Milk Crates + Lid Idea.

[MisterB]

My crates from Farmplast (who inexplicably does business from milkcrates1.com, probably a victim of domain name squatting) arrived unscathed and ready to mount.
I have access to a vertical mill, lathe, welder, and lots of other stuff. Thought about making some standoffs and maybe have a universal mount that would allow any kind of packout as long as I had appropriate receivers on bags or whatever.
After contemplating all that I decided on nylon ties. The return on time investment just didn't make sense considering my usage. If things change, then maybe.

Just took the Trail to the gas station to "test" the crate with a diet Dew, IT MAKES A NICE BACK REST! I've never ever had a back rest but took a trip a couple years ago on the big bike, my luggage butted up against my back and I realized how nice they are.
May put a little pad on the crate. I guess highway pegs are next.

Am posting a picture of my wife's Super Cub also because there might be an idea there some of you crafty folks can run with: I ordered 2 crates for hers and am going to cut the bottom off the white one to use as a lid for the other.
They're designed to nest perfectly so the fit will be great, just need to put a couple hinges and latch on it. Thinking about having the latch at the rear so it hinges towards rider. Will post if I find some appropriate hardware.

 

[dmonkey]

Great thinking. I used the same rectangular crates from Farmplast before, and inspired by the crate w/ lid setups that are common to kayakers, I dremel'd one down to function as just a lid for the other, hinged with heavy duty zip ties. Used ROK Straps to keep the lid closed.

 

[MisterB]

No surprise that it's already been done, things that fit together like this will always find new uses.
While it's always fun to discover something like this it's even better when you find out it's been done before AND someone else has done the R&D on the mods.
Thanks for the tips and the kayaker info. A quick internet search will probably give me all the best ideas that have been figured out.
Nice setup, BTW. 3x12 packs, a big pumpkin, a gallon of gas... looks like it handles a big load without issues!

 

[MisterB]

I'm slow as molasses. 1/2" zip ties for hinges arrived today so there's not much left to do besides make a latch out of some of the leftover material. Also working on a divider.
The crate on the Trail is so damn perfect. Handle holes in crate are great for moving it around, I grasp the crate when doing my leg-over maneuver, it holds everything. Only way it could be better would be if Honda stamped it out of the same steel as the rack, painted it to match, and had a nice OEM mounting solution.

 

[MisterB]

If posting a bunch of links is poor form please let me know and I'll delete.
That said: I love storage options on bikes!
The rectangular milk crate worked out for me because I use my Trail for going to work and buzzing around town. Will take it off the tarmac whenever I get a chance, but nothing extreme and the stretchy net should keep everything in. I looked for anything that had similar dimensions to our rack so I'm gonna post some links here in the hope it might help someone looking. They'll probably disappear after a while but here's what I found.
Metal night-vision box
Pelican military box
Another night-vision box
Short ammo crate
Taller ammo crate
Pelican style 18x16x14
They're all more expensive than the milk crate but offer more protection if you need it.

Was riding home the other day and something was buzzing around in the crate and I realized the genius of the AZ7000' astroturf!
The beauty of the simple milk crate is that it has an intuitiveness about it. I laughed when I saw Reptoid's mounting solution for the beer bottle, I do the exact same thing with my Diet Dew!
Most likely all of the things we find useful were designed to reduce weight, cost, materials, make them stackable, and avoid places where milk could pool and get gross. We all win.
It is a cousin to the simple machine. Of course I'd trade it in a heartbeat for Givi 58L, but until then, the crate rocks the rack.

 

[Cardinal Direction]

The expedition 134 is what I’m looking at, 55L and waterproof. Definitely more expensive than a milk crate. I found 19 crates in a ditch last year so maybe I’ll just zip tie three together…

 

[MisterB]

I found 19 crates in a ditch last year

Sweet find!!!
You’d have enough left over for a 4x4 wall cubby, a lovely garden trellis, or a million other projects.
Are there any US distributors for the Expidition?

