Trax Panniers on Metal Mule Balanced Rack

[Keone]

I was hoping that folks on that side of the pond might have more experience with trax and Metal Mule... does anyone have experience with this setup and its potential... It looks like it might be possible with the Trax adapter for Hepco&Becker frames...

as always, questions, comments, and just plain wise crack remarks are all welcomed...

Thanks
K

 

[Shadwell]

I was hoping that folks on that side of the pond might have more experience with trax and Metal Mule... does anyone have experience with this setup and its potential... It looks like it might be possible with the Trax adapter for Hepco&Becker frames...

as always, questions, comments, and just plain wise crack remarks are all welcomed...

Thanks
K

Just so you dont think you are being ignored keone, welcome to the site, i dont know anything about what you ask but im sure some tosser will help you out soon enough.

i have the wolfman soft bag setup which is perfect for me with a fair bit off roading thrown in with my daily commute.

cant recommend it highly enough

 

[Keone]

Thanks for the welcome Shadwell! I've been lurking here for a few months and I didn't realize it was my first post. Yeah, my ultimate plan is to have two sets of panniers, one hard and one soft, the soft set will for sure be Wolfman.

Thanks
K

 

[SERVDAVE]

Hi there,

I use to work for Metal Mule so I have some experience with the Metal Mule product!

As far as I know I don't think anyone has used Trax luggage on Metal Mule frames before. Do you have a photo of the adaptor kit you would like to use? Metal Mule frames have a 18mm Tube diamater so as long as thats the same as hepco and Becker I can't see it being a problem.

I have a 650GS myself so I can upload some close up photo of my pannier frames if that would help.

Might be worth checking out the Metal Mule website as at the moment they are throwing in the frames from free, saving about £300 odd pounds.

Also this thread on ADV might be worth a look

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showpost.php?p=11386007&postcount=288

Has details of all the different luggage options, who knows someone might have done what you would like to do!

Hope that helps,

 

[Keone]

Hello SERVDAVE,

Thanks for the reply... I am keenly familiar with the post you mentioned... I re-read it too many times looking for clues to no avail. If the MM were cheaper for us here on this side of the pond I would have just ordered a set and see if they fit but at $620.00 delivered, that's more than the BMW rack and a pretty pricey mistake if they don't fit. I've posted this question on another fgs forum and got this info, it would be great if you could comment on this.

Hepco Becker Frame Measurements

Height 185 Inside
Width 315 Inside
Radius All 90 degrees, 1 square, 3 bends over 30mm each side
Tube 16mm

thanks again
K

 

[chas820]

Ain`t we a strange lot,you want a British based set up and I went with a US one.I used to have the metal boxes but after getting stuck on a ferry when they got jammed because they were too wide I went with the Caribou cases idea.I sourced the cases over here and had Caribou ship the locking parts.Very strong,waterproof and I seem to be able to take the same amount of gear as I did in the metal boxes.Have you had a look at the ARD cases as I believe they are better made then MM and the guy who makes them posts on this board.

http://ardcases.co.uk/

 

[Bryn]

Ain`t we a strange lot,you want a British based set up and I went with a US one.I used to have the metal boxes but after getting stuck on a ferry when they got jammed because they were too wide I went with the Caribou cases idea.I sourced the cases over here and had Caribou ship the locking parts.Very strong,waterproof and I seem to be able to take the same amount of gear as I did in the metal boxes.Have you had a look at the ARD cases as I believe they are better made then MM and the guy who makes them posts on this board.

http://ardcases.co.uk/

Got to agree that Ard cases are a well made bit of kit

 

[Ash]

Got to agree that Ard cases are a well made bit of kit

+1

 

[SERVDAVE]

Hello SERVDAVE,

Thanks for the reply... I am keenly familiar with the post you mentioned... I re-read it too many times looking for clues to no avail. If the MM were cheaper for us here on this side of the pond I would have just ordered a set and see if they fit but at $620.00 delivered, that's more than the BMW rack and a pretty pricey mistake if they don't fit. I've posted this question on another fgs forum and got this info, it would be great if you could comment on this.

Hepco Becker Frame Measurements

Height 185 Inside
Width 315 Inside
Radius All 90 degrees, 1 square, 3 bends over 30mm each side
Tube 16mm

thanks again
K

Indeed, you certainly don't want to order them and get it wrong. I presume you are trying to mount the Trax Luggage on Metal Mule Balance frame so you can get the same pannier size on both sides? Also are you buying the exhaust as well as the balanced frames need a Metal Mule exhaust to go with it? Apologies for all the questions I am just making sure that I have the situation correct.

It is very hard with just the measurements to work out if it will work. I have tried looking for the adaptor plate which would attach to the Metal Mule frames but I haven't had any luck.

I would suggest the following two companies would be worth contacting.

http://www.twistedthrottle.com/

www.bestrestproducts.com

Twisted throttle seem to have lots of knowledge regarding trax luggage, they may be able to help you with what you want.

Bestrest is one of the USA importers of Metal Mule, David is a good person for advice as he has most probably help someone do it before. I presume that you have probably already got in contact with him?

Last point, do you already have the trax panniers? If not maybe looking at the cost of getting some ard cases would be worth a go?

http://ardcases.co.uk/

I have no experience with using them, but it seems you can't mention pannier on a forum without a glowing recommendation from people. You would also be able to order the Metal Mule item via him and it may make it a little cheaper.

Hope that helps mate, any more quesions just ask away.

 

[Keone]

Thanks SERVDAVE,

Yes your assumptions are correct, I want the same size cans while trying to keep the width as slim as possible and of course this means I have to change the exhaust as well. I think I'll give a call to bestrest (MetalMule USA distributor) and get some measurements. If the measurements are compatible, I might try to get tabs welded on the MM rack to so I can eliminate the adapter plate.

Thanks again
Keone