RX3: Garage Pro Travel Trunk Installation
 

Today I removed the stock trunk, and installed a large, Garage Pro Travel Trunk I had purchased from J.C. Whitney.

http://www.jcwhitney.com/garage-pro-...7&&filterid=u0

Using a 20% off coupon, and free shipping, you can purchase this travel trunk for less than $40, delivered. :) This travel trunk locks to the luggage rack on a steel mounting plate. Therefore, you can remove the trunk from the bike and take it into your motel room, tent, et cetera, at the end of the day. You can also remove the trunk if you wish to lighten the bike for daily rides. :)

http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/q...psnj4cbnm3.jpg

http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/q...psr2pkooa5.jpg

I attached the Garage Pro mounting plate to the luggage rack using the same three bolts which attach the stock trunk. Therefore, if I wish, I can switch back and forth from the Garage Pro Travel Trunk to the stock trunk, by merely removing the three bolts. :) I placed three washers under each of the two front bolts of the mounting plate to provide a tighter fit between the trunk and mount. ;) I used 1/4" fender washers.

http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/q...psatcmue8c.jpg

The Garage Pro (GP) Travel Trunk comes equipped with a foam mat to place under the mounting plate. You can place this foam mat upon the luggage rack as a template to mark the bolt holes. After placing the foam mat on the mounting plate, you can easily transfer the location of the bolt holes to the mounting plate itself. ;)

Here are a few more photographs of the RX3 with the GP Travel Trunk installed.

http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/q...psgswrxwu7.jpg

http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/q...pspbyjnbzd.jpg

http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/q...ps1jc5betu.jpg

http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/q...psrvrfhg1x.jpg

Here are a few photographs of the RX3 with the GP Travel Trunk removed.

http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/q...ps1a2ngobs.jpg

http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/q...pspx5acds6.jpg

http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/q...psem31fd6w.jpg

You can learn more about the features of the GP Travel Trunk by reading the review at the following thread. ;)

http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=14279

Good Write up Spud.....our bikes look scarily Similar :)

Thank you, Huck. :) Great minds think alike. ;)

:hehe:

That new trunk needs a little Zong orange.

Wow... you actually have paved roads where you live? I wouldn't have guessed based on all your prior pics! :D

That top box looks nice on the bike.

Cheers!

Nice job Spud. I had originally installed the JC Whitney trunk that I've had on various bikes over the years, but it didn't hold up well on rough terrain and lost a hinge spline. Not so much the fault of the trunk, but more a reflection on its age and general abuse over the years. It has served me very well.

I also had a smaller Coocase, 28 liters, that had not seen a lot of service and installed that. It's large enough for a full face helmet, but I do miss the capacity of the JCW trunk.

:lol:

Thank you. :)

Thank you. :) Yes, the J.C. Whitney/Garage Pro trunks will eventually wear out. ;) However, they take a lot of abuse, and last a very long time. I think they are excellent cases for the money. :tup: If you also want a large case to complement your medium case, you can currently purchase the large, GP Travel Trunk for less than $40, delivered. :)

The new Zong Orange is hard to match. ;) I think the best color match might be Shimrin Sunset Pearl.

http://www.houseofkolor.com/images/s...apes/PBC32.jpg

http://www.houseofkolor.com/speedsha...es_shimrin.jsp
http://www.66autocolor.com/House-of-...-spm-pbc31.htm

I just followed Spud's lead and mounted a Garage Pro plate on my new RX3's stock rear rack. I already have a Givi bag but couldn't get Givi fittings to fit the RX3 rack. So for me, best thing about Garage Pro is the plate. I am a bit concerned that the plate is light duty. The rear mount in particular is just sheet metal tack welded to the base plate. I intend to treat this carefully. Pushing the button on the case when mounting rather than just pressing down might reduce stress on the mount. In short, it fits and works, and it's a bargain basement way to expand luggage space. I just hope it lasts.

I wouldn't worry too much about babying the trunk, I've had mine for many years and it finally gave out at a hinge. I'm guessing it's cost me about $5/year amortized over the time I've had it - a bargain anyway you look at it.

I agree: both the trunk and the mounting plate are tough, and they will last a very long time. :) However, you certainly should hold in the button when you are attaching the trunk to the mounting plate. ;)

If you have access to a MIG welder, perhaps you could add some steel plate to the bottom to strengthen it.

Spudrider, on all your pictures I'm amazed by the beauty of nature. And yes, your bike looks great, too ;)

Thank you, Dado. :)

Just double checking, is it safe to say I'm going to want a high speed drill bit to drill the holes in the mounting plate to mate to my RX3 rack?

