Utility Cycling - Weight capacity for the wald rear baskets?

Hi there,

Can anyone help me figure this out. Would the walds be ok with 2 4litres jugs of water in each basket? I'm considering ordering them but want to make sure.

Also do I need to use their rear rack to install or can I use mine? If I use theirs and i want to switch over to mine to use with regular panniers is it easy or can anyone offer up another solution to switching back and forth:)

Thanks in advance

You will need a rear rack to use either panniers or baskets. To figure if they will carry the load use these number to calculate your projected load.

http://www.fourmilab.ch/hackdiet/www/subsection1_4_2_0_7.html

You will need a rear rack to use either panniers or baskets. To figure if they will carry the load use these number to calculate your projected load.

http://www.fourmilab.ch/hackdiet/www/subsection1_4_2_0_7.html

Thanks...I do have a rear rack that came included with my bike so would i be able to use those with the wald baskets? I ask because it looked like they included a rear rack online when buying the baskets. I finally picked out and ordered panniers today though so I'm good there now.

Too bad I'm a big Fail at calculating stuff but thank also for the link

Are you getting the folding baskets or a set of saddle baskets? The Wald monster saddle baskets will handle a hellacious amount of weight. When I was a paper carrier I would fill the back baskets with rolled papers and then put a full shoulder bag on top of that. Probably close to 100# of papers, the front basket was full too. FWIW I used the Wald 157 (http://waldsports.qbsoft.com/index.cfm/wald157basket.html) on the front and the Wald 535 (http://waldsports.qbsoft.com/index.cfm/wald570-520-535rearcarriers.html) on the rear. Bike was the old cantilevered framed Schwinn Heavy Duty. Manage to break a frame weld once and it was replaced under the Schwinn Lifetime Frame Warranty. Don't find that today!

Aaron:)

Are you getting the folding baskets or a set of saddle baskets? The Wald monster saddle baskets will handle a hellacious amount of weight. When I was a paper carrier I would fill the back baskets with rolled papers and then put a full shoulder bag on top of that. Probably close to 100# of papers, the front basket was full too. FWIW I used the Wald 157 (http://waldsports.qbsoft.com/index.cfm/wald157basket.html) on the front and the Wald 535 (http://waldsports.qbsoft.com/index.cfm/wald570-520-535rearcarriers.html) on the rear. Bike was the old cantilevered framed Schwinn Heavy Duty. Manage to break a frame weld once and it was replaced under the Schwinn Lifetime Frame Warranty. Don't find that today!

Aaron:)

I'm really interested in the 535's. I would just love to be able to haul water home(4- litre jugs) but also use panniers occasionally for other things. If that is possible then I'm sold. :)

I'm presuming once they are installed though they dont come off? or can I remove them or keep them folding and use panniers over them?

Thanks for your help:)

I'm really interested in the 535's. I would just love to be able to haul water home(4- litre jugs) but also use panniers occasionally for other things. If that is possible then I'm sold. :)

I'm presuming once they are installed though they dont come off? or can I remove them or keep them folding and use panniers over them?

Thanks for your help:)

535's are fixed baskets once bolted on you probably don't want to remove them. The folding baskets are the Wald 582's (http://www.waldsports.com/index.cfm/wald582rearfoldingbasket.html) they will not take as much weight as the 535's. I did have a smaller set of commuting panniers that would fit over the rack and into the 535's. But with them you don't need a pannier you just throw your bag of stuff in the baskets and ride. FWIW the 582's will hold a standard sized paper grocery bag. They probably will hold the jugs you are asking about. IIRC a liter of water weighs around 2 pounds so you will have 16# in each basket, no issue for the 535 and the 582's will handle it also. Whether a pannier will fit over it when they are folded will depend on the type of rack and the type of pannier.

Picture of my grocery getter with 582's in the rear and a 933 (http://www.waldsports.com/index.cfm/wald933meshbasket.html) in the front.

Aaron:)
http://inlinethumb44.webshots.com/41899/2683444210066886751S500x500Q85.jpg

Here's a pic of my 535's with a 20lb bag in each basket. As wahoonc says, they will handle quite a load. I'd be more afraid of tacoing a wheel than busting a basket. :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v160/Juggler54/bicycle/kittylitterhaul003.jpg