making a vector II freefly friendly

[hughbetcha 0]

so i have a vector II and i read the thread here about making freefly modifications, and of course there are varying opinions on the subject. is it possible to make this container freefly friendly, or should i just wait till i can afford a better container? is it possible that i could send my container to relative workshop for these mods? and what should it be worth if i find a rigger who knows what he/she is doing and does the work for me? i just got the rig from a friend who strongly suggests not to freefly it as it is but thinks that doing the mods wouldn't be worth my time and i should wait till i get a more up to date container.
mark

[billbooth 10]

Mark;
When freeflying became popular, my response to making the Vector II "freefly friendly" was the Vector III. While I would not recommend doing a lot of "hardcore" freeflying on a Vector II, there are things you can do to make it more freefly friendly. 1. Replace all Velcro. 2. Get a bottom of container (BOC) pilot chute pouch installed, if it doesn't have one already. 3. Get new main risers with our "TruLok", Velcroless toggle system on them. These things will help, but nothing (in my humble opinion) beats a Vector III or Micron for "Freefly Friendly" features. (Sorry about the shameless plug. I just couldn't help myself.)
Bill Booth

[AggieDave 6]

Mr. Booth,
I did those things to my Vector II (saving the $$ for a friendlier rig, stupid college), but I had also heard about a mod for the main flap, one that changed the tuck tab a bit and added a special 'pocket' for the tuck tab to go in, instead of just under the closing flaps. Is that vaporware or a real mod, or just take it to a senior rigger and have them make something?
A human cannonball, I rise above it all
Up higher then a trapeze, I can fly

[skymedic 0]

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or just take it to a senior rigger

I thought you'd have to bring it to a master rigger for that type of mod....but maybe I'm wrong...
Cheers....vasbyt
marc
"it's hard to be anal with no anus!!!"-Dogma

[billbooth 10]

Aggiedave;
Nope, it's real. I forgot that one. We add a piece of elastic webbing under the top main flap to insert the tuck tab in. It really does help keep the main protector flap closed. But you're still missing is total bridle protection down to the pouch, which is only about an inch anyway. Of course you still don't have a reserve pin protector flap tuck under, secondary riser covers, pocketed main container corners, or a main pin protector flap that never comes open. Details...

[AggieDave 6]

The Vector II that I'm jumping has tuck tabs on the two sides of the reserve flap, that thing ain't going no where. The velcro on the riser covers are brand new and I keep it that way, haven't had any problems with them yet (*knock on wood*), even though I've had a differnet rig from another manufactor *cough*javelin*cough* that I had a scary ride on with flaps coming open all over the place.
What I do about the bridle is stuff it up under the right closing flap a bit higher then others, yes if I go too far, I could get it stuck, I don't go *that* far. All in all, there is just under an inch of exposed bridle left going to the BOC. I push that as far over as I can and put the hacky over it, also, the PC is in far enough that the hacky doesn't flap around, it stays pretty well put. That acts a bit like a bridle cover. Also, I have the closing loop tighter then some people have their's, according to my rigger, its still good to go spec wise for pull force required, but its stiff, I do that to keep my main pin place.
All in all, out of the 40 FF jumps or so I've put on a Vector II, I really haven't had any problems. As I'm progressing, I want something that was designed for that sort of thing, instead of jerry-rigging it, but as for broke-college-student-jumpers go, I think I'm doing ok.
Any other ideas or concerns Mr. Booth (and thank you for your insight)?
A human cannonball, I rise above it all
Up higher then a trapeze, I can fly

[rapper4mpi 0]

Mark, I had a Vector II DOM 1993. Although it was in great shape and the pin protector flaps always stayed closed, I still did some modifications. The biggest and most important was to make sure the riser cover velcro was fresh. I also had a small piece of velcro to hold the bridle secure from the closing flap to the BOC pouch. I didn't do a lot of headdown, but put about 550 sitfly jumps on this rig with no problems. Just watch your closing loop and all other components. Of course once I got the money I purchased a V3 about a month ago. Love it!
-Rap

[billbooth 10]

Nope. You seem to know what you're doing. Now remember, the first thing you do with that first great big paycheck, after you get that high paying job you spent all those years in college for, is to buy a bright shiney new Vector. Promise? I've got two daughters I have to put through colleg soon, and I'd appreciate any help you can give me.
Bill

[hughbetcha 0]

Mr. Booth,
thanks for the input! yeah the only reason i don't have a vector III already is cash! but i am saving! maybe aggiedave and i can get a bulk discount if we buy at the same time! (shameless plug for the poor!) for next week i will stay on my belly mostly! i get to spend a couple of days at Skydive New England.
mark

[VectorBoy 0]

