Prima Milk Crate

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Fri Apr 09, 2010 1:04 am

I'm going to buy one of Prima milk crates for the back of the Buddy.
I noticed that Scooterworks has both a large (Dimensions: 13"L x 13"W x 9-3/4"H) and a small (Dimensions: 9.5" x 9.5" x 8") sized crate.

There is also a disclaimer with the larger crate ... "Note: the small stock rear rack that came with your scooter may not be adequate to support this basket. You will probably need an accessory-style rear rack with a larger platform."

I'd prefer the larger crate and it appears to me there won't be any problems at all with mounting to the rear rack.

Anyone have any experience with these crates?

Rob

Jackie F · Post by **Jackie F** » Fri Apr 09, 2010 3:04 am

I had the large crate for 9 months. The mesh started breaking on me.

ache4dalake · Post by **ache4dalake** » Fri Apr 09, 2010 3:32 am

I installed the 13" x 13" on the standard black rear rack. Just about half of the basket is actually supported directly on top of the rack. The other half hangs beyond the rear of the rack. The basket has 4 attachment strips across the bottom of the basket. Due to the overhang, you only attach with the forward two of the four attachment locations. It does not appear to me that this will cause any significant problems. It looks and feels very secure.

Dooglas · Post by **Dooglas** » Fri Apr 09, 2010 4:31 am

Why not just use a real milk crate? They are much tougher anyway.

laxer · Post by **laxer** » Fri Apr 09, 2010 5:24 am

Dooglas wrote:Why not just use a real milk crate? They are much tougher anyway.

Not to mention cooler, they're 2 legit to quit!

iMoses · Post by **iMoses** » Fri Apr 09, 2010 2:37 pm

laxer wrote:
Dooglas wrote:Why not just use a real milk crate? They are much tougher anyway.
Not to mention cooler, they're 2 legit to quit!

And much cheaper... love my crate, I've had it for years

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Sat Apr 10, 2010 1:15 pm

Thanks for the advice! Personally, I'd go for the real milk crate myself, but that idea has already been nixed by the one that has taken 80% ownership of the scoot (aka my wife). Apparently she doesn't like the look.

Actually, my dad has an old, antique type wooden crate (I think it's a milk crate), that I was going to clean up and restore a bit and mount on the scoot ... but that idea was nixed as well. I have to admit, I'm not sure that would have looked all that good. Maybe on a different color scoot other than black.

I tried a Genuine top case, but it didn't hold up for long ... just over a year.

Rob

KABarash · Post by **KABarash** » Sat Apr 10, 2010 1:27 pm

I just got a large bicycle basket, 18x13x9" to replace my 18x13x13" milk crate love the size, could get a case of beer or a weeks groceries in it. There's nothing wrong with the crate my son is pissed at me for taking it off, he'd be able to lean back on it and nap on long trips!

beeporama · Post by **beeporama** » Mon Apr 12, 2010 3:58 pm

I have the large crate too; similar experience with the "overhang."

The mesh is small enough that a bungee won't go through so you would need to run a bungee over and through the rack, or risk leaving items unsecured. Small items (like a can of soda) may fly out on bumps, it happened to me. I did find it useful for bringing home a bag of dog food or whatever, traveling at low speed and minding bumps; it is more convenient than dragging out the saddlebags. If I had it to do over, though, I think I might get a topcase.

Based on the instructions it is also intended for use as a regular bicycle crate.

polianarchy · Post by **polianarchy** » Mon Apr 12, 2010 5:12 pm

Scooterworks has some new topcases from "Soft" Company based in Italy. They look pretty snazzy in the flier, but I've yet to see one IRL.

ache4dalake · Post by **ache4dalake** » Mon Apr 12, 2010 5:22 pm

I really like the Prima. I use the little 8" bungees if I need to secure something and their hooks are small enough to attach to the mesh at the top or at the bottom of the basket. I usually have a fairly heavy full size gym bag shoved in standing on its end with the top half sticking out. The basket seems to handle the weight and size easily and securely.

ishi · Post by **ishi** » Mon Apr 12, 2010 8:16 pm

Rehrig milk crates FTW!

http://www.melmat.com/DesktopDefault.as ... 4&tabid=35

KABarash · Post by **KABarash** » Mon Apr 12, 2010 8:32 pm

I'd really like to get one of these but you have to buy them 20 at a time

ishi · Post by **ishi** » Mon Apr 12, 2010 8:39 pm

No - they only wanted me to make a $40 minimum order. I ordered one big crate and two little 'uns. Useful as heck, indestructible and worth every penny.

