Back mounted vest - too far back?

[David Delaney]

I am on the last stages of my back vest mount, but I am suddenly concerned about something - since the arm comes straight out (according to the plans), isn't most of the arm going to be at my side, instead of in front of me, therefore I am losing alot of movement?

[Phil Kindred]

My vest and Cody's has the vest arm bent around your body so that the arm connection is to the front.  I prefer that arrangement.  Cody had his bent by a machinist.  I bent mine--1/4 alum--in a vice with a big friend pulling with me.  We're lucky it didn't snap and slap us in the face!!!!  But it works.

[Cody Deegan]

The arm still has more than enough movement even with the connection point set back behind the waist.  I operated for over a year with it in this position and never had any problems.  Like Phil said, I recently changed to a wrap-around bar which makes connecting the arm easier than reaching back.  At the time of building however a bent bar was not feasible for me.  The difference in position should not have much effect on performance because the arm is designed to function properly throughout it's full range of motion.  Even with the connection point set far forward, it is impossible to utilize the arm's entire reach because it would place the sled well away from the operator's grasp.  So having the connection point behind the hip will not inhibit the arm's capabilities.  It will still allow the user to place the sled in any position that a more forward connected arm can.