I have put 100 FF jumps on a ten year old V-2. I asked about mods. Velcro Fresh nuff said.The hard plastic liner in the reserve cover flap was split from previous owners pin checks. NO need to slam the cover home. This caused the flap to open in sit twice, once looseing my reserve data card.
If you have wide risers stick with them. Because there is no riser covers my narrower risers didn't seem to stay put as well as the old ones in a screaming headown. It was good to know what was tickeling my inner thigh wasn't any part of my reserve system, Just the newer risers toggles, But it will ruin your concentration on an otherwise bitchen HD.
All of these things I was planing to have fixed on the next repack untill a deal on a VooDoo ( canopy combo) came my way. So now call me VooDooDude. I was really eyeing the mirage and the Vector 3.Bang for the buck really the V3 and probably would have gotten one new in a few

[Remster 30]

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I've got two daughters I have to put through colleg soon,

Bill: I wouldnt advertize that on this forum, you might start getting more phone calls!...
Remster
Muff 914

[skyhawk 2]

Get it fixed asap
i got a vector dom 91 went down to a boogie and they wouldnt let me freefly, bastards all my friends got to do it but i had to go flat flying,
moral , screw safety get it done so you dont get FF grounded Opinions are like a-holes everyone has one, the only one that does you any good is yours and all that comes out is shit

[billbooth 10]

Remster;
Like all truly responsible fathers, I banned my daughters from the drop zone at age 12 to protect them from guys like you and me. Bill

[USPA 0]

Hmmmm... Two daughters you say?
Well, if they ever need a tour of The Netherlands, forget Kjeld, I'm your man... ;)
Lol...
Ok.. back to skydiving...

[scottbre 0]

I'm sort of resurrecting this thread, because I recently had an interesting experience with my Vector2 as a result of sitflying. As far as bridle protection goes, I always tuck the bridle up nice and tight and there is velcro from where it comes from the closing flap to the BOC, and the BOC is very tight spandex. The main closing flap is very tight when closed. I have never had a problem with any of these things.

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The Vector II that I'm jumping has tuck tabs on the two sides of the reserve flap, that thing ain't going no where.

What happened this weekend, was that I did my first really stable sit. Under canopy something sort of brushed against the back of my neck. When I turned to see what it was I saw my riser cover and just figured that was what it was. Well when I was packing and stowing my risers, I noticed that my reserve flap was open. So I think that because I had finally gotten a smooth consistent relatively straight down sit going, the opening at the bottom of the reserve flap had caught enough air to pull it open. Everything was still secure under it, but had I had a poor landing, that might have been enought to pop my reserve, given the right (or wrong) conditions. I am pretty familiar with my gear and think I know what it's "freefly vulnerabilities" are: Have to keep an eye on the condition of the riser covers' velcro, but I was under the impression that my reserve flap was tight enough that it wasn't coming open. But when the only way for airflow to get under it is from the bottom, flying in a sit or stand makes this a possibility and probably even an eventuality.
What I'd like to know is what are some things that others have done to keep the reserve flap from coming open in these situations? Here are some things I have heard about that people have suggested before. What are the pros and cons with these as well?:
1. When the reserve is being repacked have the rigger put a rubber band on the reserve closing flap so that it will be there to tuck the bottom of the pin flap into, keeping it snug against the rig.
2. Add velcro to this area.
Any other ideas?
Turn off the world before you come to bed.

[ChromeBoy 0]

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Any other ideas?

Support Bill Booths childrens college fund and purchase a Vector 3!

• Quote

[billbooth 10]

Do what ChromeBoy says. The older one's talking Harvard. Bill Booth

[scottbre 0]

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Support Bill Booths childrens college fund and purchase a Vector 3!

I might do that at some point when I have the means to do so. However, I did not ask what rig I should buy to avoid these problems, I asked what could be done with the rig I have now to mitigate or eliminate these issues.
Turn off the world before you come to bed.

[scottbre 0]

So....
Any actual suggestions or opinions?
Turn off the world before you come to bed.

[Hooknswoop 19]

I think what everyone is saying is that they don't know of a fix for the Vector II reserve flap. The only thing I have seen done is a rubber band placed around the two upper flaps to keep the reserve flap from coming open. I don't know how much I like that option. Some rigs simply were not made w/ freeflying in mind, or were made before freeflying became so popular. You might want to consider belly flying until the means to obtaining a more free-fly friendly rig become available.
Hook

[AndyMan 7]

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Any actual suggestions or opinions?

Yeah. Use the rig for what it was designed for. If you want to freefly, buy one that was designed for it.
_Am
ICQ: 5578907
MSN Messenger: andrewdmetcalfe at hotmail dot com
AIM: andrewdmetcalfe
Yahoo IM: ametcalf_1999

[AggieDave 6]

As I previously posted, I am FFing with a Vector2 and it works, sort of. The difference is my rig's flaps are solid and the riser covers are shaky, so the only problems that I ever incounter are riser flaps coming open. There are two instances that will induce that on my rig: 1) Not seating the velcro properly and 2) going head down. Still, though, even with the modifications that I had done (listed earlier), I know that the rig really isn't designed for this sort of flying and thus I am currently putting away $$ so I can purchase a new container this summer. I would recommend the same.
Aerials
So up high
When you free your lives (the) eternal prize