[Rohnsman]

The used scooter trunk a friend gave me was a bargain - free, but... the cheap Chinese construction was no match for the vibration of trail riding and the bottom of the trunk is all cracked out now and it's about to fall apart all together.

I like the design though and the truck fits nicely on my Cycle Rack, has plenty of storage, and I like the fact it locks. I've considered this JC Whitney model as a replacement -



JC Whitney Trunk



... but wonder if the plastic will be any better? The hard brittle plastic just doesn't take to the vibration. I've though about the ActionPacker some folks are using, but I think it's really way too big for what I want. (Too bad they don't have a smaller version). The kind of plastic the ActionPackers are made of is much different and can handle a beating.



I want a "top box style", I'm not a fan of the panniers some people are using as that's overkill for what I want - don't plan any expeditions soon. I have also seen a few folks using Pelican cases - that might be an idea, though they are kinda spendy.



Any other good solutions? Whatdya using?? - Thanks...!

 

[srs713]

I fabbed some brackets & bolted on a RubberMaid Action Packer.

Held up nice through the winter. Really thick & sturdy plastic.



Some people have had problems with the latches getting loose after a lot of use.

With a bungie cord across the top it's not a problem for me yet.

 

[peruano]

I used a Halliburton camera case / attache / tool case. Aluminum, waterproof, lockable, and fairly resistant to damage. I found mine at a yard sale and mounted it with u-bolts to my stock rack with a bit of foam between the rack and case to reduce abrasion and vibration. Its been in place a couple of years without incident. I have second one and have considered moving it to the saddlebag position (ala BMW style), but doubt that it will happen. I do find that a heavy piece of carpet inside reduced vibrations for stuff carried.

Alternatively, when I needed more space for a camping trip, I mounted a airport roller bag (using the frame on the handle-side of the bag as the attachment point to the rack and fortified the inside of the bag with a thin sheet of plywood. If you depended on the rivets through the canvas/cardboard inner liner your stuff would end up on the ground.

The roller bag worked well by increasing space available without increasing either weight or threats to my spinal integrity. Tom

 

[Wheelie Nelson]

My linkhttp://www.tourmaster.com/xcart/catalog/Sport-Tail-Bag-p-148_31.html



not a trunk, but i have and love this cortech sport tail bag. the sides zip out and it expands. i can haul plenty in it.

 

[admiral]

Wheelie Nelson,



Now that looks like a pretty neat trunk bag. Maybe not as large as some would like, but it has the advantage of being quickly detachable and can carry it with you. Has a few color choices as well. I like it! Thanks for posting this one. Its going into my favorites folder on my email account.

 

[HenryJ]

Action Packer mounted with u-bolts to a Cyclerack

 

[Wheelie Nelson]

Wheelie Nelson,



Now that looks like a pretty neat trunk bag. Maybe not as large as some would like, but it has the advantage of being quickly detachable and can carry it with you. Has a few color choices as well. I like it! Thanks for posting this one. Its going into my favorites folder on my email account.

i'll take some pictures of it expanded and post them tomorrow.

 

[Gerry]

Given that I am a Thrift store shopper, I can come up with some odd stuff. Here is my 'trunk' it is a DeWalt multi-set case. Likely, a drill and flashlite combo. I had to cut out the molded inset and reinforce the rim with an aluminium strip. I would bet against it being water-tight but it meets my needs nicely and can be padlocked (low security).

$3.00 plus a bit of cutting with the Dremel. Gerry

 

[Rohnsman]

Given that I am a Thrift store shopper, I can come up with some odd stuff. Here is my 'trunk' it is a DeWalt multi-set case. Likely, a drill and flashlite combo. I had to cut out the molded inset and reinforce the rim with an aluminium strip. I would bet against it being water-tight but it meets my needs nicely and can be padlocked (low security).

$3.00 plus a bit of cutting with the Dremel. Gerry

And true to form, what's in that case but... more gizmos!

Looks like maybe a CB radio? Just curious...maybe you could post a full list of the gizmos and gadgets you've put on your TW? I'm sure it would be quite impressive.

 

[Gerry]

I carry so much stuff, I have turned a 252lb bike into to a "much harder to lift" 310lb (I guess) Trail Snail. It is hard to remember what I have, and then I need to figure out where I packed it. However, if you were trailside with problems, I would be the guy you hoped happens by.



My trunk now has a 2 meter ham radio that can punch out 35 watts should it be needed (and if the engine is running). I also have a 3 watt cell phone amp. The extra power carries a call much further to hit a tower, but seldom use it anymore because the Spot is even more reliable.



The cover has forest service maps, a two foot foldable straight edge for transfering GPS numbers onto a map. A 6" ruler with zillions of holes so I can index my map for plotting. Magnifing glasses so I can see the map, a mechanical pencil, and a couple of led lights so I can find my maps in the dark.



The bottom has (in addition to the electronics) a folding poop shovel, binoculars, first-aid kit, a small Sham-Wow towel, a 911 cell phone that is not set up for any service, but can always be used in an emergency (by law). Extra AA batteries for my other devices. Lots of small stuff like extra zip ties, fuses, 10" section of fuel line, and likely other things I have forgotten. Gerry

 

[ATXthumper]

gerry has a swiss army bike.

