Source or DIY for J-hooks?
#1
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Source or DIY for J-hooks?
I recently picked up a pair of millitary map cases from an Army-Navy store, and I'm looking to convert them into a pair of small front panniers, for use in commuting and maybe some weekend touring.
They have soft tops/fronts/sides and stiff backs, and structurally are perfect for supplementing my rear grocery panniers until I can save up enough for a set of proper panniers.
Anyone know a good way to secure them to the front rack? It'd have to be something like a J-hook that doesn't cost an arm and a leg, in keeping with the DIY spirit of this project.
I'm using a Tara rack, one of these babies with retain clips on the bottom to catch a pannier retain ring or triangle:
Thanks! Let the ideas flow...
They have soft tops/fronts/sides and stiff backs, and structurally are perfect for supplementing my rear grocery panniers until I can save up enough for a set of proper panniers.
Anyone know a good way to secure them to the front rack? It'd have to be something like a J-hook that doesn't cost an arm and a leg, in keeping with the DIY spirit of this project.
I'm using a Tara rack, one of these babies with retain clips on the bottom to catch a pannier retain ring or triangle:
Thanks! Let the ideas flow...
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Last edited by neilfein; 01-10-08 at 02:08 PM. Reason: spelling
#2
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I recently picked up a pair of millitary pam cases from an Army-Navy store, and I'm looking to convert them into a pair of small front panniers, for use in commuting and maybe some weekend touring.
They have soft tops/fronts/sides and stiff backs, and structuarally are perfect for supplelenting my rear grocery panniers until I can save up enough for a set of proper panniers.
Anyone know a good way to secure them to the front rack? It'd have to be something like a J-hook that doesn't cost an arm and a leg, in keeping with the DIY spirit of this project.
I'm using a Tara rack, one of these babies with retain clips on the bottom to catch a pannier retain ring or triangle:
Thanks! Let the ideas flow...
They have soft tops/fronts/sides and stiff backs, and structuarally are perfect for supplelenting my rear grocery panniers until I can save up enough for a set of proper panniers.
Anyone know a good way to secure them to the front rack? It'd have to be something like a J-hook that doesn't cost an arm and a leg, in keeping with the DIY spirit of this project.
I'm using a Tara rack, one of these babies with retain clips on the bottom to catch a pannier retain ring or triangle:
Thanks! Let the ideas flow...
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Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
#3
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If you mean the hooks like this (on the white bucket), those are rope hooks, or "rope tie-down" hooks. I've also used a bolt with a J on the end, called a J-bolt. J-bolts work better when the hooks need to be attached to the top edge of something, and the rope hooks work better when the hooks need to be attached to the back, like a bag or a box.
#4
In the right lane
A DIY solution might be something like this:
tn_pannier.JPG
You need
- one packet of 4 frame brackets, 2 inches
- 4 #8 bolts about 3/4 inches long (depending on thickness of fabric)
- 3 zip ties
- one bungee cord
Bend the frame brackets so that they form a hook that will just fit on your pannier.
With an ice pick or nail, create 4 holes through the back of the back. Put the screws through the frame brackets holes, with nuts and washers on the inside of the pack.
Push the twist ties through the fabric at locations that will hold a bungee cord. I didn't use (and don't seem to need...) a J hook on my pannier, but you could create one out of a wall hook for frames.
If that doesn't work, you can get pannier hook kits from mec.ca, arkel.com or from Axiom at your LBS.
tn_pannier.JPG
You need
- one packet of 4 frame brackets, 2 inches
- 4 #8 bolts about 3/4 inches long (depending on thickness of fabric)
- 3 zip ties
- one bungee cord
Bend the frame brackets so that they form a hook that will just fit on your pannier.
With an ice pick or nail, create 4 holes through the back of the back. Put the screws through the frame brackets holes, with nuts and washers on the inside of the pack.
Push the twist ties through the fabric at locations that will hold a bungee cord. I didn't use (and don't seem to need...) a J hook on my pannier, but you could create one out of a wall hook for frames.
