Oh, ok. I don't see why you couldn't use a similar hook mounting system on the front. Most front racks that I have seen have a bar on them for mounting hooked panniers. As long as you could figure out a lid system you'd have a very robust hauling system. Ugly, but robust. What do you plan to carry with your panniers? Containers that were big enought to fit an entire grocery bag into could be very useful. However, for touring I could see taking everything out of the bins to get things in the bottom getting really old, really quick.