Ammunition Case as Hard bags

[GQROD]

GQROD,
Cool set up but the ammo box that you are using is actualy for a M19 (mark 19) grenade launcher 48 rds. I had my gunner use them with my .50 cal in Iraq because our mount was made for either .50 or M19 so the ammo box carrier would hold that box which we could load around 200+ rounds compared to the 100 round box the .50 uses.

Thanks for the clarification, i got a friend who is doing another tour in Iraq now his wife and kids are stationed in KS. Don't know what base though i think he is now a sargent. His name is Juan Rivera, don't know how many bases there are in KS i'll have to find out.

[Bad Kaw]

Ft Riley and Ft Leavenworth. Almost certaily he's at Riley. Home of the Big Red 1.

[GQROD]

Ft Riley and Ft Leavenworth. Almost certaily he's at Riley. Home of the Big Red 1.

I know he is in the army, don't know if KS is like North Carolina which has an army and an air force base on the same property. I know it's fort bragg and pope air force base in NC.

I managed to get the tube cut which will hold the pins for the boxes to mount to and made great progress until i ran out of welding wire!

So i should be done with welding this tomorrow, then i have to mock up and locate the pin mounts on the boxes. I can then weld that and the whole job is ready for paint prep.

Will post pics tomorrow of this.

[GQROD]

Update

Finished welding the mounts on both sides of the ammo box frame.

Still need to weld the mounts to the rear ( tomorrow ), then mock up the mounting points on the boxes and weld them.

And weld gussets to the top mounts which attach to the frame, finally dress the welds.

I'll probably use clevis pins secured with bridge clips ( hairpin cotter pins, hitch pin clips ) cheap and simple. There are quick release versions of a clevis pin but at $6.00 each it's too expensive for it's intended purpose.



More pics at http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/r...nition%20Case/

[NetBSD]

i just dont like the look, makes a bike look way to boxy for me. nice work tho. whats the framework weigh for that monster?

[GQROD]

Thank you. It's understandable the look is not for everyone, better bikes deserve better looking luggage, I'll weigh everything once i'm done with the welding.

It's true it does look boxy, but more aerodynamic boxes would have made this bike look like a scooter which i did not want.

The old bmw's had somewhat similiar style boxes which i always liked.



This is the style of box that is mounted much higher than mine, and lends itself to that scooter look that i didn't want, on mine placing the weight lower will not hinder handling.

Most importantly is the trade off in performance versus style compared to cost.

There are new $1000.00 hard bags that look great, or used $500.00 hard bags from other models if you can find them and they need paint, seals etc.

Or don't look right on a sport bike due to their odd shape ( goldwing bags etc ). more expensive boxes also look great but don't really have as much practical space-can't beat a box for sheer space.

Ultimatley i don't plan on riding Two Up any time soon so i can go as high as 200 pounds and not have performance affected to the point where i'd feel the bike is compromised too much.

The boxes aren't prom queens but they are tough. Just like the GS's

[GQROD]

Ok just weighed eveything.

Large ammo box weighs 19 pounds empty!


however i have made my frame so that it will mount the large box on the rear and the two small boxes on either side of the bike.

I made the frame so that i have the option of changing what size boxes i mount according to what kind of riding i'm doing, so it's not like i'll be laden down every ride with two large boxes. ( believe me a small price to pay for all the available storage, especially on long trips! )

Small ammo box weighs 2 pounds each.

My frame weighs 2 pounds

All weights measured on a bathroom scale, zero-ed out.

[GQROD]

Ok finally got the supports welded onto the top mount and welded the rear DOM mounts.

I also cut the lower cross ( seen in the pics )bar in order to allow removal of the rear tire without having to take the steel frame i made off the bike. Decided to only mount the small box in the rear leaving the big box for either side of the bike.

Now i can re-install the frame on to the bike and mark the position for the mounts/pins that will get welded to the boxes themselves.

[makenzie71]

I love using the boxes...












That's my setup with my CX500...sold the bike bit still got the boxes. Haven't figured out how to mount them to the GS yet, but I'm working on it. I could carry 50lbs of gear in one and my laptop and accessories and lunch in the other...about 100lbs all together in the boxes...and all it did was lighten up the steering a bit.

[GQROD]

Makenzie71 That's awesome!!, they look like they are mounted a little high ( oops i didn't see the exhaust running underneath-lol ), but otherwise it looks great on your ride!

And you are right about cargo capacity that is why i went with the larger boxes.

My riding group is going to Ocala National Forest for a day's ride at the end of the month, needless to say for a day long ride i'll need to carry suppplies and this to me was the best way to do it.

I'll take pics tomorrow of the quick release set up i'm making, ton of work fabricating and welding but worth it to be able to change box sizes quickly. Right now i'm working out a base in order to mount yellow LED signal lights into the veritcal oval spaces on the box handles.

[willycrash]

I got my boxes from www.aimsurplus.com
I have also seen them at www.ammunitiontogo.com

www.dansammo.com

google "surplus ammunition" and you will usually find these larger cans in the inventory of people who sell it. usually around 15-20 bucks apiece but the shipping will kill ya!

ps these babies are also bear proof. your bike will be in pieces but the cans will be fine!

[GQROD]

I got my boxes from www.aimsurplus.com
I have also seen them at www.ammunitiontogo.com

www.dansammo.com

google "surplus ammunition" and you will usually find these larger cans in the inventory of people who sell it. usually around 15-20 bucks apiece but the shipping will kill ya!

ps these babies are also bear proof. your bike will be in pieces but the cans will be fine!

BEAR PROOF !!!! Now that's what i'm talking about, i hope you weren't in between your bike and that angry bear.

Thanks for the links, i just finished welding the mounts on the large box so tomorrow the small ones will get their mounts welded then it's time for paint prep.

I oredered an extra one i needed from this place ArmySurplusWorld.com their shipping was only $9.00 UPS ground.

[BigLou]

love these, I'm looking to replace the bags on my GK with something larger. Might look into this idea.

[GQROD]

love these, I'm looking to replace the bags on my GK with something larger. Might look into this idea.

These boxes are so cheap it just makes a lot of sense to go this route unless you can find factory luggage just as cheap. But for this bike there was no factory luggage.

Bolting these on to a frame is way easier than welding, as seen in the prior posts, so if you do it, bolting it is the way to go.

Because i wanted to interchange box sizes quickly i went with welding simple version of quick release mounts. I'll post pics tomorrow after i'm done with welding the mounts on the small boxes.

[jed.only]