I have a ton of thin carpet I was using to line some other containers I have made for other things I was going to use that until I find a flaw and move on to something less annoying. Drawer liners sound like a great idea.

Anything that could go wrong on a really long distance trip while using these?

Anything could go wrong with anything, but I don't see anything that would be a definite problem with this setup. I'd just keep a close eye on everything as I was travelling along. The rigors of a long tour can cause equipment to fail.

Since you have rigid "panniers", how about a rigid top for at least one of them? It would be a place to store bread and other food away from raccoons, squirrels, crows, bluejays, etc.

I have a 4 person tent but it was given to me for free, only used once, and is very nice quality so I figure it means I can store my bike and gear in the tent also to protect my things.

Weight is the bane of touring. After a few long hill climbs and a few broken spokes you may be sending home anything you can't absolutely live without. Your "luggage" setup looks a bit heavy to me. Then there's the 4-person tent. You may want to rethink that. Of course, I've seen people riding along with the kitchen sink on their bikes and smiles on their faces.

To me keeping my bike out of the weather at night isn't a concern. Riding through a couple of rainstorms in the day kind of makes keeping it dry at night a moot point. I put a plastic bag on my saddle so I don't have to sit on it wet, lock it up, and leave it out in the weather. I oil the chain when it needs it and the bike seems no worse for wear.

I question some of your projects (the bamboo?) but I like your style! When I was first starting touring I had to make do with some unconventional stuff, but I made it work and had a great time! Of course, I immediately started coveting a "real" touring bike with "real" racks and "real" panniers and "real" lightweight camping gear. But going with what you've got is better than not going until you get what you don't got. (I was going for a folksy aphorism there. Excuse the grammar. :o)

Aphorism acknowledged,beautiful advice. I am off today for a good long trip so I will see everyone in a few days. Take care and thanks again for everything.

I go out and spend big bucks on standard panniers and then you come along with something probably just as good on which you spend next to nothing, I hate guys like you :)

I get my hooks at Farm and Fleet, if that helps at all. My local mom 'n pop hardware store stocks them but they are always out when I need more.

Having worked with the heavy materials you are considering, let me suggest you don't try to either sew elastic to the material OR make a channel threaded with elastic. Those coated canvasses are very tough to sew even with my heavy duty machine and upholstery thread, and then the stitching will be a weak point. Instead, set large grommets around the edge and thread rope or bungee cord through those instead. It'll be easier and stronger, and you can replace the rope if you need to.

Is all that stuff you have loaded in the panniers for a two night trip? I had about half as much for a six week trip from Vancouver to Montreal, including camping gear. I notice that you are packing some stuff in bags and then putting the bags in the panniers. That seems a bit redundant. Your legs will thank you for lightening the load.

Some More Buckets
 

I've made a couple of sets of these things and found that "Tarp Hooks" seem to work a little better than "rope Cleats" for the attachment hooks (they have a "V" shape rather than a "U" shape which causes them to snug down under gravity when you hang them on the rack and they are VERY heavy-duty) - I also buy a foot or two of clear plastic tube of a size that can be cut to length, lubed a bit and forced over the hooks to protect the finish on the racks (not really needed but looks good and dampens noise).

As far as the bolts that attach the hooks to the bucket I use the big, flat "Fender" washers (again from the hardware store) with some lock washers as they spread the load over the plastic on the buckets and no need for a back-up plate (I've been riding with them for about a year, 2 - 3 times a week with no breaks or cracks). I then spread some Shoe Goo over the washers before I bolt them to the buckets for that little added protection and a good seal to the buckets('cause I'm a bit retentive, again probably not really needed).

One last item - I made my last set of these from two "kingsford charcoal plastic bins" I bought at Lowes (got the idea from a fella that made some for his Trike on the CGOAB site) - these things are HUGE (let's you carry big, bulky items and probably way more than you should) and, of course, are completely water-proof. They may not work all that great on a Diamond Frame due to heel clearances but are great on a recumbent of any variety. If I get a chance I'll post a couple of pictures here.

