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Put a milk crate on my rear rack and.....

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Old 04-03-14 | 07:25 PM
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Put a milk crate on my rear rack and.....

So I bought this milk crate

Sterilite Milk Crate Black : Target

I got sucker excited because it was big, cheap and black. Bought zip ties and raced home to outfit on. Got it lined up and started zipping away. Before I know it I out all 10 zip ties on there, then I got behind and realized it was off center!!! Grrrr! I could have sworn I lined it up purfect. After I looked closer I was off by one circle hole which makes it hang off more on the right side. Dose this effect anything? Can people tell it's off center?? Should I go back to the store tomorrow and redo it? Or is it okay the way it is? I can take pictures if need be.
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Old 04-03-14 | 07:50 PM
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I had a wald basket that I zip tied to my rack and because of the way the holes in the basket, fit to the rack it was off center.
I never noticed it while riding the bike and I don't think you will either.
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Old 04-03-14 | 08:01 PM
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When I used a milk crate on my rack, I could never get it perfectly centered. Except that it gave me an OCD-induced eye twitch, it was never a problem.
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Old 04-03-14 | 08:15 PM
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Okay my OCD kicked in and I cut all the zip ties off. -_- guess I'm making a trip to the hard wear store tomorrow this time il getting more than 10 zip ties.
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Old 04-03-14 | 11:41 PM
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Honestly it would drive me insane too. Lol Damn ocd
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Old 04-04-14 | 12:05 AM
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Originally Posted by Archery_Queen
Okay my OCD kicked in and I cut all the zip ties off. -_- guess I'm making a trip to the hard wear store tomorrow this time il getting more than 10 zip ties.
Hate to say this, but you may have just wasted 10 perfectly good zip ties...
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Old 04-04-14 | 05:21 AM
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Originally Posted by no1mad
Hate to say this, but you may have just wasted 10 perfectly good zip ties...
It was hanging off and one side by 2 inches more. I just don't know it the weight distribution would be even, I don't want to loose my groceries
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Old 04-04-14 | 05:36 AM
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Shall we say a prayer for the lost zip ties? RIP

Its your bike, if you want it perfect, I'm not going to blame you.
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Old 04-04-14 | 07:12 AM
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I would have had to of fixed it as well, never a bad idea to always buy more zip ties than you need. They come in handy all the time and it is not uncommon to have a few that are a little too brittle snap on you, even when you buy the more expensive ones.
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Old 04-04-14 | 07:16 AM
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Originally Posted by Archery_Queen
It was hanging off and one side by 2 inches more. I just don't know it the weight distribution would be even, I don't want to loose my groceries
Originally Posted by no1mad
Hate to say this, but you may have just wasted 10 perfectly good zip ties...
I think he means you could have used the tabs at the clamp or whatever they call it on zip ties, and taken them off and reused, you need a small wedge of some sort I.G. small flathead screwdriver, it lets the ridges slide freely past the clamp.
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Old 04-04-14 | 08:26 AM
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I'd need it centered too - minor OCD.
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Old 04-04-14 | 08:38 AM
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My CDO is so bad, I need to alphabetize the letters in the abbreviation.

If additional zip ties don't work, perhaps permanently attaching something (small blocks of wood with appropriate holes) to the bottom of the crate and then zipties used to attach the blocks (appropriately lined up with parts of the frame) to the frame.
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Old 04-04-14 | 08:52 AM
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Originally Posted by jrickards
My CDO is so bad, I need to alphabetize the letters in the abbreviation.

