I recently picked up a pair of millitary map cases from an Army-Navy store, and I'm looking to convert them into a pair of small front panniers, for use in commuting and maybe some weekend touring.

They have soft tops/fronts/sides and stiff backs, and structurally are perfect for supplementing my rear grocery panniers until I can save up enough for a set of proper panniers.

Anyone know a good way to secure them to the front rack? It'd have to be something like a J-hook that doesn't cost an arm and a leg, in keeping with the DIY spirit of this project.

I'm using a Tara rack, one of these babies with retain clips on the bottom to catch a pannier retain ring or triangle:



Thanks! Let the ideas flow...

It's pretty cheap to use Ortlieb mounting hardware. Ortlieb sells the parts here and I've found nothing better at keeping the bags on the rack.

If you mean the hooks like this (on the white bucket), those are rope hooks, or "rope tie-down" hooks. I've also used a bolt with a J on the end, called a J-bolt. J-bolts work better when the hooks need to be attached to the top edge of something, and the rope hooks work better when the hooks need to be attached to the back, like a bag or a box.

A DIY solution might be something like this:


tn_pannier.JPG


You need
- one packet of 4 frame brackets, 2 inches
- 4 #8 bolts about 3/4 inches long (depending on thickness of fabric)
- 3 zip ties
- one bungee cord

Bend the frame brackets so that they form a hook that will just fit on your pannier.

With an ice pick or nail, create 4 holes through the back of the back. Put the screws through the frame brackets holes, with nuts and washers on the inside of the pack.

Push the twist ties through the fabric at locations that will hold a bungee cord. I didn't use (and don't seem to need...) a J hook on my pannier, but you could create one out of a wall hook for frames.


If that doesn't work, you can get pannier hook kits from mec.ca, arkel.com or from Axiom at your LBS.

I really do like the Arkel system (at least, the one back from four or so years ago). Simple aluminium flat bar bent into hooks and drilled for the two hitches onto the rack, and another piece of flatbar bent and drilled to form a "butterfly" clip for the centre. Look up Arkel's website that might give you some ideas. You do need a backing stiffener of some sort (either another long piece of alloy flat bar).

Thanks everybody! I see that there are lots of good ways to do this.

This might be the way to go. And it's pretty easy to replace the bungee cord when it gets frayed (I hope to have "real" panniers before it gets to that point).

Jandd sells J hooks on their website.

You might want to use a bungee w/o hooks on the end. Simply tie off the ends. Sometimes the hooks you see in the photo interfere with the metal hooks.

Also, depending on the rack, you might need some stiff backing (coroplast from a sign might work...). I use this on a rear rack and seems to be sufficient.

I have some smaller diameter bungees with very small rounded hooks that can be smushed closed after installing that might solve some of that problem. They are usually a 10" cord.
https://www.acehardware.com/product/i...ductId=1294432

I've used them to secure gallons of milk and the hooks are stronger than they look.

I placed an order for hooks and pannier retain straps from Jandd. I'll attach all these with nuts and bolts and washers. Now I need to figure out how I'll get the pannier straps to hold to the bag just above where they grab the rack. Zip ties, possibly. Zip ties solve everything.