 

[mga60tw]

I bought a cheap plastic tool box from Walmart. U bolts and bungee cords to secure the top. First time I rode the top latches broke from the vibrations, so now I use bungee cords to keep it shut.

 

[Wheelie Nelson]

here are a few pics of the cortech sport tail bag. there are a few small pockets on the top flap that i didn't take pictures of (forgot to) which are a good storage spot for keys, wallet, insurance card, etc.



it has one of these pockets on each side:

here is the bag not expanded. i use one of the pockets on the side to store the rain cover.

here it is with the rain cover to make it waterproof.

it has a decent amount of space for running around town and picking up a few necessary items

expanded it really has a lot of room

 

[admiral]

Hey Wheelie,

Thanks for posting the extra photo's. Of course, you had me sold on the idea at "hello" so-to-speak, but being able to expand larger, even better. I wonder if all of the Cortech Sport Bags come with the complimentary liquid refreshment?

And thanks for the reminder to Mr. Gizmow that old cell phones have the 911. Normally, I have my normal cell phone with me whether I have service in the area or not, and this will have to do until I get a Spot. However, our family has 3 or 4 old cell phones not in use sitting in a desk drawer that could be placed in our cars or something like that, in case of emergency. I think I will place them in a ziploc bag with the car charger.

 

[tickboy]

I use a trunk from Sears that now costs around $65.00 (I think I paid around $50.00 last year) It probably won't take an impact should I dump it hard in the woods but seems to hold up fine on the daily commute. BTW, the medium size trunk can't accommodate a full face helmet but the large one might.

 

[Rohnsman]

I use a trunk from Sears that now costs around $65.00 (I think I paid around $50.00 last year) It probably won't take an impact should I dump it hard in the woods but seems to hold up fine on the daily commute. BTW, the medium size trunk can't accommodate a full face helmet but the large one might.

This is the same trunk that JC Whitney sells. What I'm curious about is the type of plastic used. The hard plastic scooter case I had was pretty enough with a bright blue gloss finish, but the plastic was hard and vibration from trail riding quickly cracked it where it was mounted. I'm thinking maybe if this case if made from the softer plastic (same kinda stuff the ActionPackers are made from) perhaps it can handle the vibration better? Did you use the provided quick-release mount? If so, how's that working out? I'm thinking maybe the idea it to use the trunk while riding in town and then use the release to pull it off and leave it at home when trail riding.



Give me your feedback and any other tips. Thanks...

Oh yeah... what is the big white thing to the rear of your trunk?

 

[tickboy]

This is the same trunk that JC Whitney sells. What I'm curious about is the type of plastic used. The hard plastic scooter case I had was pretty enough with a bright blue gloss finish, but the plastic was hard and vibration from trail riding quickly cracked it where it was mounted. I'm thinking maybe if this case if made from the softer plastic (same kinda stuff the ActionPackers are made from) perhaps it can handle the vibration better? Did you use the provided quick-release mount? If so, how's that working out? I'm thinking maybe the idea it to use the trunk while riding in town and then use the release to pull it off and leave it at home when trail riding.



Give me your feedback and any other tips. Thanks...

Oh yeah... what is the big white thing to the rear of your trunk?

The trunk is a kind of stiff plastic that has some flex to it. I've had this for about 3000 miles this season (about 500 off-road). No cracks that I can see so far. The quick release mount seems to work fine. Because the back part of the rear rack bends slightly upward I had to raise the trunk mounting plate about an 3/4" using pieces of a white plastic cutting board which is slightly visible in the picture. Otherwise the trunk would not properly open without completely removing it.



The white thing is 4" PVC, about 8" long, with a cap one one end and a screw top on the other. When I go off-road I leave the trunk at home so if I dump the bike in the woods I won't destroy it. I put an assortment of small tools, tire repair kit...etc in it and attach it to the rear rack with large hose clamps.

 

[HenryJ]

I bought that same trunk for my KLR.

Works pretty good. I think I'd consider it for the TW200 if the action packer was not working so well.

 

[qwerty]

Action Packer mounted with longer replacements for the 3 bolts holding down the stock cargo pad. 2-inch wide strips of aluminum spread the load of mounting with the bottom of the Action Packer sandwiched between them.

Note that none of the bungies attach to the Action Packer. All the bungies that hold things on attach to the rear of the frame or the back fender under the tail light. I have done thousands of highway miles loaded like this. For off pavement, I take only what will fit inside the Action Packer and the tank bag.



I've built a rack with supports with folding bases that will use the yellow canoe bags as soft saddle bags, two per side is possible. Alternatively, I can mount one canoe bag per side and bolt the bigger Action Packer on the rack. The rack also incorporates a 3-gallon auxilary fuel tank, three PVC tool tubes, and raised passenger pegs for my 5-year old grandson. When I get around to bolting it up I'll post a pic.

 

[Rohnsman]

I like the Action Packer and the price is sure right, but I sure wish it weren't so big! (An "Action Packer Jr. would be nice, eh Rubbermaid?) I don't plan any expeditions and so something big enough to haul a gallon of milk and some other groceries back from the store is about right. I'm leaning more towards the JC Whitney trunk and it would seem that folks have had pretty good luck with it being "tough enuff."