options out there for purchasing a behind the front seat 185 cargo nets? I've seen the post for Mountain Wave's nets, nice but the time line is a bit far out.

Thanks.

Enter Aircraft Cargo Nets on search line and you'll see the hardware suppliers . Valince Cargo net (They have a web site) at 661-294-3000 can custom make you a "cargo net" -seems Mountain Wave is called a "cockpit divider " for FAA purposes. I've made my own with frame work to 180-210's set up .I use blue or red 1 inch webbing .

The attachment points I use in the 170 are the holes for the original shoulder harnesses (I use Bas harnesses now) and three holes on the floor that had something to do with the original back seat. I use climbing hangars on the top and hang the net on carabiners. Since I have the Atlee Dodge jump seat I use two fasteners attached to the side rails as well. I could access attachment points on the roof but I don't want to bugger up my roof liner.

Finally, I run amsteel whoopie slings from the top rear seat attachment point to the sides of the net, just below the window. I'm not describing it very well, but I didn't have to drill any holes and I have 9 points of attachment on the net.

For the net, I just took climbing webbing and made my own net. I measured it out and tacked the connections together with a few stitches and then took it to a cobbler and had him sew it up proper. I think the webbing and sewing was less than $40 when it was all done. Add another $60 for carabiners and hangers.

It's not as taut or sexy looking as some of the other nets I've seen, but it will keep my cargo off me in a crash every bit as well. Doesn't weight much, either.

If wait time is not critical, I'd go with Mountain Wave. I bought one for my C182 ten or so years ago from the original owner, Mark McClellan, and it's still a fixture in my C170 (though I had to adjust it a bit). The current owner, Mike Anderson, is a great guy and continues to make a superb product. He has a pattern for C185's that uses existing attach points, so install is a breeze. It also has several pockets that make storage of items you'll want close by easy and convenient.