I finally got a hold of one of those handy 20% off coupons and I'm buying the trunk :)

You exercised good patience waiting for the 20% off coupont. :tup:

No, you won't need a high-speed drill bit. The metal mounting plate is strong, but it is not very thick. You won't have a problem drilling the holes. :) The most important techniques are to use the foam mat for a template to mark the holes, and to measure twice. Measure twice, and drill once. ;)

If the holes are slightly misaligned, you can drill them a little larger. You can also elongate the holes by making them slots with a dremel tool. :)

*sigh* you're the 2nd person to mention using a Dremel while working on things on/around their bike. I have a feeling that's yet *another* tool I'm going to need to purchase :cry: :D I suppose I should say "hooray" for fathers day sales?

I can't say a dremel tool is a necessity, but I certainly use mine a lot for a variety of different jobs. ;)

I'm too cheap to buy a genuine Dremel. I have one for work, so I know what I'm comparing to. I bought a fake Dremel at a Joe's close-out sale, along with a case and a bajillion accessories for $13.00. That was at least five years ago, and I've punished it since them. It keeps on running.

Bah. Was slightly off with my mark transfer from the foam to the plate...so I went and acquired a round file to elongate the offending hole into a slot. May need to touch up the plate where I noticed some blemishes/paint chipping...will probably just use the same rustoleum that I bought to touch up the guards. I peeled the cross sticker off the case (it was already lifting pretty badly on arrival). Do you guys put something in its place?

I left the sticker on and spray painted it gloss black. Maybe a CSC roundel?

The first thing I do with these travel trunks is remove the iron cross. :hehe: However, I have never replaced it with anything. ;)

I peeled the decal off of my trunk as well, I had intentions of replacing it with a round reflector... Lol, never got around to it though so I just left it as is.

anyone here have any luck fixing a hinge? It seems the pin has gone missing from one of my hinges *sigh* I need to now hunt around and see if I can find something to take its place, maybe a piece of coat wire or something *grumble*

well fuzzle. Chatting with JC Whitney and they pulled the large trunk due to complaints. They are indicating my best course of action is return the trunk - but I think it may be repairable *grumble* sad, because I've only actually "used" it twice! (otherwise it just rides around empty on my bike!)

Might not be that convenient for you, but going to a welding supply store like Air Gas, and asking them if they would sell you piece of Stainless Steel TIG welding wire. They come in many diameters, and you could literally just walk out with a handful to the parking lot and try each one until you get a snug fit.

Then I'd make a couple of small sharp bends just past the plastic hinge barrels and snip off the rest.

If the supply place is jerks, plenty of welding shops that would let you walk off with a short cut-off.

dammit. I was too efficient. I fixed it with a coathanger - I have some TIG welding wire, but the diameter would have been way too small.

One side of the hinge is actually closed so the wire doesn't pass all the way through. I cut the piece of hanger a bit long, then bent it back on itself until it made a very snug fit with the end of the hinge barrel - it actually kind of bites onto the plastic so it shouldn't rattle itself loose...

Will post photos after I extract them off my phone.

I suspect I should yank it out again and paint it with my rustoelum before sticking it back on there....

coincidentally, I do not use the tig wire for welding ;) I use it for blocking my knitting ... in case you were wondering :hehe:

Sprite, learn to weld and you will likely knit much less.
FWIW I have known a number of lady welders. Machinists and jet engine mechanics, too.

Inquiring minds want to know. :)

:hehe:

Can you drill through the blind hole so that the hanger will pass through? If so, can you use a small diameter screw and nut instead? If so, I'd recommend stainless.

And drag racers. For whatever reason, women seem to have superior reflexes at the light.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/709/2...f69d947185.jpg

There's the hanger fix - I should be able to dill out the blind hole end - this fix will do for now...I pulled it off and put some rustoleum on it and put it back.

I'm going to need to drag out the drill for another project - the arm for the mechanical counter on my yarn winder broke *sigh* and the replacement arm is not sized right to go over the post on the counter...

When I was younger, I rather enjoyed working in the machine shop ;) and even if I learned how to weld, I'd probably still be knitting - it keeps me sane and directs fidgety energy when I'm just sitting round - you know, in waiting rooms and the like - and at the end of the day when i might be too tired to safely handle dangerous equipment, sticks and string can still provide some mental relief :)

As for why use TIG wire for blocking wires, well...they were more economical ;)

As for the drag racing, I'm still having issues with cornering at speed, so I suspect that would not be a good route for me to persue ;)

That's the nice thing about drag racing; it's in a straight line. :D

Ha! well, that shows what I know about racing ;) which would be absolutely nothing!

I would also still need practice ;) I'm not super fast on the acceleration and shifting - still working on that - luckily so far when I've been out riding, the drivers have just switched lanes to go around me if they find my acceleration speed too slow :P