Trunk bag for Tubus Evo Cargo Rack

[LARRYL05]

I have a Tubus Evo Cargo rack on my new Surly LHT. I now need to get a trunk bag. The rack is not that wide. Do I get  Ortlieb trunk bag? Do I get  Arkel Tailrider trunk bag? Do I get something else? Suggestions please

[Old Guy New Hobby]

I haven't found trunk bags to be very useful. They take a lot of space, weigh a lot, but don't hold much. Instead, I have a couple of different sizes of dry bags. They are flexible, hold lots of different kinds of things, keep the contents dry, and weigh next to nothing. Just bungie them to your rack.

[LARRYL05]

The trunk bag will not be for long trips, it will be used on the everyday riding that panniers are not used. On a nice 30 mile ride close to home a trunk bag is great to keep a lunch and some gear.

[Pat Lamb]

As you're going to use it for day trips -- lunches and rain gear? -- I'd think Ortlieb is overkill.  I picked up a trunk bag from either Nashbar or Performance a while back.  It attaches with Velcro, and can fit on any rack I've tried it on.

In other words, don't overthink this purchase.

[DaveB]

As you're going to use it for day trips -- lunches and rain gear? -- I'd think Ortlieb is overkill.  I picked up a trunk bag from either Nashbar or Performance a while back.  It attaches with Velcro, and can fit on any rack I've tried it on.

In other words, don't overthink this purchase.

+1   The Performance/Nashbar rack trunks are very functional and low priced.

[LARRYL05]

Thank you Thank you - I agree. My concern is the Tubus rack is only 3 1/2" wide and does not have solid plate on it.

[staehpj1]

I never liked trunk bags much either.  I owned one and it sat pretty much unused for years after briefly trying it.  I think I might have actually given it away when I moved recently.  If just taking a a little extra clothing and stuff I am way more likely to throw on one small pannier.  A nashbar or performance waterproof front pannier is what I am most likely to grab and it typically goes on the back rack.  Alternately I might grab a small lightweight backpack like the REI Flash 18 or maybe the little Sea 2 Summit ultrasil daypack and ride one of the bikes without a rack.

[Pat Lamb]

My concern is the Tubus rack is only 3 1/2" wide and does not have solid plate on it.

Mine's been loaded with maybe 5 pounds of stuff, and it's never fallen through.  There's enough stiffness in the double layer of fabric and padding that you'd have to try to make it sag badly.  Lunches, snacks, rain jackets, etc. are light enough and large enough to spread the load.  Perhaps you could put a jacket or leg warmers at the bottom, if you're worried about it.  Avoid small lead bricks or 6" cross-sections of eggplant or zucchini and you should be fine. 

[LARRYL05]

Pat, thanks. When I ride the North Fork of Long Island I have been known to bring home a bottle or two of wine from the Vinyards. One for each leg warmer. LOL. I am going to take your advice.

[aRoudy1]

I have one of these on my Tubus rack:  http://www.amazon.com/Planet-Bike-4020-Escape-Pod/dp/B0020BH67C

[LARRYL05]

Thanks - I will check that out