Milk Crate Options

[BeastRider]

I have used milk crates for a long time on most of my rides. I placed one on my Transport on the rear as I can always use a little more cargo space. However, I realized that, when traveling empty, it was just heavy enough to be a little top-heavy and would cause a little rear wobble after hitting a good size bump.

So, the solution was to cut about three quarters of the weight off of it. I have been riding for about a week with it like this and the wobble is gone. Hopefully, it will not return until I happen to load something a bit too high inside.

The area is still about the same for carrying things. But the extra plastic that was taken away, along with the height, is gone.

You can see the difference in the attached photo.....

[Dylansbob]

I've done that a couple of times to fit milk crates to the a front rack. Cut 'em down evenly, or three sides low with a long side outwards.

[Nightshade]

Save all the cutting.........use a bread tray.

[BeastRider]

Save all the cutting.........use a bread tray.

Have tried the bread trays. They are not as stable as a milk crate as the plastic is a lot thinner so they can stack them a lot higher.....

[Dylansbob]

Another option if you can find it is coke trays. I managed to find a plastic one that worked well.

[bendembroski]

I don't know the specifics of your setup, but it if you can move the load forward, it would definitely help the rear wobble.

[bluegoatwoods]

Looks like a good fix.

You still have something that'll hold cargo with a lower profile.

I like it.

[pick]

Looks like a good fix.

You still have something that'll hold cargo with a lower profile.

I like it.

+1 what he said....nice job Beast!!!

[BeastRider]

Another option if you can find it is coke trays. I managed to find a plastic one that worked well.

The milk crates seem to work best for me anyway. Although I never tried the coke case option. Perhaps I'll look into that when I see one just lying around looking for a new home.....

[BeastRider]

I don't know the specifics of your setup, but it if you can move the load forward, it would definitely help the rear wobble.

Actually, I tried that first. Seems that it was just high enough that even moving it forward didn't seem to help...

[BeastRider]

looks like a good fix.

You still have something that'll hold cargo with a lower profile.

I like it.

thanks!!!!!

[BeastRider]

+1 what he said....nice job Beast!!!

And, again.....THANKS!!!!!

[PHT]

I have done something like this in the past! I used a dremel to cut down the sides of a milk crate. It made a huge mess, with plastic dust flying everywhere, but the resulting crate was very effective. The wife stole that crate to use as a nesting box for our chickens :O

I have had some tremendous luck with finding interesting milk crate options lately. One option, not pictured, is about 1.5 x W of a normal milk crate, while being the same length and height, but made of lighter material, so not as sturdy. These came in very handy at a swap meet I went to this weekend! Great for storing and transporting material, but as they are the same height as milk crates they have the same problems as normal milk crates on a bike. It appears they are used for shipping bulk snow peas. They come with some kind of plastic sheet netting that could be useful to hold or seperate cargo inside the crate, maybe with zip ties on one end and a bungee on the other? It appears they are made to clip into some little nubs that are on top of the crate to keep the peas safely stowed inside the crate and not all over the back of a truck somewhere.

The second option, which I think is going to be GREAT is something about the size and shape of a bread tray, except made with the same heavy duty material as a standard milk crate- if anything, maybe stronger. I have no idea what these were originally used for, but they are usually in the same side-walk piles for trash/recycling removal as the snow pea crates in Chinatown in Boston every weekend. Its nice that since they are put out in the trash, I know I am not stealing milk crates from the dairy company, hehe. Theres oodles of them- at least on Friday and Saturday nights around 3am when I get out of work. I've attached some pics to give you an idea of the size! 24in X 16in X 6in. I think this will replace my flimsy recycled dish drying rack on my rear rack...

[long john]

have you seen the folding produce crates at walmart? they come in tall sides and short sides and fold flat if needed and stack.

[BeastRider]

have you seen the folding produce crates at walmart? they come in tall sides and short sides and fold flat if needed and stack.

Yes. I have seen them. Even considered them for a bit. Until I noticed that they were made with a MUCH thinner plastic and I didn't feel that they would stand up to the abuse that these do get......