New Zealand Gold Prospecting & Metal Detecting Forums Archive

Make a frame for it you mite get away with an old alloy pac frame but the engine needs to have a solid base like some thick ply etc...or even better get a chopper by the sounds of it if your carting gear for an hour by the time you get all gears there,s a day gone just getting setup & another day gone bringing it out an R22 will take 4" mini dredge + around 20/40 litters of fule in one trip + all the extra goodies you can slip in makes for good times last time I used one pilot did 6 trips that was for 2 dredges , gears for 2 pluss us dropped in for $650

I got an old pack frame of trademe for $10 it works ok but a copper sounds better

Definitely a frame if you don't have helicopter funds. you could also make up a little stretcher like contraption. great if you have a mate to help. bolt the motor in its cage to it plus you can throw on the fuel can, hoses etc thus making less overall trips. bang on a sledge like base to the stretcher and you can bash it along up down and over and around rocks without destroying too much. also doubles as a stretcher for hauling out the broken bodies lol. a step up, make the stretcher so it can close up to be shorter or longer, or just make it so the handles can be shortened and or removed. the more dynamic it is the more chance you can squeeze it around rock and trees. Some well positioned carabiner points will let you attach ropes to lower it up and down the place too.

been thinking about your problem. how bout filling up your pack with helium balloons then motor under put it all on a rope and just walk it down the river.

Some very creative ideas getting thrown around - good old kiwi ingenuity eh! :P Number 8 wire flying fox and helium balloons sound fun! Though I'm thinking Simon's sledge idea holds the most promise and least chance of me making the headlines on the news.

Think I'll investigate the sledge idea a bit as a potential solution, but I'm starting to feel the heli option could be the way to go. Save me about 5 hard trips up and down the gorge. Probably take a full day and a lot of effort, would save me paying for a gym membership though.

Had a chat with Daniel Gerber of DredgeNZ, he'd used one of these load carriers before and reckoned it was a good solution:

http://www.guncity.com/tatonka-lastenkraxe-load-carrier-243398

Purchased one, so will let you know how I get on if I don't heli-drop in. Figured it's a handy option to have available anyway as backup.

Cheers matey, much appreciated. I'm probably hitting it sometime Feb / Mar at the mo. Figured the river should have best chance of being lower and means I might be able to push further into the center. Fingers crossed! Might have to pop down for a reckie if I know you're around if get some spre time before then. Looking forward to a proper play!