Wider rear rack

[steveR]

I have been "playing" with my new tent and am a little worried at the stability when carrying a pillion as I have to have the tent and dry bag perched on a 10" wide rack and it just ain't enough!

I have scoured the farm workshop for odds and ends such as alloy strip/angle, but can't really find much to suit. A length of ply looks OK ish, but hardly elegant, so i wondered what others have used?

Some sort of lightweight ally ladder rack, about 24"X8" would seem the ideal, bolted to the carrier and maybe braced to the pannier sub-frames??

[Dee Duble Yuh]

Are you concerned about it falling off or bending?

Sideways lateral forces on bike luggage is small. When you go around a corner the CofG of the luggage remains directly above the wheels! Fore and aft forces will be much greater. If the luggage can stand you doing 0 - 60 in 5 seconds or so, it'll handle the minor sideways forces!

The tent bag surely contains it's own internal strengthening, anyway? (Tent poles.)

I say cure a problem when you know it's a problem.

[Recycler]

My Bro-in-law uses a piece of varnished marine ply on his tiger.
Not what I'd call attractive but been on there for 7 years.

[steveR]

Are you concerned about it falling off or bending?

Sideways lateral forces on bike luggage is small. When you go around a corner the CofG of the luggage remains directly above the wheels! Fore and aft forces will be much greater. If the luggage can stand you doing 0 - 60 in 5 seconds or so, it'll handle the minor sideways forces!

The tent bag surely contains it's own internal strengthening, anyway? (Tent poles.)

I say cure a problem when you know it's a problem.

The problem comes when a piece of stray luggage comes off round a bend!! The issue is more falling off than bending I guess

As far as I am concerned, the problem is that the tent bag is quite long such that the ends flap about and could come adrift as it is hard to get it down solidly with bungees. Without a pillion, no probs as I bring all the luggage etc forward and use the panniers as support.

[steveR]

My Bro-in-law uses a piece of varnished marine ply on his tiger.
Not what I'd call attractive but been on there for 7 years.

That is probably what I will do. As you say, not attractive, but when buried under a mound of stuff, not an issue

[Annette]

Hi Steve

I don't have a wide rack on my bike. I go away campin quite a lot on the bike and have both a full, large dry bag and one of those camping chairs on the back (probably about 3 foot across). No problem at all. If you attach it tightly either with ratchet straps or bungee cords, it won't move anywhere. Even if they only go front to back, you won't lose them.

[AIRWOLF]

Had the same problem going to the Squires meet, i had a piece of 4mm x 500mm x 310mm alloy in the shed (bought from auto jumble for £4 a while back).
chopped the corners drilled a few holes and hey-presto;-

put a 3mm peice of ply as a spacer underneath to clear the bolt heads on the rack.


Put the tent, 2 sleeping bags, 2 airbeds, change of clothes and 2 pair of trainers in this Gelert 120 litre expedition bag. (£25 ish)
(not packed full on this pic)


the bag is 3 foot wide x 14 inches dia. tied securely to the plate it made a nice backrest for the wife.
no problems at all, and only an inch or two wider than the handle bars.

[steveR]

Had the same problem going to the Squires meet, i had a piece of 4mm x 500mm x 310mm alloy in the shed (bought from auto jumble for £4 a while back). Chopped the corners drilled a few holes and hey-presto;-

the bag is 3 foot wide x 14 inches dia. tied securely to the plate it made a nice backrest for the wife.
no problems at all, and only an inch or two wider than the handle bars.

Nice and neat mod I have to say and light as well. I might see if I can find a bit about, there did used to be some checker plate from an old farm trailer somewhere... The ply option does look a touch.... agricultural, when on the bike

I do like the bag, tons better than my dry sack. Is it waterproof? I'll have to price one up!

[steveR]

Hi Steve

I don't have a wide rack on my bike. I go away camping quite a lot on the bike and have both a full, large dry bag and one of those camping chairs on the back (probably about 3 foot across). No problem at all. If you attach it tightly either with ratchet straps or bungee cords, it won't move anywhere. Even if they only go front to back, you won't lose them.

I wondered about a chair to add stability, but it adds more weight (and bulk) to an already laden Translap's rear end! It was all a lot easier without a pillion

I think a better dry bag would be a useful addition, as it allows all for a more compact, neat load to be strapped down well!

[AIRWOLF]

Nice and neat mod I have to say and light as well. I might see if I can find a bit about, there did used to be some checker plate from an old farm trailer somewhere... The ply option does look a touch.... agricultural, when on the bike

I do like the bag, tons better than my dry sack. Is it waterproof? I'll have to price one up!

The top is a big zipped flap (not rhe best description) so i lay it on its side with the zip at the back, the material is like heavy drybag stuff, so if water can't lodge on the zip itshould be ok.
here's a link.
http://www.winfieldsmegastore.com/in...ALLS&options=0