Touring - Alternative to BoB drysack?

I'm thinking of making a big hatchback sack to go into my BoB trailer. I've sewn panniers, backpacks, etc. so the sewing is not the problem. I'm wondering about the design. Has anybody else used something other than the drysack that comes with the BoB. I bought my trailer used and I didn't get the sack with it but then it seems like it would be a pain in the butt to have to dig something out of the bottom of that bag. I'd like something with a big zipper (and storm flap) that goes around 3 sides of the top and has some compression straps like a hatchback style backpack. Am I making this harder than it should be?

Thanks for your input.

N.

Have a look at the construction of The North Face duffel bags. They sound like what you are describing, and the 80l version would fit very well on a Yak. Ortleib also makes a drybag specifically for the Yak, but it is based on a rolldown design.

The dry-bag came with my trailer and I found it to be very well made and worth it's asking price. It is a roll top type which is not fast to get into, but then again, I kept things that I needed during the day in my handlebar bag or the bag I kept on top of the BOB bag. If you can sew your own, than sure do something more innovative than the BOB bag. The bag that you describe would also be more form fitting to the trailer and probably more efficient. I made a form fitting foam cooler for my trailer and used it extensively on my cross country + last summer. I also suggest a breathable tent / wet clothing bag to rest on top of your waterproof bag to avoid mildew and mold. There are pictures of my BOB set-up here.

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/journal/page/?o=as&page_id=9173&v=4o

The dry-bag came with my trailer and I found it to be very well made and worth it's asking price. It is a roll top type which is not fast to get into, but then again, I kept things that I needed during the day in my handlebar bag or the bag I kept on top of the BOB bag. If you can sew your own, than sure do something more innovative than the BOB bag. The bag that you describe would also be more form fitting to the trailer and probably more efficient. I made a form fitting foam cooler for my trailer and used it extensively on my cross country + last summer. I also suggest a breathable tent / wet clothing bag to rest on top of your waterproof bag to avoid mildew and mold. There are pictures of my BOB set-up here.

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/journal/page/?o=as&page_id=9173&v=4o

Thanks for the feedback. I liked several things you did. The strap on the trailer for lifting the backend looks good and where you put the stove and fuel bottle looks good too. My stove might not fit that space as well as yours but this is good food for thought. I already bought a couple of yards of that laundry bag mesh stuff so I'm already thinking about the tent/clothes air-dry issues.

The cooler looks... um... cool but I don't expect to carry any perishables.

Thanks again. If I make a bag, I'll post pictures somewhere.

The cooler looks... um... cool but I don't expect to carry any perishables.

I didn'y carry any parishables either, but I did have a lot of multi-day stays at places of interest. In those situations the cooler was great for grocery shopping and keeping eggs, cheese, fish and of course Brew cold at the campsite. Its total weight is just 8 oz. so not that big of a deal. I don't bring it for shorter tours. Please do post a picture of the bag you make, I would like to see it.

I guess one of my questions is this:

Given the way the swing arm encroaches into the trailer's frame when the rig is jackknifed, should a bag designed to fit the trailer's frame be shorter than the trailer's front end in order to leave this space open? Or can the swing arm just push the bag in and compress whatever squishy stuff is packed at that end of the bag?

I guess one of my questions is this:

Given the way the swing arm encroaches into the trailer's frame when the rig is jackknifed, should a bag designed to fit the trailer's frame be shorter than the trailer's front end in order to leave this space open? Or can the swing arm just push the bag in and compress whatever squishy stuff is packed at that end of the bag?

I could not use the jackknife trick with my bike, it would just fall over (63cm frame) that's why I used a second kickstand on the trailer itself. However I feel certain that letting the swingarm protrude into the "squishy stuff" would be no problem. I always packed the hard heavy items towards the back and the light squishy stuff up front anyway.

I was thinking that perhaps some kind of Tupperware or Rubbermaid (or similar brand) container would fit in the BoB. Would it be any heavier than a dry sack? It would be pretty nearly as weather resistant wouldn't it? I guess it would have to have a convex lid shape to avoid collecting water on top. Has anyone else tried this?

...I did have a lot of multi-day stays at places of interest. In those situations the cooler was great for grocery shopping and keeping eggs, cheese, fish and of course Brew cold at the campsite. Its total weight is just 8 oz. so not that big of a deal...

