Aluminum Top Box for camping off bike

[Frulk]

I've camped off the bike a number of times and the dry bags I have work fine. However, I dislike having to tie everything down with bungies and compression straps every morning and getting the bags just "so" that they don't shift while riding. Another issue is trying to quickly access things. Although that's a lesser hassle since most things I need immediate access to are in the tank and saddle bags.

I was up in Boise, Idaho this past weekend visiting a friend and stopped by Happy Trails. If you've never heard of them they're pretty well known in the ADV crowd for their USA made aluminum luggage and racks. The owner has been riding bikes for many, many years and is on site most days. Spoke with him at length and he just happened to have a rear top box with a blemish that normally sells for around $229 plus tax that he let me have for $150. I plan to use it for the 2-3 long rides I do every year around the Wind River Mt's in Wy, looping southern Utah on backroads and quick 2-3 day jaunts through Idaho. There's prob enough space in the box where I can get by with just the box, tank bag, and small backpack and possibly forgo the soft panniers. Four screws will mount it to OEM Honda rack tabs that are already pre-drilled.



Soft luggage set up



Kinda nice that it matches the fly screen



Side view



Comparative pic for scale.



With the lockable/watertight lid open. You have the option to removes the hinges and just use the latches in case you want to remove the lid when you open the box.

Ordering the mounting kit from Happy Trails. Comes with 4 small "hockey puck" rubber isolating washers that mount between the rack and the box. Nicely engineered small touch.

[Rocky]

Wow, that's quite a trunk

[The ferret]

(12-10-2017 01:44 PM)Rocky Wrote:  Wow, that's quite a trunk

+1

[Frulk]

You know. I thought the same thing when I bought it. I didn't have the bike there and was concerned about the sheer size of it. But, and I know the pics don't really show it, the box actually doesn't look that large on the bike. You do have the option to mount it with the narrow section front to rear or the widest (as shown in the pics) across the rack.

Couple of additional pics.

[LongRanger]

Nice. Love me some of that V7R and XR1200 too.

[Cormanus]

(12-10-2017 01:44 PM)Rocky Wrote:  Wow, that's quite a trunk

+2

I've had a top box pretty much all the time since I've had the CB and find it pretty useful. However, I'm rethinking its use after a recent long ride. Anything not soft in it shakes around something terrible. I've had things break just being in there, even when they're pretty well packed in. In future I'll be using it only for soft things that aren't particularly susceptible to damage.

[glynb]

Nice box. I've been looking for one for a while. Can you tell us the exact model number and size so I can research it?

I have an OEM Honda rack on my bike too, so let me know how it fits.

Thanks

[rotor]

Beautiful and impressive!

Can it be mounted so that the opening is on the back as opposed to on the top? Given my health, I must seriously consider the possibility of having to do pizza deliveries to make ends meet when I outlive my savings. If I can still handle 250 kg motorcycle I sure as heck won't do it on a 50cc scooter...

Consequently, I'll keep this post bookmarked.

[dbarkdoll]

Melvin Brewing Co RULES.

[Frulk]

Missed these last two replies.. sorry about that..

Melvin's does rock. I stop by the brewery every time I'm in Alpine Wy on the CB. Nice to sit out back on a picnic table overlooking the Snake River/Palisades Reservior and sip/quaff a cold one. I'm surprised to find out that they export (out of Wy) almost 100% of what they brew.

Rotor asked:
Can it be mounted so that the opening is on the back as opposed to on the top? Consequently, I'll keep this post bookmarked.

Yes, You could mount it so it folds down or up but you'd have to hold the lid while loading unloading.