How to make a lockable trunk for less than $20 and 30 minute

[katoranger]

My free trunk needed some work and I found it cheaper to make a new one using an 8 gallon tote ($14 @ Walmart) and 3 little hook shaped books ($1.70 @ Tractor Supply). The mounting took about 30 minutes to do.

The parts.


Tote placed on rear rack.


Three 1/4" hook bolts before I ground the extra off.


The hooks just go around the bars on the rack and the tote can be removed in just a few minutes. It has a place for two locks on the handles. I rode around the yard a bit and it vibes some so I am going to add some rubber between the tote and the rack. I also place a piece of foam rubber in the bottom to cover the bolts up.

Just thought I would post this up for anyone looking for a cheap trunk.

Require tools: Drill with 1/4" bit, 7/16" socket or wrench, Grinder or hacksaw.

Allen

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[madmaximum]

I wonder if that would hold a case of beer & a bag of ice?? Just kidding!
Do they have them a little smaller?

[katoranger]

They might have smaller ones. This one actually fits on the rack very well. I think I could fit my helmet in there.

I probably need to measure size, based on how my packages of diapers it fits.

Allen

[TeamCheap]

Looks good.
Only thing I'd change is to cut the bolts down to size and use acorn nuts.

[katoranger]

I used a grinder to trim the bolts off they don't stick out very far now. I also covered the bottom ones with some foam rubber pad.

Allen

[pumpkin]

great idea that would have saved me $$$$ hind sight's 20/20

[katoranger]

I think I will add some wingnuts in place of the hex nuts to make a faster removal for off-road trips.

I think you can get these action packer totes in a smaller size too.

I use it mainly for holding my rain gear and then have space for picking up groceries.

Allen

[molypod]

Originally Posted by madmaximum

I wonder if that would hold a case of beer & a bag of ice?? Just kidding!
Do they have them a little smaller?

for an overnight camping trip I certainly would be putting that in.

Kato: Great Idea and cheap too! since cheap is why I bought the chinabike.

[fatboy250]

Awesome case. I might go that route if the Rubbermaid doesn't work out when I try to mount it on the DB-07B

[katoranger]

Cheap is the idea. I should hold all the necessities for an overnight trip. I am sure all the parts used were made in China too.

This should be fairly water tight also and is made for repeated opening and closing.

Allen

[mdsuave13]

i have one of these in the back of my jeep, its sweet, although i would not want something so big on the back of my bike. Its large, large enough to put a shattered transfer case from a jeep in..... (did you know that it is gear oil proof too??)

I havent seen smaller one's of these, but the JC whitney trunk seems like it would be a bit better for the back of the bike. Whatever Dlunt had on his bike seemed about perfect for size and it fit a full face helmet too!

[katoranger]

You must have had the larger size. I have a bigger one that I keep trailer gear in. I don't a transfer case would fit in this one. I think there is about a 4 gallon size one too. It may be more size appropriate for people. I can get about 4 bags of groceries in there plus my tools and rain gear yet it doens't look out of place on the bike.

[frostbite]

Can we get a pic of the entire bike with trunk installed?

[katoranger]

I will have to get one. I ran out of memory in the camera after those two pictures.

I am skinny and when I am on the bike I cannot see it in the mirrors behind me. I actually looks nice on the bike due to the same color scheme going on.

Allen

[katoranger]

Picture of Whole bike with action packer trunk.

Allen