If that doesn't work, you can get pannier hook kits from mec.ca, arkel.com or from Axiom at your LBS.
#5
Senior Member
I really do like the Arkel system (at least, the one back from four or so years ago). Simple aluminium flat bar bent into hooks and drilled for the two hitches onto the rack, and another piece of flatbar bent and drilled to form a "butterfly" clip for the centre. Look up Arkel's website that might give you some ideas. You do need a backing stiffener of some sort (either another long piece of alloy flat bar).
#6
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Thanks everybody! I see that there are lots of good ways to do this.
This might be the way to go. And it's pretty easy to replace the bungee cord when it gets frayed (I hope to have "real" panniers before it gets to that point).
A DIY solution might be something like this:
You need
- one packet of 4 frame brackets, 2 inches
- 4 #8 bolts about 3/4 inches long (depending on thickness of fabric)
- 3 zip ties
- one bungee cord
Bend the frame brackets so that they form a hook that will just fit on your pannier.
With an ice pick or nail, create 4 holes through the back of the back. Put the screws through the frame brackets holes, with nuts and washers on the inside of the pack.
Push the twist ties through the fabric at locations that will hold a bungee cord. I didn't use (and don't seem to need...) a J hook on my pannier, but you could create one out of a wall hook for frames.
If that doesn't work, you can get pannier hook kits from mec.ca, arkel.com or from Axiom at your LBS.
You need
- one packet of 4 frame brackets, 2 inches
- 4 #8 bolts about 3/4 inches long (depending on thickness of fabric)
- 3 zip ties
- one bungee cord
Bend the frame brackets so that they form a hook that will just fit on your pannier.
With an ice pick or nail, create 4 holes through the back of the back. Put the screws through the frame brackets holes, with nuts and washers on the inside of the pack.
Push the twist ties through the fabric at locations that will hold a bungee cord. I didn't use (and don't seem to need...) a J hook on my pannier, but you could create one out of a wall hook for frames.
If that doesn't work, you can get pannier hook kits from mec.ca, arkel.com or from Axiom at your LBS.
__________________
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My bands:
Tour Journals, Blog, ride pix
My bands:
- Uke On! - ukulele duo - Videos
- Ukulele Abyss - ukulele cover videos - Videos
- Baroque and Hungry's (Celtic fusion) full-length studio album Mended.
- Artistic Differences - 8-track EP Dreams of Bile and Blood.
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Jandd sells J hooks on their website.
Heavy J-Hook Stainless w/ Protector (ea)
Product ID: FWSA-HJH
Description: Jandd's Heavy J-Hook is the industry standard made in stainless steel. The Hook Protector adds just enough padding to act as a shock reducer for heavily-loaded panniers. Sold in singles assembled.
Price: $1.95
Product ID: FWSA-HJH
Description: Jandd's Heavy J-Hook is the industry standard made in stainless steel. The Hook Protector adds just enough padding to act as a shock reducer for heavily-loaded panniers. Sold in singles assembled.
Price: $1.95
#8
In the right lane
Also, depending on the rack, you might need some stiff backing (coroplast from a sign might work...). I use this on a rear rack and seems to be sufficient.
#9
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https://www.acehardware.com/product/i...ductId=1294432
I've used them to secure gallons of milk and the hooks are stronger than they look.
#10
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I placed an order for hooks and pannier retain straps from Jandd. I'll attach all these with nuts and bolts and washers. Now I need to figure out how I'll get the pannier straps to hold to the bag just above where they grab the rack. Zip ties, possibly. Zip ties solve everything.
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Tour Journals, Blog, ride pix
My bands:
Tour Journals, Blog, ride pix
My bands:
- Uke On! - ukulele duo - Videos
- Ukulele Abyss - ukulele cover videos - Videos
- Baroque and Hungry's (Celtic fusion) full-length studio album Mended.
- Artistic Differences - 8-track EP Dreams of Bile and Blood.