Best way to mount a box on the back?

[Birthmachine]

The Milwaukee pack-out tool boxes came yesterday. They are huge but snap right into the base plate and wooden work top snaps onto the top of it or the crate will too. Problem is it towers over you and you look like one of the Asian hot steamed meat bun food delivery guys if you put all three on. The picture is the tool boxes and wooden work top on my two bikes. I will take a picture of the total stack of the tool box, the crate and the worktop and post here later.

(OK the double stack picture is under the top picture.) Wind drag and possible top heavy depending on loading I don't see a use in this configuration unless I'm fleeing a zombie apocalypse and carrying ammo in the tool box and freeze dried food in the crate, even then it would be a challenge to take off road and I suspect you would lay it on its side pretty quick if you weren't careful? Still a nice system that lock all together. I can see me running the tool box and the wife the crate. Another nice feature is the color match.View attachment 1037View attachment 1041

Any pics or specs for hardware that you used? I’m going to do the same thing. Thanks!

 

[m in sc]

as a foot note to this thread: my foldable crate was a bit too close to my back when riding, i moved it back by about 2" by re-drilling the holes in the aluminum plate i mounted mine with. now it doesnt rub my middle back when its 'deployed'. just one thing to consider when placing a crate back there.

 

[op46]

Discovered Milwaukee pack out crates lock into each other so you can go two or three high. Two would be max for this application I think. Knew they would lock onto top of tool boxes. Tool boxes are bigger all the way around and of different height and internal tray configuration but have a waterproof gasket on lid. They even have half size tool boxes, tool bags with lock lugs on hard bottom and a half size radio/power box. I'm going to look at some of the smallest bags to carry tools in that can be mounted on the back or front rack over headlight.

 

[Cablepair]

Old egg crate drilled holes for the built-in mounting holes and put some rubber liner that you use in the drawers of a toolbox under the box.

 

[op46]

Any pics or specs for hardware that you used? I’m going to do the same thing. Thanks!

I used some commercial grade black, thick zip-ties with metal teeth to lash the Milwaukee plate down to the Honda cargo plate. Think I put five or six on. It has very little movement and is plastic against metal like the milk crate setup. I didn't want to drill the Honda plate and the existing holes didn't line up. I probably could have made a bracket to capture the Milwaukee plate using the pre-drilled holes in the Honda plate but the zip-ties where the first idea to see if the concept worked with the crate and tool boxes. It worked so good that I have left the zip ties in place for now and will monitor for looseness and movement. So far nada.... Picture posted here. showing strapping locations, it wasn't symmetrical due to design of Milwaukee plate. I elected to go length wise with release on left side as that is the side I dismount on. You could mount the plate width wise but it might stick-out to far on the sides. Plus you would have to orient the plate so the release is to the rear. That bothered me a little as the fore and aft velocity vectors are greatest that way and was
afraid of dumping crate on a to fast accel and having not latched properly. (Photo attached) Ziptie locations marked with small grey X. There are five. Placement selected to not interfere with dovetail locking lugs of crate bottom to base plate.

 

[AZ7000']

Thin sheet of plywood and the built in threaded holes, the fake grass cover is great for the dog!

 

[dmonkey]

Collapsibile "Instacrate" for like $6 at Costco but I've seen it elsewhere like Amazon but a little more expensive. Then used the Allen wrench bolts I replaced when i installing my center rack - fit the 4 threaded holes on the back rack perfect. Lining up for the holes drilling in the case bottom was bit of a challenge, but i made a template for that in the end.

Thanks for this idea. I picked up the same red and black Instacrate and mounted it to the 4 rack holes. Right now I'm just using big fender washers to give some mounting surface area to the floor of the plastic crate itself, it has some front to back flex due to those 4 mounting holes not being very spread out, so will likely try to find a plate of metal or something else to add for better mounting. Also plan to remove it, Rhino line the rack black as someone else had done, add a thin rubber tool mat under the crate, and re-mount it all. After just a day of riding with a regular plastic milk crate zip-tied onto the rack the crate wore through the rack paint where it rubbed.

 

[akirk626]

View attachment 256Here’s how I did mine, I cut a steel plate to act as a big washer then drilled holes that match the threaded holes in the rack.

works well, no bungees or modification to the actual bike needed.

I did this exact thing. I like the Milwaukee box a lot.

 

[akirk626]

I'm ordering this. Can't remember who told me where to buy them but I love them!

Anyhow, looking for suggestions before I head to the hardware store.

I'll drill a couple of holes in the top to attach a couple of bungee cords.


View attachment 255

I love the wood crate look. If you take the rack off you can really get the predrilled holes lined up well. I used a small piece of metal to score my drill holes with it mounted but i could have made it easier on myself if i'd removed the rack which i did to spray truck bed liner on it.

 

[Bar None]

I have the milk crate and fuel can ready, just need to get my CT125 which is suppose to be at the dealer by the end of September. Will use heavy duty zip ties to secure it.

 

[dmonkey]

I have the milk crate and fuel can ready, just need to get my CT125 which is suppose to be at the dealer by the end of September. Will use heavy duty zip ties to secure it.

I ran a setup similar to this on a 1988 Cagiva Tamanaco for a few years. Just check in on it regularly to make sure the zip ties haven't become brittle, and that the weight of the fuel hasn't deformed the crate too much. Mine got pretty warped over time even with a heavy duty rectangle crate.

 

[Bar None]

Been using milk crates on my bikes for years with no issues. Usually just zip tie them.

 

[Fun4me]

Been using milk crates on my bikes for years with no issues. Usually just zip tie them.
View attachment 1371

Agree with you. A simple, economical, and effective solution. I noticed you have a Ural too. I've had mine since 2007 and it has been the favored ride in the stable until I got my LRD.

 

[Bar None]

Nice Ural!
I am on my third Ural.


Hopefully my CT125 will arrive soon.

 

[r80rt]

I miss my old '94 Ural, I think I need another one.

 

[Bar None]

When I sold my 2012 Yamal I said great, got that out of my system. Then I had to have another and bought a 2015 CT which I enjoyed for three years and then sold it and said no more. Now I am on my last one I hope.

 

[op46]

Milwaukee packout base, then add what you like, crate, tool box or bags that snap into the base.

 

[Codyg5]

I bought a Big Ant collapsible crate.$25 (med size) from Norther Tool. Ended up using a old piece of a metal license plate to attach it. Was only able to get two holes to line up. Seems like that is plenty tho. Definitely not going anywhere. Used some tool box liner between the rack and crate for protection. The liner has little holes in it for drainage

 

[FRAC]

I like the looks of that one when its folded up especially.

 

[Codyg5]

I bought a Big Ant collapsible crate.$25 (small size) from Norther Tool. Ended up using a old piece of a metal license plate to attach it. Was only able to get two holes to line up. Seems like that is plenty tho. Definitely not going anywhere. Used some tool box liner between the rack and crate for protection. The liner has little holes in it for drainage