HaroldILL.
Active member
I hate to sound like an old man but, why can't minelab come out with a hip mount kit for the E-trac,Explorer?It seems to be the only draw back to this machine.
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E-TRAC Hipmount?
- Thread starter HaroldILL.
- Start date
people still buy them knowing they are heavy and most just live with it. so why waist time and money for a few that cant handle the weight. its just money to a company and a minority of user amongst the sells base isn't worth the expense.
the etrac handle was changed has almost a 90 deg angle and that was a cheap way to try and make it easer to swing for hours.
the etrac handle was changed has almost a 90 deg angle and that was a cheap way to try and make it easer to swing for hours.
Well Harold, you can put me in that category too. I have been hunting for years, with fisher CZ-20, Coin$trike, etc., hip-mounted. It weighs almost nothing that way, and I am still limited to hunting only an hour or 2 without severe pain, from tennis elbow and arthritus in my joints.
I bought a new E-trac more than a month ago, on impulse, forgetting about the weight. I realized even before I received it, that I made a mistake. It still sits in the box; never even installed the battery in it. I more likely will never use it if I cannot come up with some kind of hip or chest-mount. Hello.... Minelab.
I bought a new E-trac more than a month ago, on impulse, forgetting about the weight. I realized even before I received it, that I made a mistake. It still sits in the box; never even installed the battery in it. I more likely will never use it if I cannot come up with some kind of hip or chest-mount. Hello.... Minelab.
Bill,
Get yourself one of the several harnesses offer. Very easy to use and allows you to swing the E-trac with two fingers.
An alternative is to put a smaller coil like the 6x8 SEF coil on the E-trac. Depth is still very good and this setup can be used by most for all day.
Best of luck,
Keith
Get yourself one of the several harnesses offer. Very easy to use and allows you to swing the E-trac with two fingers.
An alternative is to put a smaller coil like the 6x8 SEF coil on the E-trac. Depth is still very good and this setup can be used by most for all day.
Best of luck,
Keith
Bill, you might be surprised. The Pro coil isn't heavy and the E-TRAC is much better balanced than the Explorer. I too have spine problems and arthritis. Some days are worse than others but the ET rarely gives me a problem because of the balance and because it is so easy and quick to tweak the length of the shaft... that is a huge help with back pain, make it shorter, longer, shorter, keep changing it so it doesn't focus on one part of your back. It really helps. Sometimes my F75 hurts me and I can still use the E-TRAC even though the F75 is probably half the weight. You just never know till you try. For some reason my V3 kills my back, I get a cramp right in the middle almost everytime.
I have disc problems in my cervical spine, I feel for you but you should give it a try, especially on grass where you can sort of slide the coil along on the turf and keep changing the length, especially if it begins to bother you.
One other thing that really helps is a good pain management doctor...
J
I have disc problems in my cervical spine, I feel for you but you should give it a try, especially on grass where you can sort of slide the coil along on the turf and keep changing the length, especially if it begins to bother you.
One other thing that really helps is a good pain management doctor...
J
It allows you to carry the control housing on a sling on your side and then has a upper handle that had an extension cable that allowed you to swing freely. You use the arm cup off your machine.
I found it!!
I go this with a package deal. I have a couple swingy thingy's too!
If anyone is interested email me.
Ron
I found it!!
I go this with a package deal. I have a couple swingy thingy's too!
If anyone is interested email me.
Ron
HaroldILL.
Active member
I forgot about the swingy thing. Does it scratch the machine? How do you like it Ron ?Does it put the preasure on your back? I have a bad back also,but a worse shoulder. I have also been thinking about getting a lighter machine as a back up to use when my arm get's tired. I hear tejons are light and super deep!
I just continue to swing the heavy beast and I will deal with the shoulder surgery later!! 
The Swingy Thingy is a pretty neat and simple product. Has a clip that attached to your belt, the back of your pants or a back pocket so there is absolutely no pressure on your back. The bungee cord adjusts to what ever length you want with a quick connect patented clip that attached to the upper rod just below the control box. The machine just floats when adjusted properly. I found it is great for parks and open areas and it took a little while to get used to digging targets. The bungee cord stays attached to the machine when you kneel down to dig so you just have to figure out a routine to work around the cord. You could disconnect the cord but that would be a pain every time.
I like to set the machine off to the side and then use the probe. With the bungee cord attached the machine it is forced to be a little closer than I normal have it while digging a target. But if weight is an issue I think is its a great compromise and would allow you to continue using the heavy Minelab machines that are still the best turf and park machines made.
Good Luck
Ron
The Swingy Thingy is a pretty neat and simple product. Has a clip that attached to your belt, the back of your pants or a back pocket so there is absolutely no pressure on your back. The bungee cord adjusts to what ever length you want with a quick connect patented clip that attached to the upper rod just below the control box. The machine just floats when adjusted properly. I found it is great for parks and open areas and it took a little while to get used to digging targets. The bungee cord stays attached to the machine when you kneel down to dig so you just have to figure out a routine to work around the cord. You could disconnect the cord but that would be a pain every time.
I like to set the machine off to the side and then use the probe. With the bungee cord attached the machine it is forced to be a little closer than I normal have it while digging a target. But if weight is an issue I think is its a great compromise and would allow you to continue using the heavy Minelab machines that are still the best turf and park machines made.
Good Luck
Ron
Thanks for the encouragement, and the info on that swingy thing. I have to say it looks a little weird, or cumbersome to use. I may have to take a trip to see one in action. I am aware that you can quickly adjust the lower rod length to chenge the leverage moment, and that may help some. I'm not ready to take this E-Trac out yet, but I will consider trying it when I have more time. I guess I must be one of the few people who have bought an E-Trac, have had it for more than a month, and never even turned it on yet. 
Right now, I am up to my ears in work-related projects, and haven't picked up a meal detector in more than a month. Soon though. Thanks again.
Right now, I am up to my ears in work-related projects, and haven't picked up a meal detector in more than a month. Soon though. Thanks again.
I have tested a cable that is absolute perfect for the Explorer and since the E-trac uses the same coils it will fit them too. Minelab uses standard cabling for their detectors that also are being used by CB/Ham amateur radio microphones.
It is very easy to make a hip mount kit by just using a different rod setup and carry your standard upper minelab housing and rod in a strap over your shoulder.
With some more insight and a few other cheap parts you can easily make your detector a permanent chestmount too, that involves mounting a chassis mount cable connector to the back of your housing and a new headphone connector and battery connector. But it is not difficult for people with some insight.
Here is the cable.
http://www.wearecb.com/store/mcx65sbx-cable-microphone-extension-5-pin-sideband-p-3701.html
It is very easy to make a hip mount kit by just using a different rod setup and carry your standard upper minelab housing and rod in a strap over your shoulder.
With some more insight and a few other cheap parts you can easily make your detector a permanent chestmount too, that involves mounting a chassis mount cable connector to the back of your housing and a new headphone connector and battery connector. But it is not difficult for people with some insight.
Here is the cable.
http://www.wearecb.com/store/mcx65sbx-cable-microphone-extension-5-pin-sideband-p-3701.html