BMW GSA Aluminium pannier adjustment issue

[Adamj79]

I've got a set of BMW aluminium top box & panniers which I regularly use on my 09 GSA.

I would like to put a small hook or bar in the corner of each lid so I can attach a cargo bungee to hold items securely in place in the lid space. I see that the touratech panniers have a small hook already in place, starting to wish I'd gone for those now !!

Anyhow, anyone done anything similar and can suggest the best way to fix something in? I obviously want to keep the panniers as waterproof as possible so if I drilled the lid i'd have to use some sealant or something but don't want anything that looks like a bodge job from the outside at least!

I'm told even spot welding aluminium is a right pain, would something like araldite be strong enough?

 

[Dainese Brave]

I doubt araldite would do it.....can you not buy the Touratech hooks and fit them?....using the same method?

 

[Adamj79]

I doubt araldite would do it.....can you not buy the Touratech hooks and fit them?....using the same method?

Unfortunately the tt panniers have the bar already welded in place. Its only a simple 2-3" piece of metal but allows small items to be attached in the lid space. I'd have thought the bumw ones would be the same (they are made by bloody tt after all) but noooooo

Ideas anyone........?

 

[roddy]

I would have imagined a local welder would manage this without issue ?

 

[autogs]

man up and buy the tt ones,you know you want to

 

[CuzGS]

Am I being thick, I have the BMW pannier kit and it has them ?? Is it an extra ? How about 4 x u shaped hollow pieces fixed via screws from underneath into the hollows, bit like the u shaped bits from a zumo ram mount ?

 

[Adamj79]

Am I being thick, I have the BMW pannier kit and it has them ?? Is it an extra ? How about 4 x u shaped hollow pieces fixed via screws from underneath into the hollows, bit like the u shaped bits from a zumo ram mount ?

Far be it from me to call you thick Cuz, mine definitley don't have them though. It was never mentioned as an extra and I only noticed the tt ones did when I was thumbing through their catalogue. I thought it was a good feature to use the lid space to store small items in. My panniers have tt manufacturing labels on though, so who knows

My original thought was to chop some metal hex keys i'd collected over the years that come with flat packed furniture etc and just spot weld them into place, but everyone I speak to about welding to aluminium says its a right chew on. I've never done any welding so don't really know.

 

[CuzGS]

Ah right mine are embossed as BMW so guess that's why, I recon if you need a neat job sell yours and buy bm ones or if you're not worried get a welder to do a job on them

Oh feel free btw, I'm as thick as pig swill usually

 

[Adamj79]

Ah right mine are embossed as BMW so guess that's why, I recon if you need a neat job sell yours and buy bm ones or if you're not worried get a welder to do a job on them

Oh feel free btw, I'm as thick as pig swill usually

Haha mine are also embossed bumw ones with the usual lettering on the sides etc, supplied by a dealer as well. Although on the inside there are stickers with both bmw and tt logos alongside the part numbers. When I queried this I was told that all the bmw panniers are actually made by tt.

God knows, i'll just find someone who can do a neat welding job then!! Anyone recommend aomeone decent in the north east let me know

 

[Adamj79]

If yer were going to attach a bungee to tie it all down why not get a cargonet and bungee it all down
You probably dont want hooks (all the time on yer boxes) anyway
I have held all my stuff with 2" wide rubber bands - it is special rubber mind
HTHY[/QUOTE]

Its the inside of the lid I meant, obviously they have lashing brackets on the outer already.

Its just a handy way of having smaller items at hand and making use of the otherwise wasted space.....

 

[Dainese Brave]

Could you not get a small hook, or similar, then fix it with a blind rivit from the outside with plenty of sealer behind it?

 

[fully]

velcro is your friend

havent done anything yet but did mull over the same issue.

my thinking was degrease the inside of the lid (remove all stickers etc) and attach a large area of self adhesive velcro to the inside of the lid. then take the other half of the velcro and stick it to some suitable rigid cases that will fit in the lid space.

then i remembered i had actually went to the garage to get a beer and forgot about it entirely until now...

 

[cookie]

Its the inside of the lid I meant, obviously they have lashing brackets on the outer already.

Its just a handy way of having smaller items at hand and making use of the otherwise wasted space.....

why not just put the items in a small bag and place it on top of whatever is in the pannier?

my panniers always seem to be packed move the lid joint anyway, so there's no wasted space.

 

[Geezer]

Velcro

Depends on what you want to fix in the lid. I used industrial velcro and attached a document holder which works well; it has limitations but strong enough to hold maps etc and keeps things neat.

 

[Falco9]

I would have imagined a local welder would manage this without issue ?

+1 ..........a decent aluminium welder would have no problems in doing this at all.

Welding aluminium is not a black art, you just need the right equipment and a skilled welder. Have a look in the local yellow pages I bet there are quite a few companies in the North East. If all else fails I have a great local alloy welder here in Wakefield

F9

 

[Goose]

Get 4 of these "hookplates" and affix that thin black double-sided tape (Rubbe rmoulding tape) after cleaning both the hook plate and surface that you want to stick it to.

The tape will hold quite a load and is normally used for vehicle moldings or number plates?

easiest solution...?