Steel Tanks Hanging Low

[Sabado]

I dive the Hollis SMS 100 when I'm sidemount. Most of my diving is warm water (wetsuit, al 80s etc)...however I have dived it with drysuit and steels. I've noticed the steels hang a little low. Any tricks on having them ride as nicely as the Als? I'd imagine I could shorten the tail leash that is clipped to the rail, but maybe I have other smarter options previously tried.

[Greenwood_60]

Are you using the stock tank neck bungee? Is it hanging low at the top or the bottom of the tank?

[Sabado]

Are you using the stock tank neck bungee? Is it hanging low at the top or the bottom of the tank?

Sorry, to be a little more specific...I am using the stock bungees that come with the Hollis Rig. I'm using regular nylon/poly line for both top/bottom tank clips...and they appear to be parallel, but just about 3 to four inches low. I'd prefer the tank neck to be slightly lower than the butt of the tank (a couple of inches)... a little better for streamlining.

Hope that makes it clearer. I'm thinking that there may need to be less line between the bolt snap and the tank for the bottom attachments for the tanks...nearly touching maybe?

[Skorpiov]

Dont have a SMS 100, but can you move the rails? If you make the bottom attachment too short, it is very tough to clip them off. Mine are about the length of the width of my hand. So when I hold the clip to clip it off, the heel of my hand almost touches the tank. With only 1 or 2 inches there, you will find it hard to get clipped consistently.

I use a Razor style harness so I am clipping my steels to the back waist d-Rings. The position of the clip off point and the length of the clip are two of the factors. The other is how far from the bottom of the tank you put the bottom clip. (Careful, this one also affects where the valve sits under your arm). If you have it too far one way or the other, the attachment is not vertical but can be pulled at an angle making the back of the tank ride higher.

Hope that helps.

[Greenwood_60]

That should help with the tank butt. Can I assume you are using PST or Worthington steel tanks? The only reason I can see them hanging lower at the tank butt would be weight. If they are 8" tanks, all else being equal, the should sit a little higher. Lamar Hires recommends a tank butt leash to be as short as possible. That is only practical if the butt plate is as wide as the Nomad plate is (depends a bit on the width of ones own ass as well). IDK about the Hollis plate, but the Armadillo plate is far too narrow for super short leashes.

I was not a fan of that style of bungee for very negative tanks. I found the tanks were more difficult to locate properly, especially steels. I went with the old school loop style (armadillo uses these), although there is a good chance aluminum tanks would sit high for me without shortening the bungee.

[powerglider]

IMG_20120113_201135.jpg I dive all of the above and I measured my leash and its exactly 2 1/2" from my belt slide to my bolt snap. I had to move both my quick links via bungees up to the next D rings, which would be center. I also use my safety's that come with the kit to secure my tanks before I hook up my bungees, always donning my tanks left, then right. So far, everything rides smoothly.

I'm a pretty big guy, but if your bigger "around" than I am, you might wanna look into getting longer bungees.

[sskasser]

I have one set of SM tanks set up just like powerglider above, except the leash has *no* length...it's directly off the camband...BUT, it's made of bungee, so I get a little stretch when attaching (thanks Tegg) and the tanks still ride nice and tight.

[atedeschi]

I have one set of SM tanks set up just like powerglider above, except the leash has *no* length...it's directly off the camband...BUT, it's made of bungee, so I get a little stretch when attaching (thanks Tegg) and the tanks still ride nice and tight.

I agree all my stages and sm bottles are connected with the Kevlar coated bungee. It keeps the bottles tight to your body but also moves with your body. (thanks joe .)

[Sabado]

I agree all my stages and sm bottles are connected with the Kevlar coated bungee. It keeps the bottles tight to your body but also moves with your body. (thanks joe .)

Would you point me in the direction of where to get the bungee you are all using (size/make ,etc)? I'd like to copy.

[JamesK]

I tried the bungee leash this weekend for the first time. Granted it was on AL80's, but wow did it make a difference IMO. I was able to get the tanks close to the body and trimmed, and was still able to have a leash that I could easily access simply by giving a slight tug. Thank you to all in this thread who suggested it.