Pilot Sled / Gimbal max weight?

[Keith Wood]

Can someone tell me the max weight that the Pilot sled and gimbal can reliably handle?  I know that the Pilot system is rated to a 10 pound payload, but it seems that this is pretty much the most that the arm can take, I'm pretty much maxed out on the arm adjusters.

I have an early Flyer system on the way (aluminum sled),  rated for a 15 pound payload, and I'm thinking that I'd like to put the Pilot sled on the Flyer arm and vest . . .but maybe put the dual AB battery mount on in place of the single V-mount (or at least have the option), if the gimbal can handle the weight.

[Bryan Bullard]

Keith,

 If you are talking about the early Flyer with the single section post then the gimbals will be different. The post is a different size. The Pilot/Scout/Flyer LE/Zephyr/Solo and I'm pretty sure the newer A-15 and A-30 are all 29mm posts. Like Tom said in the gimbal post, Tiffen kept within that range to make things more cost effective. The big difference was in the yoke and handle design. The Pilot/Solo had the thinner 1/16" bent tubing handle and the thinner yoke. Also, the top stage of the Pilot is mounted using only 4 M4 screws whereas the others use 6 M5 screws. The carbon fiber post has a bit of a thicker wall as well. All in all, I would actually stick with the Flyer in terms of weight capacity and use the Pilot for lighter setups(i.e.- DSLR's, small camcorders, etc.). Don't put your camera and gear at risk hoping that the Pilot gimbal will perform as you wish. Either the handle will give and bend or the bolt assembly inside the handle will snap.