Commuting - Strongest Rack for Rear

What is the strongest rated bike rack for the rear that you have come across?

I have read of 55lbs. limits and one from this company called Ortlieb at 88lbs. WTF?

Is this troublesome at that much weight?

Troublesome in what way?

Those are TUBUS racks, and definetly legit. 40 kilograms is probably a conservative rating for their Cargo rack, bet you the bolts holding it to the bike would fail before the rack....

My Tubus racks have taken massive loads ridden on cobblestone roads with no problems. I've cracked a frame when loaded, but not my Tubus racks.

I've loaded my Delta rack up with 90 pounds and more of miscellaneous groceries for a two mile trip back to my house. Do it fairly regularly, in fact. Yeah, the ratings are pretty conservative. :D

Yes, it affects the handling of the bike SIGNIFICANTLY at that load.

I have a Jandd Expedition. The website says the weight limit is 50# but I used it and the bike as a "stepladder" once and stood on the rack (while someone held the bike). No damage to the rack, bike, or me. :)

My Girlfriend used to sit on my Blackburn Mtn. Rack and we would ride to class. Sometimes down the hill through the grass.

I think it is rated to 25 pounds, but capable of at least 100 pounds more than that.

The Surly front & rear racks are rated 70 & 80 lbs respectively. I can certainly vouch for the sturdiness of the rear racks construction.

I'm sure they'd handle considerably more than that over short periods.

Tubus racks here, and I've overloaded them regularly, no problems.

What about Surly Nice racks? They're Cromoly and very sturdy if a bit pricey. I've had good experiences with em...

http://www.surlybikes.com/parts/popup_images/parts_prodNicerack.jpg

How wide is the front surly nice rack?
I ordered a Jandd extreme and it is 5" where it crosses the front fork. My Nashbar atb fork is 6" wide outside to outside at that point, and I don't want to bend the rack that much.

The Old Man Mountain Red Rock rear rack is rated for 60 lbs.

I'm pretty sure my Axiom Odyssee is rated for 70kg. I know it can support that much while sitting still. They don't really have a website though.

I've got the Delta rack... I've put probably 90 lbs of panniers (jandd expedition) and it's done fine. I've had some trouble with the panniers warping and hitting the spokes (broke a nipple that way) under heavy load and potholes - if you're thinking of loaded touring, the design of the Surly Nice rear racks looks like it'd stop that problem.

Old Man Mountain Red Rock here, haven't loaded it near 60 lbs. yet. Done a few 2' vertical drops and some small jumps with a tail bag on it though.

How wide is the front surly nice rack?
I ordered a Jandd extreme and it is 5" where it crosses the front fork. My Nashbar atb fork is 6" wide outside to outside at that point, and I don't want to bend the rack that much.

178mm / 7 inch

Thanks dobber. That's very wide. Does it narrow at the fork ends, or just get bent in? It's about 5 inches for most front wheels (4.3 for the hub and about .3 on each side for the dropout width). I wonder if that thing fits the pugsley.

I'll second the Old Man Mountain. I've got the Sherpa and it's built like a tank.

Just got the Delta Cycle Megarack sport, rated for 30 pounds handles that fine, acts like it wants more

Thanks dobber. That's very wide. Does it narrow at the fork ends, or just get bent in? It's about 5 inches for most front wheels (4.3 for the hub and about .3 on each side for the dropout width). I wonder if that thing fits the pugsley.

Sorry, I couldn't say. I pulled the width off the Surly site. I have the rear rack, quality piece of kit. Surly has the installation document for the front rack on their site, look under Downloads. Appears the width issue is addressed by the mechanism used to secure the rack to the fork.

And yes, it will fit the Pugsley.

I use a Surly front rack and a Bruce Gordon rear rack (pricey, but well worth it)......have seen the other racks and imho there is nothing stronger on the market.