Apache 3800 vs 4800

[ChuckG]

Hello all. I picked up a new CT125 a couple of days ago, and am thinking about the kinds of accessories I'd like. I’m pretty sure I'd like to add an Apache case. The 4800, to my eye, looks a tad big, but that seems to be the size everyone gets. Has anyone tried the 3800? If yes, I'd love to see a picture of it on a 125. I'm a ways away from the nearest Harbor Freight, so trying them each on for size isn’t easy. Thanks!

 

[oldskool]

No the 4800 is not too big IMO. Unless you KNOW everything you will ever want to carry will fit in the 3800 I think you will regret getting the smaller case sooner or later. I have a 4800 I was going to mount but it's too small for my use so I went with an open top crate.

 

[SneakyDingo]

Apache Case	Length	Width	Height
3800	16.5"	13"	6.75"
4800	20.25"	15.5"	7.375"

The 4800 case ends up being too small for a lot of situations for me. The big thing for me is that the 3800 is 3 lbs lighter.

If you're too far away from a Harbor Freight to tell, but you have like... a hot glue gun, or glue/tape and some cardboard lying around, mock up what the size of the box would be out of cardboard and put that on the back of your bike. You'll want to do that anyway so you know where to drill holes for mounting.

EDIT: Also the internal dimensions of the cases are substantially smaller than the exterior ones. You seem to think it's too big, but it might be way too small internally. Same trick with the cardboard and glue.

 

[wndrsloth]

I have the 4800 on mine

 

[SneakyDingo]

Packout + 4800 case

DISCLAIMER: This is prototype level work. Copy at your own risk. First off, my idea: An Apache 4800 case mounted to a Packout base. Why would you even do such a thing?! I wanted a waterproofed enclosed case for light duty hauling that I could take with me and I didn't want it to look like a...

hondatrail125.com

Same for me, set up the same way. I like it a lot, but I went to a lot of extra effort to have a quick release setup because I regularly remove it, enough that wingnuts or an electric screwdriver would not be sufficient enough of a solution.

 

[ChuckG]

SneakyDingo, could you describe your quick release setup? By the way, I'm rethinking my original post. The 4800 does seem like a better option. Thanks for the input!

 

[SneakyDingo]

SneakyDingo, could you describe your quick release setup? By the way, I'm rethinking my original post. The 4800 does seem like a better option. Thanks for the input!

I added a drying mat, as is common for the times with the soft paint on the rear rack, to protect the frame from unnecessary damage. Through the drying mat, I bolted a piece of 1/8" Aluminum Composite Board (ACB) to the rear plate of the bike using M6 bolts. I then bolt the Milwaukee Packout plate to the ACB, and then I put whatever it is I want to attach on to the Packout Plate. To attach an Apache 4800 case, I needed to use some smaller bolts (M3 IIRC) combined with Stealthmounts Packout Feet. I did use some silicone and washers for the feet but I mostly accept if I have water coming up through the bottom of the case, it's in the likely in the air intake and I have bigger problems. Nowadays I would not use ACB, I would use a 24" x 18" x .5" Professional HDPE Plastic Chopping Board which is cheaper and easier to acquire than the ACB was, at the expense of being a worse experience to cut.

The only real gotcha is that the packout plate needs a locking mechanism of sorts. The real packout plate system uses a spring loaded clip not too dissimilar to the one that I made for mine. The recommended approach for a packout plate in my use case is to orient it so it loads from the side of the bike instead of the rear; the reasoning is they don't want to be legally liable if it ejects and dumps a load because the locking mechanism failed. For that reason, my case ejects towards the rider.

I don't know of any off the shelf component that can be bought but realistically anything that inserts into a slot of a certain size would work. The first iteration of my lock was just a locking pin, like a cotter pin style approach. The later one was because I realized I could lose the pin and that would be inconvenient.

 

[ChuckG]

Very impressive SneakyDingo! You could probably make and sell that setup! Thanks for taking the time to describe it.

 

[ChuckG]

Ok, I stand corrected. I was able to pick up a 4800 today. It’s the right size alright. Thanks for the input!

 

[wndrsloth]

Ok, I stand corrected. I was able to pick up a 4800 today. It’s the right size alright. Thanks for the input!

Yay! Glad you grabbed it!

 

[NMCoyote]

Keep in mind, you get a large case, you feel obligated to fill it up with gear whether you really need it or not, this adds weight. As an example look at the BMW GS riders with all the side bags, rear bags, they can hardly keep them up on two wheels. Don’t get caught up and end up with a handling issue on these small dual sports.

 

[ChuckG]

Keep in mind, you get a large case, you feel obligated to fill it up with gear whether you really need it or not, this adds weight. As an example look at the BMW GS riders with all the side bags, rear bags, they can hardly keep them up on two wheels. Don’t get caught up and end up with a handling issue on these small dual sports.

Excellent point.

 

[PeteFinVA]

I opted for the 4800 but haven't mounted it yet. I haven't decided how to position it. For those that have mounted a 4800, if it you were to do it again would you mount it so that it opens to the back or to the side? Would you slide it all the way forward or closer to the taillight?

 

[SneakyDingo]

I opted for the 4800 but haven't mounted it yet. I haven't decided how to position it. For those that have mounted a 4800, if it you were to do it again would you mount it so that it opens to the back or to the side? Would you slide it all the way forward or closer to the taillight?

I have a Milwaukee Packout custom mount system (as in I made the retaining latch myself, and put packout feet on my 4800 case). In a move that has at least two actions that Milwaukee says not to do, it's mounted so it opens to the rear and I think it's perfect. My reasons are:

1) I can stand behind the bike with it on the center stand and easily access things. On the side stand it's not that big of an issue either, it tilts to the side.
2) If I have it open to the side, I can see myself dropping shit "under" the bike when it's on the kickstand (thus making it less easy to access when I'm wearing a helmet which I will inevitably bonk on the bike), or into the exhaust area when standing on the other side.
3) For some reason I feel like I often have better illumination when it's like this at night in an unlit environment. I don't know why, but it might be the rear light reflecting off my gear and into the case.
4) When I reach back to check the latches are closed, I find it easier to check the back of the box than the side. I also removed the two side latches as I wasn't using them.
5) I drilled a hole and added a port for SAE charging within the case. I feel this is possible to do with the case mounted sideways, but it's not as easy, or interferes with how low my jacket hangs.
6) As I get off the bike, I reach over, flip the latch that holds it into the packout system, then as I'm walking away push the case forward (towards where the rider would sit) and up. And that means it's super easy for me to make everything click into place. It also ejects TOWARDS the rider, so if I forget to latch it in theory it should smack me in the back instead of just ejecting and falling on the road without me knowing.

Here's a post with the position of the case. Disclaimer disclaimer, if you decide to do this do it at your own risk, but it works pretty well and I would do it again.

 

[dmonkey]

Not Apache case specific, but having mounted multiple crates and top cases to the rear carrier of my CT125, I found that having one mounted close to the grab handle 1) obstructs the grab handle 2) can make for an uncomfortably close backrest that forces an upright posture. The Apache case may not be tall enough for this to be an issue, I suspect if you're someone who's tailbone hits the grab handle then it might be though.
For those reasons my current setup mounts toward the tail of the bike instead. Having some space around the grab handle also lets you strap additional items in place there, like a rolled up jacket.