If additional zip ties don't work, perhaps permanently attaching something (small blocks of wood with appropriate holes) to the bottom of the crate and then zipties used to attach the blocks (appropriately lined up with parts of the frame) to the frame.
Wow, that's billant and cheap
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Old 04-04-14 | 08:52 AM
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Originally Posted by RaleighSport
I think he means you could have used the tabs at the clamp or whatever they call it on zip ties, and taken them off and reused, you need a small wedge of some sort I.G. small flathead screwdriver, it lets the ridges slide freely past the clamp.
Really???? never knew that now I'm sad lol
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Old 04-04-14 | 08:54 AM
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I'm surprised that someone paid for a milk crate.
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Old 04-04-14 | 08:54 AM
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Originally Posted by RaleighSport
I think he means you could have used the tabs at the clamp or whatever they call it on zip ties, and taken them off and reused, you need a small wedge of some sort I.G. small flathead screwdriver, it lets the ridges slide freely past the clamp.
Actually, what I meant was that the crate may never be perfectly centered/aligned- none of my plastic crates did and there are others in this thread that have had similar results with their crates. And not all zip ties can be re-used.

@OP- should you get it mounted to your OCD satisfaction, I would recommend that you figure out a way to either mount light(s), apply reflective tape, or both.
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Old 04-04-14 | 08:57 AM
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Originally Posted by no1mad
Actually, what I meant was that the crate may never be perfectly centered/aligned- none of my plastic crates did and there are others in this thread that have had similar results with their crates.

@OP- should you get it mounted to your OCD satisfaction, I would recommend that you figure out a way to either mount light(s), apply reflective tape, or both.
LoL I was smart enough to prequalify it with "I think" which is pretty amazing given that was a pre-coffee post. I even grabbed the wrong quote from AQ there and had to edit the post 3 times I think to get it semi coherent.. just my thoughts.
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Old 04-04-14 | 09:17 AM
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Originally Posted by JReade
I'm surprised that someone paid for a milk crate.
So please tell me where you can find them for free??? No stores give them to you if you ask...
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Old 04-04-14 | 09:19 AM
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Originally Posted by Archery_Queen
So please tell me where you can find them for free??? No stores give them to you if you ask...
That's all I ever did, and I got about 5 of them. I asked the grocery store, they handed me a few, I asked the milk guy when I saw him unloading to the store once, and he handed me a few as well.
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Old 04-04-14 | 09:24 AM
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Originally Posted by JReade
That's all I ever did, and I got about 5 of them. I asked the grocery store, they handed me a few, I asked the milk guy when I saw him unloading to the store once, and he handed me a few as well.
I'm in a town that's 50% college kids who all ride bikes, maybe they legitemetly don't have any left. :-/ I'm sure they get whipped out pretty fast, maybe I should ask when delivery day is. In other sense I only paid 1.50 for this room essentials milk crate. :-/ I didn't wantlt look like a delivery boy so I wanted a black one.
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Old 04-04-14 | 09:36 AM
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The fact that you have a milk crate on a bike shows your already a little off center.

Welcome to ranks of Uber Freds.
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Old 04-04-14 | 09:50 AM
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I am reminded by this post that for perfectionists, obsession is compulsory when it comes to disorder...

My MWave Double Daytripper grocery/errand panniers drive me nuts. It's impossible to keep them centered, and they're always sagging or drooping in weird ways.

In the end, all that really matters is if it gets your stuff from point A to point B without loss or spillage.
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Old 04-04-14 | 10:10 AM
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Originally Posted by Archery_Queen
I'm in a town that's 50% college kids who all ride bikes, maybe they legitemetly don't have any left. :-/ I'm sure they get whipped out pretty fast, maybe I should ask when delivery day is. In other sense I only paid 1.50 for this room essentials milk crate. :-/ I didn't wantlt look like a delivery boy so I wanted a black one.
I just called all the grocery stores in town and none of them keep the milk crates. They are owned by the milk company and have to be returned!???
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Old 04-05-14 | 08:14 AM
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Originally Posted by RaleighSport
I think he means you could have used the tabs at the clamp or whatever they call it on zip ties, and taken them off and reused, you need a small wedge of some sort I.G. small flathead screwdriver, it lets the ridges slide freely past the clamp.
Ha, I do this often and thought I was the only one cheapskate enough!
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Old 04-05-14 | 09:10 AM
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Originally Posted by Archery_Queen
So please tell me where you can find them for free??? No stores give them to you if you ask...
I collect the ones ******** thugs leave in the street during the winter.
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