KABarash wrote:I'd really like to get one of these but you have to buy them 20 at a time

Jackie F · Post by **Jackie F** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 2:02 am

KABarash wrote:I just got a large bicycle basket, 18x13x9" to replace my 18x13x13" milk crate love the size, could get a case of beer or a weeks groceries in it. There's nothing wrong with the crate my son is pissed at me for taking it off, he'd be able to lean back on it and nap on long trips!

what basket do you have and how do you bolt it on your rear rack?

I have zipped tied and bungee'd a plastic milk crate that is used for filing. I'm not thrilled with what I have.

siobhan · Post by **siobhan** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 1:52 pm

How to attach a milkcrate to the rear rack
http://www.cocktailsatfive.com/scoots/milkcrate/

With the addition of 3M reflective tape, I know it looks goooood.

un_designer · Post by **un_designer** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 2:00 pm

maybe i'm the only one, but i never liked the look of a real milk-crate. it just seems too big and bulky for a scooter. i use a bicycle metal basket instead, because it doesn't feel so visually heavy and attract so much attention as a real milk crate.

i use something like this basket on my scooter:

http://www.chubbyscruisers.com/shop/met ... -p-61.html

Vic · Post by **Vic** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 2:43 pm

I have the Buddy topcase (got it as a deal I could not refuse

) and it is great when you have a passenger, makes it very comfy for them to be able to lean back a bit and you don't have to worry about them falling off the back.

Now that I have the Sym I am looking into other options (I use the Sym for transporting passengers) and I am loving the thought of something that I can take into the grocery store with me and carry around, load it up and then hook it back onto the scooter for the trip home again... Those handled baskets are sweet.

I see a shopping trip in my near future, followed by more shopping trips.

By the way, I also like to put heavier weight stuff (like the big bags of dog food or cat litter, etc) on the seat of the scooter, it balances the weight more for what the scooter is designed for, you don't want to put a lot of weight on the rear rack of a scooter, it really is not designed for that and I know that I Have read on this forum about folks that have had their rear racks break (I am not 100% sure the brakage was due to overloading, but it can't help the situation).

Putting heavy items in bags that hang by the purse hook and sit on the floor is also a great way to go and you can really put a lot of stuff there (I kind of wedge my toes in anywhere I can find a spot or put them on the passenger footrests.)

I reamember seeing a picture someplace else that i have used a few times where you shorten the handles of bags like those re-usable grocery bags and use a carabeiner (sp?) to connect them together and put them under the seat, with the bag part hanging off the sides of the scooter pannier style (jsut watch it carefully to make sure the bottom of the bag does not get close to the muffler-I found a smaller bag that I put more dense things into so that the weight is balanced on both ides and put that one the right side. It is important to make sure these are balanced for weight though.

You really can transport a shocking amount of stuff on a Buddy scooter with ease!

-v

KABarash · Post by **KABarash** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 4:38 pm

Jackie F wrote:
KABarash wrote:I just got a large bicycle basket, 18x13x9" to replace my 18x13x13" milk crate love the size, could get a case of beer or a weeks groceries in it. There's nothing wrong with the crate my son is pissed at me for taking it off, he'd be able to lean back on it and nap on long trips!
what basket do you have and how do you bolt it on your rear rack?

I have zipped tied and bungee'd a plastic milk crate that is used for filing. I'm not thrilled with what I have.

This is the one I got, I used some short bolts and fender washers to attach. I also put some old inner tube in metal-to-metal contact areas...

nateandcourt · Post by **nateandcourt** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 5:29 pm

I used a milk crate with the stock rack it was not the most stable platform.
I loved my milk crates, but I went for the wicker look.

Jackie F · Post by **Jackie F** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 5:43 pm

Thanks Siobhan for the link!

un_designer wrote:maybe i'm the only one, but i never liked the look of a real milk-crate. it just seems too big and bulky for a scooter. i use a bicycle metal basket instead, because it doesn't feel so visually heavy and attract so much attention as a real milk crate.

I prefer a metal basket than a milk crate. I'm shopping around for size. I didn't know if the baskets for the adult tricycles would work.

KABarash wrote:This is the one I got, I used some short bolts and fender washers to attach. I also put some old inner tube in metal-to-metal contact areas...

Thanks!

Jackie F · Post by **Jackie F** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 5:46 pm

nateandcourt wrote:I used a milk crate with the stock rack it was not the most stable platform.
I loved my milk crates, but I went for the wicker look.

I like that it has a lid, but not fond of the wicker and wish it had a wider bottom.

BlueMark · Post by **BlueMark** » Wed Apr 14, 2010 1:19 am

KABarash wrote:I'd really like to get one of these but you have to buy them 20 at a time

I've seen stacks of those near the entrance at Walgreens. No price tags on them, I think they are free!