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How to mount panniers to rack How to mount panniers to rack
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Equipping the Bike - what's the best gear? Anything to do with the bikes equipment, saddlebags, etc. Questions on repairs and maintenance of the bike itself belong in the Brand Specific Tech Forums.
Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



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  #1  
Old 8 Jul 2014
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How to mount panniers to rack
I've found plenty of info out there on DIY racks and panniers but little on how to attach them. I've got a tube steel rack and some army ammo boxes (steel).
I've seen mounting 'systems' that look like a hinge with a pin presumably another hinge slots into and a disc (I think with a pin or similar) that rotates to lock in place.

Are there generic names for these or brand names so I can look them up.
What are the pros/cons of the systems?

edit: Almost forgot, is there any practical reason for mounting the boxes slightly dipping down at the front versus horizontally?
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Old 9 Jul 2014
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Quote:
Originally Posted by preachan View Post
I've found plenty of info out there on DIY racks and panniers but little on how to attach them. I've got a tube steel rack and some army ammo boxes (steel).

edit: Almost forgot, is there any practical reason for mounting the boxes slightly dipping down at the front versus horizontally?
I think there's more ingenuity exercised in fitting panniers onto racks than in making them in the first place

This is how mine are fixed on -



Pins welded onto rack




Hollow rubber receiver on pannier




quick release mechanism on the bottom of the pannier. The other two sets I have just use bolts with wingnuts here to fix the bottom of the pannier in place

Re tilting, I set mine up to be level (more or less) when the bike is loaded up and I'm sat on it. That does mean it'll be tilted when its unladen. If there's any other reason why they should not be level I'm not aware of it.
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Old 9 Jul 2014
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Hi backofbeyond, I saw your gear on another thread alright. I get that the vertical pin and receiver on top holds the weight of the boxes but can't see how your quick-release mechanism works - the horizontal pin goes into the hole but what stops it from coming out again when you're leaning over?

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Old 9 Jul 2014
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It's a Dzus fastener - a 1/4 turn quick lock. Push the two halves together, turn the handle 1/4 turn and they lock. There's no weight on it - that's all taken by the top pins - it's just to stop the bottom flapping on cornering.

You can buy the whole arrangement commercially (Craven Equipment - Home ) but being a cheapskate I've made mine.
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Old 9 Jul 2014
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Ahh, I've had a close look at the pictures in their catalogue and your pics again, so it's a little notch in the pin which catches when you turn it? Couldn't make it out first time I saw it. Ta! Anyone else got ingenious fasteners?
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