Milk Crate carriers

bradsarno · Post by **bradsarno** » Wed Oct 16, 2013 5:19 pm

I'm finding that for my needs, a milk crate is perfect on the back of my Buddy 170i. I do a LOT of deliveries to the post office and FedEx, and the milk crate is a great object to not only carry small packages, but also to attach bungy cords to when I need to strap on or down a larger package. Also, they hold tons of groceries. Here are pic's of my 170i and my wife's 125.

If you can find them, get the older (no longer used) injection molded nylon crates. They're worlds stronger than the modern plastic types.

I got the stock Buddy rear rack and also put a carefully cut "1 by" piece of wood to shim the crate so it sits level with the ground. The rack is kind of sloped.

I attached the crates to the rack via heavy duty 1/2" nylon zip ties.

tortoise · Post by **tortoise** » Wed Oct 16, 2013 5:31 pm

Another option.

Drum Pro · Post by **Drum Pro** » Thu Oct 17, 2013 12:08 am

Nice scoot and crate...

Wolfhound · Post by **Wolfhound** » Thu Oct 17, 2013 11:21 am

That is a good set up but what do you do when it is raining? I assume that you have some sort of cover for it. For my post office runs I use my TGB 150 Delivery. If I have a load of packages to mail I use my side car.

KABarash · Post by **KABarash** » Thu Oct 17, 2013 12:34 pm

The milk crate has been the universal answer for years.
I had an 'oversize' (13x18inches) on my scoot for several years, the bottom gave out after time, good idea with the shimming though I never thought of that.
After a while I got a wire storage basket from Lowes as a replacement. Open top, the sky's the limit on what you can put in it.....

Wolfhound: When it comes to rain, there's nothing a good stout plastic bag can't handle. I used to keep a heavy duty 'contractor' type bag in my pet carrier for the wet days..

Wolfhound · Post by **Wolfhound** » Thu Oct 17, 2013 7:35 pm

KABarash, great idea. Makes sense to me.

kmrcstintn · Post by **kmrcstintn** » Thu Oct 17, 2013 9:42 pm

+ 1 on the milk crate...I snagged an older nylon one that's been on my current scoot and several previously owned ones...

I did the same thing with heavy duty cable ties, but did it directly to the rack...never had any problems; I just try to keep the heavier stuff in the part of the crate that is directly supported by the rack

JHScoot · Post by **JHScoot** » Fri Oct 18, 2013 9:38 am

i clicked on this thread thinking "i hate those ugly crates" but after seeing these i have changed my tune. they look very nice

Mary Somerville · Post by **Mary Somerville** » Tue Oct 22, 2013 2:29 pm

I used those metal hose clamps that you use for your washing machine hoses to attach mine. They are really sturdy. I tried some nylon ties but I kept breaking them.

You can't see them, but my pink crate is overloaded with picnic gear here.

Tomato Bisque · Post by **Tomato Bisque** » Thu Oct 24, 2013 8:12 pm

those look sharp! did you spray paint them? If so, could you share what type you used?

thanks

bradsarno · Post by **bradsarno** » Fri Oct 25, 2013 12:37 am

The silver one was a cheap can of Ace Hardware silver, under $3.00 for the can. Looks great, rubs off a bit on the inside when I put objects in there that rub on it, but no biggie.

The red was more expensive, a 2 part car paint from Auto-Zone. Silver base coat, and then a see-thru red overcoat. That's a tougher paint.

Clean the crate real well before painting.

They were both a pinkish red nylon crate before painting.

B

dkw12002 · Post by **dkw12002** » Fri Oct 25, 2013 1:15 am

Another way to carry more stuff is with 2 backpacks...one on your back and a 2nd one on your front. I tried it and it really works well. Between the floor, pet carrier, and 2 backpacks, I haven't found the need for additional carrying capacity. The baskets do work best for bread and things that might get squashed, but I put those either in the pet carrier or on the grocery hook.

Wolfhound · Post by **Wolfhound** » Fri Oct 25, 2013 1:19 am

Saddle bags help some too.

dkw12002 · Post by **dkw12002** » Fri Oct 25, 2013 1:54 am

You could fill up your side car with groceries. My dealer just put together a Buddy with a side car. Cool.

Wolfhound · Post by **Wolfhound** » Fri Oct 25, 2013 9:55 am

I dont ride the hack very often but have used it for PO runs. Usually use the TGB DEl 150 when I have a load to carry. What size Buddy was used for a sidecar? I have thought about the same set up down the road. There are 2 or
3 Stellas in the Atlanta area with sidecar set ups. The sidecar creates a very different riding situation and slows down top speed as well.

Wolfhound · Post by **Wolfhound** » Fri Oct 25, 2013 11:15 am

Also, sidecar rigs experience a lot of hack and tug tire wear(tug rear tire)
compared to regular bikes. Must be set up carefully, by qualified mechanics
to keep tire wear down.

dkw12002 · Post by **dkw12002** » Fri Oct 25, 2013 8:11 pm

Go to the af1 racing website and click on inventory. The yellow scooter is shown with the mechanics setting it up. Oops, I see it's a Stella. Looks very nice.

Tomato Bisque · Post by **Tomato Bisque** » Fri Oct 25, 2013 8:43 pm

very snazzy! thanks for the info. One of these days I may follow suit

Wolfhound · Post by **Wolfhound** » Fri Oct 25, 2013 10:50 pm

The Stella is an old Vespa design made in India. Has always been able to accept the Cozy design side car which was set up for the Vespa/Stella scooter. A very good sidecar, is what I have on my TGB R9. Had to do some mods to do it but it can be done. Floyd at Vespa Marietta has been contacted by an American company that is offering one for the Buddy line. Told me today that he was checking into it and would get back to me on it.