I'm curious if anyone here has used the TrolleyTote, Topeak's take on the milk crate. I haven't seen one at any of the bike shops I've been to recently.

I'm interested because I like the idea of a milk crate type container that would go on and off my Topeak rack just like an MDX bag. I currently use an actual milk crate that's ziptied onto my rack.

The TrolleyTote looks pretty cool but I'm still happy with the $10 milk crate I got from the Container Store.

but the trolleytote has wheels and a handle, very snazzy. love the topeak designs. inflatable fender is my fave

It does have a cool design, it's just that I'd end up having to find a way to lock it down to my rack anyway (so that it didn't go walking off while my bike is locked up in some public place.)

You're not supposed to "lock it down". It's designed so that when you get to your destination, you take it off the rack and extend the telescoping handle and start dragging behind you.

Don't know how much the thing costs (or the rack with the QR plate), but I think that would have to go through a crap ton of zip-ties before breaking even.

I have been thinking about the Wire basket for the MTX for shopping runs but that having the rolling feature is nice addition with more functionality.

Its bigger, folds flat making it more useful and easier to store then the basket. Weighs a little more but we are talking utility need so not a big deal.
The $60 price tag seems a bit high compared to the $35 for the basket.

I would like to see one in person.

Its only compatible with Topeak's MTX line of racks but my guess is that if you want to use it with other manufacturer racks, you'd have to zip tie it down to the rack. I'd go with the $10 milk crate you can get from the Container Store.

I don't see a reason to use racks other than Topeak's line. The track-mount thing is just too slick to ignore. I can put my basket or a trunk bag (or this TrolleyTote) on mine without turning a single screw or cutting any zip ties. It's also got a proper mount for my taillight (why any company manufactures racks without a taillight tab is beyond me) and the legs can work with the bungee-and-ring lower mounts of my cheap panniers.

I think this TrolleyTote looks like a good idea. I don't mind carrying my basket with me, and around here, the sidewalks suck and are crowded enough to make a trolley more of a pain than anything. But, if the locale is right, I don't see a problem with it.

Yeah, but I wouldn't want to take it off the rack and drag it with me to the office. I'd want the option to leave it on the bike. Because of this requirement, I'd have to be able to easily lock the thing down when needed.

Even if I went to a grocery store, I wouldn't want to be dragging this thing behind me. I'd rather get my groceries placed in my reusable bag at checkout and then place the bag in the locked down tote.

I might use the toting function at a flea market, I guess. What I like about the tote is that it's a milk crate that uses the MDX system with no need for zip ties, bungee cords, etc. That's what makes it really tempting to me.

I really like the idea of this, but damn topeak has been sucking me in with the bags to their rack.

its like they lure you into their very affordable rear rack, then you see that they have this bag and that foldable tote and then you're buying into their system.

i love the topeak bags and racks by the way... and i'm most likely going to buy this folding basket... but maybe if topeak just sold that mounting bracket thats on the bottom of their bags then we could actually just start doing some DIY things like and actual milk crate mounted or even other brands of bags using the mounting bracket.

They do
Part number TC3008
https://www.topeak.com/products/Xtras/Fixer6

Now that's a set up I would buy.

yup i saw that. but its specifically only for the wire basket... reviewing amazon purchases there are some negative reviews since its not a full length bracket that results in unstable footing where the locked down part of the basket is fine but the rest of the basket is actually moves around and isn't stable.

the one they have inside of the topeak bags and on the bottom of the trolley tote is a full length bracket.

now if they only sold a full length bracket... maybe some 3rd party sellers can start doing this and just make topeak compatible bracket mounts.... the sky's the limit from there (practically anything can be securely locked down).

I pulled the trigger on one of these a couple of months ago, and really like it. I use mine to tote groceries at the weekends, and it has carried everything I've asked of it solidly.

Yeah it was "spendy" and I could have done the milk-crate zip tie thing and been on the right side for years to come. But that track mount is just so convenient for taking off the bike and wheeling into the store with me.

I really don't use the fold flat thing, though it's very easy to do. However one small niggle, there are two black plastic pieces used for clamps just above the side handles, (see picture), detach completely and need to be stored inside the basket, easy to lose. It's not a big deal to me, but hopefully they design that better sometime.

I love Topeak. I bought my first Topeak rack about 2 years ago and it is still going strong. Even after my 3 month 5,500 mile bike tour this summer.

Of their trunkbags, I have two trunkbags, different models, and the briefcase one. That one clicks into the MTX Quicktrack as well.

As of right now, I dont need the basket but I will probably buy it eventually so I can go grocery shopping a bit more easily.

My basket is stable enough and it uses the same mount.

If I've got any beef with it, it's that it just doesn't seem like it'll last a few decades, because the screws only screw into plastic and not metal inserts.

At any rate, it could still be used as a basis for DIY projects.

nice. damn i already put in my order for the trolley crate... now i kinda wish i just went with a simple basket. nice so at least I have an option to do the DIY projects with some other bags.

thats good to know that the wire basket is a good product. maybe i'll get one for my wife.

Ok the Trolley Tote arrived and I used it.

The design is really nice.



I took it right to the grocery store: I used a generic bungee net that I had.



Pros:

-very clever design. folds down, and when open the very clasps that hold it closed also hold it open. there are side tabs inside that slide to hold the box open securely and even separate black handles that will detach and fit on top to hold the box closed (which also neatly stow away inside not taking any space).

its very very secure when locked down into the sliding topeak mtx bracket.

- the telescoping handle is just like that of luggage where it locks when fully extended and contracts by pressing a button. from there you can just wheel it into a grocery store and use it as a small shopping cart.

- if you install it backwards on the rack you can thread a wire through the handle and its holes to lock it down with a U lock + chain.

- its as tough as any other milk crate. I carried this amount of groceries in it:



two six packs of snapple, dozen eggs, half gallon of milk, lots of poultry and meat ect... that weighed about 22+ lbs all in all (near 30lbs counting the crate itself). if you're using bags then you can obviously jam a ton of stuff with a bungee net securing it down. i had to use plastic bags because it was starting to rain.

Cons:

- its expensive. you can find it for around $50 (more or less with shipping) but retail is $60.

- its fold down design is super clever, but essentially useless when folded down. it does make it smaller for storage.

- its position up on a rack when carrying a lot (like in my case) makes for some very unstable handling. panniers are lower and by the back wheel handle much better when riding/turning. i was glad the grocery store was only a couple blocks away.

- if you're carrying heavy loads you need to really secure the bike before sliding it into the bracket. i was having trouble sliding the crate with 22lbs+ (almost 30lbs with the crate) of groceries in it into the bracket and balancing the bike at the same time (maybe i just need to get a good kick stand). I'm sure I'll get better at it with practice.


I really like this thing and I can see myself using this to when I want to buy some stuff from the cheaper grocery about a half mile away a lot.