Mike A.

[QUOTE=rama_five;6327735]One last item - I made my last set of these from two "kingsford charcoal plastic bins" I bought at Lowes (got the idea from a fella that made some for his Trike on the CGOAB site) - these things are HUGE (let's you carry big, bulky items and probably way more than you should) and, of course, are completely water-proof. They may not work all that great on a Diamond Frame due to heel clearances but are great on a recumbent of any variety. If I get a chance I'll post a couple of pictures here.QUOTE]

These should give you an idea what they look like

nice wireless g router ! That is the best thing you got going for yourself out of all the mess.

Dude! I am so going to copy this! Freakin great idea!

Are you serious? You'll look like Sanford and Son on tour.... plus your crap will smell like kitty litter. DOH!

I think cat litter smells like crap after the cat craps in it, not before. But I haven't purchased any in a long time. I was actually thinking of using some simular buckets I already had, but they were for dog food and would probably smell worse. Still I think it's a great idea. And I think you can clean the buckets, NO?

Kitty Litter??
 

These are charcoal storage containers ---- kitty litter??

Perhaps you could just cut the bottoms off of two other buckets and turn them upside down to help make the tops that the handle bails could lock onto as described in an earlier post. Maybe you could use some sort of silicone adhesive to attach the cut off bottoms to the egdes of the white tops you have on there. Then they would snap on and also lock with the handle and bail as well. The bottoms probably have a ridge that you could cut slots in for the wire bail to pop down into. Or, maybe cut the top few inches off two other buckets to use with their lids on in some similar way. Any way, I like your thinking and also applaud your work. Good job.

The buckets are a great idea. You can turn them upside-down to sit on, and , if you have a lid, use that as a tray, cutting board, etc. They also provide a very safe place to store food overnight. See Brian Huntley's article on crazyguyonabike on how he built his.

I rode with a guy that was touring with a set of rubbermade boxes roped to front and rear racks, with no panniers. He was riding out of New York, on his way to Vancouver, BC. I met him in Michigan's upper peninsula, and we toured together for about five days before our paths parted ways. His boxes were holding up very well when I met him, which was already many hundreds of miles into his tour. I never did get a chance to catch up with him and see how everything worked out. But it seems like the plastic boxes were working for him. I think they should work just fine for you too.

So to answer a few questions: The buckets I am using were chain containers I aquired for free from Lowes... not kitty litter buckets (I think I already cleared that up). I have now traveled over 300 miles with my set up and I did a reconfiguration of packing techniques after the first 25 miles; since then I have had no problems with the buckets or my rack. I left Richmond over a week ago and I made it to Kill Devil Hills, NC last Thursday. Since then I have been relaxing and taking packed daycruises to beaches in the surrounding area. My buckets have been tweaked here and there and are working just as good as (if not better than) the day I got them.

Pictured here is me in Richmond before leaving.Attachment 67469

Here is my set up in the huge tent I have.Attachment 67470

My gear has held up all the way out here.Attachment 67466

I simplified the "chain tensioner" and it has been doing just fine.Attachment 67468

Gear check!Attachment 67467

Having a great time!Attachment 67471

Haha I am sitting on one bucket here and yes I do store the food in a tree in one of them.

The buckets are a hit!

Attachment 67475

I was gonna say if you are lookin' for hatin' you are in the wrong forum.

I like the idea of using the buckets and the idea of using ready made containers , like rubbermaid also has a great appeal due to their lids.

Now I am going to have to add the hardware store to my list of stops as I have some thinking to do.

Cool. I am glad they are working out well. It looks like you are having fun.

For keeping critters out... I know from experience that squirrels can and will chew through plastic buckets :(

I love this kind of "do it yourself" stuff. I have included a bunch of links I have come across for various ideas on home made panniers of different types. Might give everyone some good idea of what they might try.

I think yours rock.

DIY panniers

Rucksack panniers

DuctTapePanniers

homemade-bicycle-pannier-links

Backpack-panniers-that-are-still-backpacks

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/Buckets