I am interested in getting some opinions on what others use for storage on their back racks. I have a Dahon ECO, an older model which does not have the option of placing a basket on the front of the frame.

I tried several baskets on the handlebars, but they were crushing the cables and this made me nervous.

I purchased a Dahon back rack thinking I could attach a plastic crate and am having some size issues because my seat is kind of low.

Would Panniers work or would they be too long?

Tks...

How tall is the rack you mounted? You might be able to use small panniers.

A pic might help give an idea of the sizes and spacing.

On this site on some options like the handlebar and seatpost adapters https://www.thorusa.com/dahon/accessories/baskets.htm
I think the Vario rack is cool.

Rosie,

I found that any plastic boxes don't work well with a folding bike as they work against you when you try to fold. Unless you use the bike exclusivelly as a minivelo, then that's different.

I used to use the Dahon rack with the small Axiom paniers, the ones meant for a front low-rider rack on touring bikes. They work well on the Dahon rear rack as well as the Dahon front rack. Any small paniers meant for a front low-rider will work fine.

I always prefer carrying any weight at the front on small wheelers. It allows you to keep an eye on things in crowds and gives better weight distribution. Consider a small front rack and a pair of small panniers.
I have used one of these racks before and found them to be cheap easy to fit and just the right size for a pair of small panniers without being so big it affects the fold too much. It bolts onto the V brake bosses in front of your brakes and also to where the mudguard bolts on.
These cost about Ł12 on ebay in the UK, I'm sure I've seen them refered to as being a lot cheaper in the US. I used carradice panniers which have moveable hooks so that the panniers were longer than the rack but on the front this matters a lot less as it doesn't interfere with pedalling and having the panniers set back towards the forks more reduces the chance of them interferring with the wheel in any way.

Just something for you to think about, because I am trying to also do the same thing. I have a Eco 6, it didn't come with a rear rack so I bought the arclite rack. Honestly I should have gotten the traveller rack rear. When installed it's higher up in the back of the bike. Today I used the arclite rack for the first time, and the problem popped up. If you strap anything wider than the rack, when you are pedaling the back of your leg will hit it. I wanted a basket or a cage too, but now I have to rethink it.

I don't know, Brand's Cycle put it on for me.

I guess the usual for 20" wheels on a Dahon ECO? Do I need to measure?

Low rack, just above small wheels, means load gets within heel strike area,
I have had to shift load well back, like on my Brompton M3R,

a narrow rack top bag would work, because of it's lack of width.

Can I put the rack that I had installed on the front?

where would I find a narrow rack top bag?

I got the ArcLite Rack by Dahon

I called Brands and they in turn called Dahon. They told me that Dahon says that there are no front racks to fit my ECO.

Now I need to see about mini panniers. I should have waited until Dahon came out with the modification for for a basket on their frame. Always happens, buy something and something better comes out RIGHT AFTER THAT!!!

What will you be using the panniers for? Will it be mostly for groceries?

A bottle of water, my pocketbook, maybe a little something I buy along the way.

I just don't like the idea that if I put a plastic crate on the back, someone can steal from it as I go by..

So I see you don't really need that much bag space. How about a 7- to 10-liter trunk bag? Or maybe even a 7- to 10-liter saddle bag that is securely fastened to your seat? Both are closed through zippers or straps so that it's harder to lift things from them (at least harder than lifting from an open crate).

If you need to keep an eye on your stuff in front, there are the Klickfix options which can probably attach to your handlepost. It's already been linked above, but here it is again from Thor's site:

https://www.thorusa.com/dahon/accessories/baskets.htm

Also, that front rack suggested in post #6 above will probably work.

I'm trying to figure out how to attach a bag to the seat post and strap the bag down to the rack. I'll probably make a water repellent messenger bag with straps that attach to the seat post to stay up and straps to keep on the rack. I worked on a bike carrier. What do you guys think?

Good job!

Not sure I would trust this. I put the Dahon front rack on three different bikes, none of them Dahon`s. Some times there are legal reasons for the answers they give, not practical. You should ask Thorusa who is on this forum and sell Dahons.

I use the small brakemounted rack shown here. I would not use it for panniers, it is made as a support under a basket or a small bag. I use it to support a backpack: Hang it on the handlebars and tighten the shoulderstraps so that most of the weight is on the straps. It is leaning on the rack and the rack also keeps it off the wheels.

I think I would go for the black rack and then get the "caddy" from clickfix and a bag/basket to go with it. This is what I am planing to do.

i think that the fork doesnt have a mounting point ... on the eco .... otherwise there would be no reason why it shouldnt have a front rack same as a speed tr or any othe bike...
shoot us a pic of the fork drop out and I can tell you for sure ....
I would go out and check a bike but i am out and new ones are 2 days away

thor

Could a hole be drilled or is that a bit too much..?

The mini pannier rack will pretty much fit any bike with V brake bosses and a hole at the top of the forks where mudguards (fenders) bolt on. I used this with carradice carradura universal/front panniers. The carradice panniers were good because the hooks for attaching to the rack are moveable so you can make sure both hooks fit onto the rack, if using panniers with a rack this small you will need to make sure it will fit.