I have a pair of collapsible crab pots I need to move to a remote area only accessible by air. No matter how I twist or turn them they won't fit in the back of the Maule. I've carried many an external load on the struts of cubs but never a Maule. I've put them on the struts and they seem to fit fine but will both have to go on the passenger side because there's not enough room left to open the door with them on. Together they weigh about 50 lbs, less than the last set of moose antlers I carried out on the cub struts and are made of rubber coated wire mesh. They measure about 4' by 3 and a half feet and will be about 2" thick. Does anyone have any experience in carrying a load on Maule struts. I'm not interested in someone from Kansas saying they don't think it's a good idea, just anyone that's done it and any suggestions.

Pictures when you "just do it" please.

I would suggest you sheath the mesh in plastic wrap or something. Wire mesh or bedspring type loads are Verry draggy.
Under the belly ? tied at foot steps and longhorns.?

Thanks Jeremy. I was thinking the same thing.

Just a thought. Would it work to take the back seat out and the rear doors off and just leave the pots sticking partially outside and fly them that way?

Scott

curious. Can you operate with both rear doors off? Have to dig into my POH.

TD

Yes, both rear doors off is ok. I've carried protruding loads with no problem

Ok, I seem to remember it is:

Both rear doors off or
one of either front doors off.

I know removing doors on opposite sides is a no-no.

TD

That sounds like the best solution. I had to fly a large window down once before and hung it out the door. No one told me though that on rotation every moose hair and fish scale would be airborne inside. Reduced visibility to near zero.
I think I'll run the vacume around before flying down this time. Thanks again.

Or just wear goggles...

Kinda like the first loop i did in my Citabria years ago. The guy before me used it as a fish spotter lots of stuff came out of no where.

Hmmm, sounds like a great way to clean the plane out occasionally!

Kirk, better a fish spotter than a fish hauler.