J-Pod / Monopod Issues

[Aaron S]

I love using both these products, but they have both broken in the exact same spot. I've attached a picture of each of the bottom-most clamps from the J-Pod and the regular LS rover rod. I don't mind that they break and I understand that these things happen, but I don't see any replacement parts on the website. One misstep in the field can render two poles useless and leave you out $1200 between the two of them. I would buy these by the case if I could because it seems this will be a recurring problem.

 

[John Evers]

Aaron,
Get a hold of Michael Glutting. I am sure he will get you replacement parts. He will want the broken ones for examination, to help prevent future occurrence.

 

[Aaron S]

It looks like there are replacement parts for the monopod on the website now. There are 3 options - which is the one for the bottom lock? Is it the 28 inch option?

 

[Darren Clemons]

It looks like there are replacement parts for the monopod on the website now. There are 3 options - which is the one for the bottom lock? Is it the 28 inch option?

I believe the 28" is the bottom Aaron...I just had to order a bunch of these. We've had 4 or 5 break in basically the exact same spot as your picture above.......we aren't tightening them to an "extreme" I don't believe, it's just this part that's breaking is where all the pressure is being applied. Also, the 10 degree and below temperatures in the last couple months have definitely not helped, makes them snap a lot easier.

 

[Aaron S]

Good to know I'm not the only one snapping these things at a regular pace. At least we can get just the snap locks on their own though - very helpful!

 

[Aaron S]

Michael Glutting, Here's the pics we spoke about on the phone.

 

[Darren Clemons]

 

[Michael Glutting]

Thanks for the images documenting the issue. We are working to improve the clamps.

 

[Darren Clemons]

I broke another one of these this week , this time it was the center one. We aren’t over tightening them, if anything we’re being cautious because of the frailty of the snap locks. Then, when purposely not over tightening them, the sections easily “slide” down a bit during the normal course of the day - not good at ALL when doing elevation work.

We have decided to move away from these completely (going back to the snap lock Seco carbon fiber poles) until the time when/if there is a major improvement in the design and the locks. They may work fine for some, but are not made to go through the day to day terrain and conditions we put them through with where we consistently go. Will probably keep one collapsed in the stake bag for those “low” points under fences and low hanging tree branches. These poles are great for that.

 

[Phillip Lancaster]

I love the concept of this pole but it is a consumer camera rod retrofitted to use as a gps rod. Plain and simple. I wish it was made survey grade. I've broken two and just bought the regular benro camera rod online at like $80 and just scavenged for parts. Plastic joints but they still work.

 

[Nate The Surveyor]

The monopole is just a little on the delicate side.
Light weight too.
Excellent for long trek into the wilderness.
However, it's not a heavy duty walking stick, prybar.
If you can keep in mind that it's not for rough treatment, you'll be fine.
If you have a "Jerry" on your crew, who thinks its a sword, and spear, you are going to need to:
Adjust the bubbles often.
Need a pile of parts, to keep it working.
I suspect one of your crew members is "Jerry".
N

 

[Darren Clemons]

The monopole is just a little on the delicate side.
Light weight too.
Excellent for long trek into the wilderness.
However, it's not a heavy duty walking stick, prybar.
If you can keep in mind that it's not for rough treatment, you'll be fine.
If you have a "Jerry" on your crew, who thinks its a sword, and spear, you are going to need to:
Adjust the bubbles often.
Need a pile of parts, to keep it working.
I suspect one of your crew members is "Jerry".

No Nate, we don’t have any of those at all. We just “attempted” to use them in “normal” day to day surveying in challenging terrain, but as Phillip says, they are made for cameras and photographers - just basically to sit still and hold a camera on top. They are simply too flimsy and frail to handle any type of terrain and conditions where we go.

 

[Darren Clemons]

I love the concept of this pole but it is a consumer camera rod retrofitted to use as a gps rod. Plain and simple. I wish it was made survey grade. I've broken two and just bought the regular benro camera rod online at like $80 and just scavenged for parts. Plastic joints but they still work.

We’ve tried this as well Phillip. Works about the same.

 

[Aaron S]

No Nate, we don’t have any of those at all. We just “attempted” to use them in “normal” day to day surveying in challenging terrain, but as Phillip says, they are made for cameras and photographers - just basically to sit still and hold a camera on top. They are simply too flimsy and frail to handle any type of terrain and conditions where we go.

I feel your pain on these. They are basically light-duty and there's no getting around that. For topo surveys, they are fantastic. They are also excellent if you leave them in your pack until you hike to the actual point.

Unfortunately, that's not how my typical work goes and the ugly truth is that trips and slips are common in the woods when traversing logs, swamps, etc. and when that fall instinct kicks in, you subconsciously use anything to try and keep your balance. It's a lot of leverage on the small connectors, and I even if they were somehow solid steel, I think they'd get worn out anyway.

 

[Aaron S]

Speaking of repairing J-Pods, I was putting mine back together with the new snap lock, and I found that I had left over parts. They're the two narrow black plastic arcs in the attached picture. Where do they go? I took apart a leg of the J-Pod thinking I could borrow parts off it, but it's a different size (maybe they go there?). I can't remember where these little black clips go!

 

[Shawn Billings]

I always collapse the pole between points that require a walk through brush or over rough terrain. If the pole is completely collapsed then there should never be an opportunity for crushing a clamp. I broke a clamp once because I drove the 4-wheeler up on it trying to hold the pole vertical on a point while seated. That was obviously my fault. Other than that, I have had no issues with the monopole since we started using the Benro poles.

The monopole is not a pry bar and is a poor choice for a walking stick. Other poles are somewhat more suitable to that task but less portable. You have to pick your poison. For me, I prefer the portability and light weight accepting that I cannot use it like I would a prism pole. I have a SECO 5' prism pole with three collapsing sections that I've played with a time or two with the LS, but I still prefer the monopole. The SECO is more rugged, but heavier too. It might be a better fit for you.

 

[Matt Johnson]

Speaking of repairing J-Pods, I was putting mine back together with the new snap lock, and I found that I had left over parts. They're the two narrow black plastic arcs in the attached picture. Where do they go? I took apart a leg of the J-Pod thinking I could borrow parts off it, but it's a different size (maybe they go there?). I can't remember where these little black clips go!

 

[Aaron S]

That's what I was afraid of. They're a real pain to get in there, so I thought they went somewhere else. Otherwise, the assembly is pretty self-explanatory.

That also brings up a problem with the replacement kit - it doesn't include the white or black plastic shims. For my J-Pod, I managed to salvage these black ones, but with the other LS Rover Pole I have, it shattered in the swamp and the black clips were lost forever. So if someone didn't manage to save those, the repair kits would be incomplete.

 

[Aaron S]

I don't even mind that it breaks, because I understand that's just the way they're made and it's not a design flaw or anybody's fault but my own. I just wish the repair kits came with everything needed to fix it.

Those black clips I think just keep the snap lock on the pole in case it all breaks. For the second pole (where I lost the clips long ago) I put the new lock on without them and everything seems to be ok. They don't seem to be strictly necessary for normal operation.

 

[Matt Johnson]

It’s been a while since I have disassembled a pole but I believe the black clips just prevented the snaplock from rotating relative to the upper section of the pole. They aren’t really needed.