 

[dmonkey]

Sweet find!!!
You’d have enough left over for a 4x4 wall cubby, a lovely garden trellis, or a million other projects.
Are there any US distributors for the Expidition?

I bought one from Mule Expedition Outfitters and received it 2 days later in the USA.

Expedition 134 Plastic Storage Box (14.5 Gallon) – Mule Expedition Outfitters

Discover ultimate storage with Expedition 134 (14.5 Gallon) Box from MULE Expedition Outfitters. Durable, spacious, and ready for your adventure gear.

dasmule.com

 

[Cardinal Direction]

What he said!

 

[STUBBORN]

I bought one from Mule Expedition Outfitters and received it 2 days later in the USA.

Hi STUBBORN heah, I already have some milk crates but I am using them as bookcases. So I looked for a better case. GovPlanet has Pelican and other watertight military wicked strong cases, For Example 22 cases $90 :
There's a LOT of cases on auction for just pennies on the dollar. None are red and black though ...

I just bought a water resistant red and black Milwaukee XL pack out tool chest and a pack out
chest clamp on holder rack from Northern Tool. There are pictures of these mounted on
a trail 125 in this forum somewheres. I tried buying them at Home Depot but they had to order
them and it would take weeks but NT had them in stock with free FedEx S&H and a discount as well.
Now to clean out the Van and pickup the motorcycle...

 

[MisterB]

GovPlanet has Pelican and other watertight military wicked strong cases, For Example 22 cases $90 :
There's a LOT of cases on auction for just pennies on the dollar.

Well that place is a nightmare and I need to block it on my router. Good GOD! If I ever strike it rich, you'll know it. I will base my life around military storage cases. One for the back of the Trail, one to put the Trail IN, and a Humvee to cart it all around. Uncle Sam was great about protecting the gear!
Looks like the packout is a decent system. It seems like I saw where someone maybe was stashing something in the corner bars? or not.
There's nice little medium toolbox that I guess would mate with that base. Collect 'em all!
Possible to cleanly trim the edges of the base to match or closely match the rack shape?

edit: wow. I love my Milwaukee tools but never looked deeply into the packout stuff. Looks like there's anything you'd ever need for that! even a radio.

 

[Luxandria]

I put this on mine. Found it on Amazon and used bungee cords to keep in place.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[MisterB]

Still loving Crate life and have finally collected all the tools and spare stuff I'd like to carry. I don't really need to carry anything between here and work, (1 point 2 miles away), but I've found that it's better to have a wrench than to need one.
Wife is finally getting to a skill level where I need to start planning some destinations we can truck our scooters to and enjoy! Don't want to be somewhere strange and need a wrench, or patch, or anything.
Sooooo, thinking about Crate-mounted tool storage. I bought a cool tractor manual tube but it doesn't really fit where I want it to. If I'm going to be storing tools in the crate then square or rectangle will be the most efficient use of space.
It seems like a 30 cal ammo box would be the best choice since it fits nicely in the crate, the metal ones seal tightly, they have a huge lip where the top closes, and they're relatively cheap. That's the logical, practical choice, but sometimes I am neither.
Been eyeing up this little beauty,

From what I've been able to find it's around 11x4x4.

Tool Box Fits Ford Tractor 2N 9N Fits Massey Ferguson 240 250 670 690 698 699 20 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Tool Box Fits Ford Tractor 2N 9N Fits Massey Ferguson 240 250 670 690 698 699 20 at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

In the end I'll probably go with a metal 30cal box but wanted to post this little cutie in case it would fit anyones lifestyle. Shipping from India so maybe be prepared for a wait. or not.
Hmph, I keep my Trail garaged but we occasionally have rain storms that come out of nowhere while I'm at work. The only thing working in it's favor is that it has drain holes at the bottom because they know rain will get in this thing.
This would need a flap over the rear hinge and corners. I may talk myself into it. it just looks like it's a perfect match.

