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Modify a Rack

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Old 06-18-25 | 12:33 PM
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Modify a Rack

Strange buzzing noise on ride. Oh, it’s a saggy trunk bag on top of a Nitto Campee rack. No top plate to rack. Bottom of trunk sagged down to touch rear tire. Thought: Use a bit of paracord to make an X across the open area to act as a bit of a support. Ideas solicited
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Old 06-18-25 | 12:58 PM
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Polycarbonate cut to shape of rack. Drill three holes along the border of each side, two in front, two in back. Use zip ties to attach.
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Old 06-18-25 | 01:27 PM
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If the trunk is always on the bike, you can put that piece of polycarbonate in the bottom of the trunk, rathe than on the rack.
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Old 06-18-25 | 01:29 PM
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picture?
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Old 06-18-25 | 01:50 PM
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Originally Posted by icemilkcoffee
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Saggy baggy

Open squares

My cheap go to on other bikes.

I like the Nitto but it's not a good match for this bag. Putting a polycarbonate top plate or liner to the bag may solve the issue. The idea with paracord is to just weave a tight X pattern across the squares as a support.
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Old 06-18-25 | 02:02 PM
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Even simpler is fiberglass strapping tape. No stretch to it, & tensile strength about 100# - doubled if you fold it around & stick it to itself. One piece above the tire would meet your need; could make a cargo net out of it if you like.
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Old 06-18-25 | 02:16 PM
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The simplest thing to do is to just span the rack opening with a velcro strap, before you put the bag down on the rack:

On my Ostrich bag and Inujirushi bag, I put a snug cardboard box inside to stiffen them up:

^ this works very well. The bags stay nice and square. If your bag is squarish , this is the best solution. I have a cardboard inside my Carradice Barley bag as well, but due to the more rounded shape, it's not easy to make it a good snug fit, and I am not able to really get rid of the sagging issues on that bag.
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Old 06-18-25 | 02:30 PM
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Originally Posted by etherhuffer
I like the Nitto but it's not a good match for this bag. Putting a polycarbonate top plate or liner to the bag may solve the issue. The idea with paracord is to just weave a tight X pattern across the squares as a support.
As an alternative to paracord, small bungee cord or ribbons cut from inner tubes - multiple narrow elastic cords/strips under tension would have no tendency to sag. Or just cut a rectangle of sheet aluminium and curve the edges down to locate over that part of the rack.
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Old 06-18-25 | 03:00 PM
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All good solutions. Thanks all!
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Old 06-19-25 | 10:27 AM
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corroplast signs and zip ties are everywhere
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Old 06-30-25 | 12:27 PM
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I took a wine box, knocked the end panel out. Radius the end to match the rack. Lots of polyurethane spray, then zip ties. A little thicker than needed but is should work for now and adds that extra panache needed to ride in style!
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Old 07-01-25 | 05:29 AM
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Originally Posted by etherhuffer
I took a wine box, knocked the end panel out. Radius the end to match the rack. Lots of polyurethane spray, then zip ties. A little thicker than needed but is should work for now and adds that extra panache needed to ride in style!
That is a very stylish solution.
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