Rob_E

One thing I would try is to see if your rear panniers fit on the front and how the bike handles. When I'm only using two panniers, I put them on the front, which balances my bike better, gives me easier access to some items, and allows for more creative management of the awkwardly-sized items on the rear rack. It might not work as well for you, and you might find that the panniers give you a larger platform to work with in the back, but it might be worth a try.