Originally Posted by
seeker333
OP's bike has a 12x148 thru axle (TA).
AFAIK, only
OMM makes a compatible rear rack, which must be attached to dropouts by a third party (Robert AP) custom TA adapted for the rack (similar RAP TA required for trailer too).
The Tubus adaptor designed for 10x135 QR is incompatible with the
Santa Cruz Chameleon. Additionally the rack needs clearance for 3" tires, which none of the Tubus (with the exception of Fat) can provide.
The idea suggested in #8 probably would not work because using the swinger dropout pivot bolt to mount a rack would locate rack (and bags) higher and further forward by ~40mm on a bike with 415mm chainstays. Heelstrike seems likely in this scenario.
all of these seems pretty logical, especially the last bit about the rack being more forward, although who knows how much one could set panniers back on the rack.
my Troll has 419mm chainstays, and is ok with my Tubus rear rack that has longer top support arm thingees that allow it to be further back, given the frame shape and all.
I've ridden this bike with rear panniers only, but never with the weight that this fellow would be using, so despite all the talk of which "fat" rear rack could work, there still is the whole issue of perhaps wanting to try a bike with X weight only on the back on loose surfaces etc, to see how he finds it (and of course, without trying it on his bike, he won't know really how that bike will handle with full rear panniers)
oh, and there is shoe size to consider also, re heel strike.