 

[SneakyDingo]

Consider checking out Apache cases. They're cheap, easily sourced, and seem to be pretty good quality for what you get. The 4800 fits nicely on the back, I have one sitting behind me ready to be modified for my bike... just trying to figure out how to have my cake and eat it too before I pull out the drill. A smaller one could easily hold tools, but they do come with foam on the inside so you could customize that to hold your tools in place too.

 

[Cpd419]

I have one of the old style bike nets with the hooks on the ends stretched Over mine.

 

[Cpd419]

And a little home made backrest action.

 

[MisterB]

Cpd, You're one step ahead of me with the backrest! Definitely something I'm going to do because our fantastic crates make horrible backrests. Even with a thick leather jacket the top edge seems to find a way between discs in my spine, and then I hit a bump. Mine is rectangle and it's right up against the beloved bump on the rack so it's right up against my back. I'm sporting a net with hooks also, ultimate versatility.

Sneaky, I'm just gonna go ahead and admit that I'm old and and set in my ways. Where I live now has very little crime but I lived in a high crime area in my mid-twenties and it left a lasting impression. Had lots stolen from apartment and car windows busted. (nothing in it to steal, just looking?). It changed me forever. Even an empty Apache case looks like something that someone would try to steal, but there must be something pretty cool in there, amIright?
I picked up one of the metal 30cal cases tonight, should work fine and I'll find a way to lock it in and be happy. Was thinking about wrapping it in a garbage bag to make it even more unappealing.
People leave their doors unlocked around here, cars running when they go into the gas station, I really should have no worries, but Fate would find me.

I did consider disguising an Apache case with a diaper box or similar but the 30 cal is a great fit and cheap.

 

[Timmy6216]

I put this on mine. Found it on Amazon and used bungee cords to keep in place.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I got to say that box looks almost OEM with the color two tone and that lid looks like it latches? I'm curious where on Amazon did you find it? I can't say enough how almost perfectly it fits at least in the picture. Do you find yourself utilizing it as a backrest?

 

[Cpd419]

Cpd, You're one step ahead of me with the backrest! Definitely something I'm going to do because our fantastic crates make horrible backrests. Even with a thick leather jacket the top edge seems to find a way between discs in my spine, and then I hit a bump. Mine is rectangle and it's right up against the beloved bump on the rack so it's right up against my back. I'm sporting a net with hooks also, ultimate versatility.

Sneaky, I'm just gonna go ahead and admit that I'm old and and set in my ways. Where I live now has very little crime but I lived in a high crime area in my mid-twenties and it left a lasting impression. Had lots stolen from apartment and car windows busted. (nothing in it to steal, just looking?). It changed me forever. Even an empty Apache case looks like something that someone would try to steal, but there must be something pretty cool in there, amIright?
I picked up one of the metal 30cal cases tonight, should work fine and I'll find a way to lock it in and be happy. Was thinking about wrapping it in a garbage bag to make it even more unappealing.
People leave their doors unlocked around here, cars running when they go into the gas station, I really should have no worries, but Fate would find me.

I did consider disguising an Apache case with a diaper box or similar but the 30 cal is a great fit and cheap.

I wanted something big enough to throw my fishing stuff and a rod in so the crate is my choice. And I could definitely see someone thinking there could be a pew pew or something else valuable in a nice case as well.

 

[SneakyDingo]

I wanted something big enough to throw my fishing stuff and a rod in so the crate is my choice. And I could definitely see someone thinking there could be a pew pew or something else valuable in a nice case as well.

Shy of a clear case that shows off what's inside, or one with speed holes, that's always gonna be the situation. One of the "Hmm, is it possible?" questions I've been thinking before drilling holes is 1) can I add a quick mount system to this case? Like can it be as utilitarian as the Milwaukee system, because at the very least I know I can attach that? and 2) Can I add something to the top of it?

#1 though, if you think about it... that'd be hella useful to just unhitch the case and take it with you. My motivation isn't crime, my motivation is that sometimes it's cold and wet outside, and I don't want to sit there mucking around with things when a little forethought could mean I do that in a nice, warm, dry place.