Although I don't tour with a trailer, I really like your cooler idea. What did you use for the foam? Seems a similar smaller version could be made to fold flat, or separate out for panniers. A size big enough to keep some perishables from turning while in camp would be very handy. Big enough to keep juice/soda/beer on melting ice for the evening would be brilliant.

Although I don't tour with a trailer, I really like your cooler idea. What did you use for the foam? Seems a similar smaller version could be made to fold flat, or separate out for panniers. A size big enough to keep some perishables from turning while in camp would be very handy. Big enough to keep juice/soda/beer on melting ice for the evening would be brilliant.

It is a sleeping bag pad, closed cell foam, I believe it was Colman brand, but there are many out there. Simply tape your connections first with cloth tape or simular and sew through the tape. Very easy to do and durable.

I was the envy of many a fellow cross-country tourist. I always shared the riches so everyone was happy.

Ever thought about adding some kind of 'space blanket' material to your cooler? I bet you can keep your stuff cold for a few more hours.

By the way, is it waterproof?

The closed cell foam has excellent thermal properties. I thin sheet of it can make sitting or even sleeping on ice a viable option. On the other hand, The space blanket material has almost no insulating properties, rather it works by reflecting the warmth (usually body warmth) radiated by an object back onto itself. It might be of some value in keeping hot things hot but I doubt it would make a serious contribution to keeping cold things cold. Unless of course you were in a hot sunny climate and put the reflective stuff on the outside. Just my opinion.

I was mostly thinking about keeping hot things out (i.e. the sun and heat)... i might be wrong about it though.

Ever thought about adding some kind of 'space blanket' material to your cooler? I bet you can keep your stuff cold for a few more hours.

By the way, is it waterproof?

Not waterproof, but I used a "Thermal" plastic grocery bag inside, which is waterproof. It's a bag I found at walmart that is supposed to keep you frozen groceries frozen till you get home. It has no real insulation other than a reflective coating and two layers of plastic. I think it does help. On overnighters I used just this and it works fine till morning.

I think that if you add a reflective material to the inside of the cooler it would have to be glued in very tight or it would rip as you put the BOB bag in and out twice a day. I think I remember seeing a fiber reinforced reflective mylar material, it was a better made emergency blanket, and this might work.

Ever thought about adding some kind of 'space blanket' material to your cooler?...

I make "cozies" for my bowl/nalgene out of spare Reflectix (http://www.reflectixinc.com/) insulation (to keep food hot). Basicly it's bubble wrap sandwiched between mylar, or a mylar like film. I don't know that it would hold shape as a box/larger cylinder as gregw's foam sleep mat material. The mylar/whatever has held up fairly well on the cozies though. If I have a chance, and can find large enough scraps about, I might just see if I can put a reflectix cooler together to test.

[edit] Apologies for the general thread hijack Neill. Back on topic I recall someone using coroplast (plasticized board like cardboard?) or something stronger for a shipping box, that breaks down to fit into a trailer while on tour. While perhaps this may be a bit cumbersome for some, coroplast would seem handy to use as moveable dividers for a duffle. It would also probably help keep the bags shape-so you dont crush stuff like fresh bread or pie&whatnot.

Re: the general thread hijack... I actually participated in it by addressing the space blanket issue. I believe studies have shown that a mirrored surface absorbs more heat than a flat white surface.

Back on point, I may have made this issue somewhat moot. I picked up a BoB dry sak on ebay today for 36 USD plus a modest shipping charge. I realized that my initial perception of how the opening of the bag worked was inaccurate. I now realize that it does open from the long side of the bag. That would make it much easier to get to stuff than I had imagined.

I may still try my hand at making a bag for my BoB but I'll try the dry sak first. While I'm in training for my upcoming tour and trying to get more used to carrying weight, I may temporarilly use the 22 gal Rubbermaid Roughneck tub with lid that I found which fits very nicely in the BoB.

I almost certianly will implement the lifting strap shown in gregw's pictures.

Thanks all,
N

Take a look at www.helen2wheels.com. Her stuff is designed for motorcycles but is a first class product. I use some of them on my m/c. When she says waterproof she means it.