I've been riding this rig since I built it last winter. I've hauled some really heavy loads with it, but it would get a bit wobbly when the weight got up there. So the last few days I've pulled it apart and worked that particular bug out. So I thought I'd share it. It'll certainly make a bike able to carry a good deal of stuff.

The core of the rig is a basic rear rack mated with saddlebags made from small coolers. The type that is basically a plastic box covered in a bit of insulation in a vinyl weave covering with a few pockets. The coolers cost about $12 a piece. The total cost of materials will be about $60. And since there's going to be other options on the saddlebags, then this could be built very inexpensively.

The photos are captioned with basic instructions. So they ought to explain the construction. But if I've forgotten anything, then just let me know.

Looks pretty good, and is OBVIOUSLY effective! Nice!

Thanks. Yes, I've been using it for awhile now and have carried some heavy loads. It's served me well. It tended to get a bit wobbly, though, when the loads got heavy. Over the weekend I tore it down and added those stiffening struts and better bottom braces than what was there.

this afternoon I took it for it's first real test drive with these mods. I made a grocery trip. Loaded that blue duffel bag with a bunch of frozen foods. With that, tools and miscellaneous I know the load was not much less than 50 lbs, and maybe a bit more. Going home was a rather long, moderately steep uphill. Most people on bikes end up walking it, but I ride it and did so today. I could definitely feel the load. It was noticeably heavier than usual. This means, of course, that there was some "rocking" of the bike. But that rack didn't move a millimeter.

Looks like it might be a success.....