Touring - Ortlieb Back Roller on a Tubus Cargo Rack

I am having trouble mounting my Orblieb Back Roller Classic rear panniers on a Tubus Cargo rack. The location and number of of crossbars on the rack don't seem to work with the clips on the pannier. Also, the pannier rattles on the rack; i.e.: it's not mounted solidly in place. Does anyone here use this combination and have any suggestions? Thanks.

I start with the hook at the bottom of the bag to prevent the bag from moving one way (back, in my case). After that I fit either one of the upper clips next to a crossbar to stop the bag moving the other way. The remaining upper clip can then be placed anywhere it conveniently fits (I usually try to place it as much apart from the other upper hook as possible).

All three "hooks" or "clips" mentioned adjust sideways in my (older) Ortlieb Roller. So far there's been enough play to make the bag fit all the 3-4 racks I've toured with. None of those has been a Tubus Cargo, though.

--J

All three "hooks" or "clips" mentioned adjust sideways in my (older) Ortlieb Roller. So far there's been enough play to make the bag fit all the 3-4 racks I've toured with. None of those has been a Tubus Cargo, though.

My bags have two clips at the top and a hook at the bottom. I'm assuming that you're supposed to adjust the clips so that the bag won't move one way, and adjust the bottom hook to keep the bag from moving the other way and prevent it from swinging out. My problem is the location of the crossbars on the rack; they aren't in the "right" place.

I have Ortlieb panniers (Bike Packer Plus) with a Tubus Cargo Rack, from thetouringstore.com.

If I recall correctly, there are plastic inserts which fit inside the pannier top hooks to make a more snug fit for the Cargo rack. I don't know if you have these inserts, which may have come with the panniers. But my Ortliebs are rock solid on that rack -- easy on/off, no worries.

I suggest a call to Wayne at thetouringstore.com -- he may be able to talk you through a solution.

My bags have two clips at the top and a hook at the bottom. I'm assuming that you're supposed to adjust the clips so that the bag won't move one way, and adjust the bottom hook to keep the bag from moving the other way and prevent it from swinging out. My problem is the location of the crossbars on the rack; they aren't in the "right" place.

You can loosen the hooks and slide them around to find a place where the crossbars don't interfere. There's quite a bit of adjustment on them.

I got off the phone with Wayne at the Touring Store not 1/2 hour ago to discuss the very issues you bring up. The only difference is that I have the Bike Packer Plus w/ the QL2 connections and I believe yours has the QL1 system. Not sure of the difference between the two, but I also have two clips at the top & 1 large one on the bottom. First, according to Wayne, the goal is to get the weight, when packed, centered over the axle. The QL2 system allows you to adjust the location of the upper clips along the horizontal bar of the pannier. The instructions that came with mine show adjusting the clip locations so that they fit between, and as close to, the rack's cross bar as possible. However on the Cargo the space between the cross bars seems too narrow so I put one clip just in front of, and touching, the rear cross bar. I then moved the location of the front pannier clip along the horizontal pannier bar so that it will attach right behind, and touching, the rear of the rack's front bar. That position eliminates sliding and positions the pannier nicely over the axle.

With respect to the rattling, my panniers came with size 8 & 11 insert clips. The 8 was to small to fit around the rack while the 11's are too large & still allow rattling/sliding. I inserted the 11's and then wrapped the small black rectangle pieces of ?? that came with the panniers around the rack where the clips attach. That may quiet the rattling and slightly increase the the tube diameter. Wayne said if that is not enough then go buy some cloth athletic tape (not electrical because in higher temps the glue will melt & slip) like you use to tape ankles or wrap hockey sticks. Put a couple of layers around the rack at the clip attachment point until there is no slop in the attachment, but still allow easy removal. The cloth type tape will allow the clip to sink into it a bit adding further to the stability.

Follow the suggestion in the previous response re the bottom clip & you should be good to go.

I am having trouble mounting my Orblieb Back Roller Classic rear panniers on a Tubus Cargo rack. The location and number of of crossbars on the rack don't seem to work with the clips on the pannier. Also, the pannier rattles on the rack; i.e.: it's not mounted solidly in place. Does anyone here use this combination and have any suggestions? Thanks.

http://bp2.blogger.com/_vUEhS0lU3eU/R5EPQzqYf0I/AAAAAAAAEK8/q9bKPyXCvIA/s400/ortlieb+rack+1.JPG

I have the same panniers and the same rack. They work fine together. Mine don't rattle using the supplied inserts.

http://bp3.blogger.com/_vUEhS0lU3eU/R5EPRDqYf1I/AAAAAAAAELE/ZABpY30uCaM/s400/ortlieb+rack+2.JPG

I spoke to Wayne also, and he told me the same things. I think that the main difference between the QL1 and QL2 systems is that the QL1 requires an allen wrench to adjust the clip spacing and the QL2 is done without tools.

I spoke to Wayne also, and he told me the same things. I think that the main difference between the QL1 and QL2 systems is that the QL1 requires an allen wrench to adjust the clip spacing and the QL2 is done without tools.

The lower hook on the QL1 and QL2 is different as well, but you should be able to mount either system to a Tubus Cargo.

Now that you mention it my Ortliebs are a hybrid. Classic material, QL-1 top clips and QL-2 bottom hook.

http://bp2.blogger.com/_vUEhS0lU3eU/R5EPQzqYf0I/AAAAAAAAEK8/q9bKPyXCvIA/s400/ortlieb+rack+1.JPG

I have the same panniers and the same rack. They work fine together.

http://bp3.blogger.com/_vUEhS0lU3eU/R5EPRDqYf1I/AAAAAAAAELE/ZABpY30uCaM/s400/ortlieb+rack+2.JPG

You did it the first way I tried, but the only thing that keeps the pannier from sliding off the back is the bottom hook. I guess this works, but I then tried to set the rear clip in front of the rear crossbar, rather than behind it and I ended up not being able to move the pannier back as far as I wanted. I think that I will do what Wayne suggested, and that is to set the pannier over the rear axle and not worry if part of the rack extends behind the pannier.

Thanks for the photos.

You did it the first way I tried, but the only thing that keeps the pannier from sliding off the back is the bottom hook. I guess this works, but I then tried to set the rear clip in front of the rear crossbar, rather than behind it and I ended up not being able to move the pannier back as far as I wanted. I think that I will do what Wayne suggested, and that is to set the pannier over the rear axle and not worry if part of the rack extends behind the pannier.

Thanks for the photos.

http://bp3.blogger.com/_vUEhS0lU3eU/R5ETrDqYf3I/AAAAAAAAELU/-9sxIL6nmVk/s400/ortlieb+rack+3.JPG

In this pic I didn't move the position of the top hooks at all. I just adjusted the position of the lower hook and placed the pannier on the rack in a more forward position.. I don't think you need to worry about the panniers wanting to fall off the back in the previous pics, but Wayne's advice to get the weight over the axle is sound assuming your bike has long enough chain stays to avoid heel strike when pedaling.