Alternative way to secure items to floorboard

[michelle_7728]

I don't know about you, but on occassion, I have thought that the hook we have above our storage bin is not adequate for what I need it for. If you have something smallish, sitting on the floorboard you are faced with bungying it around the floorboard (which gets in the way of your feet) or trying to tie it down by running something under the seat, which sometimes works, but sometimes does not.

I'm not talking about heavy items like a 20 pound bag of dog food here, just smaller stuff, like veggies from the store or something else awkward to put elsewhere...maybe your front rack, rear rack and saddlebags are already full, which is often my issue on Costco runs...

Following all this explanation are pictures of my solution.

To determine that I had room to mount the hardware in the back panel, I removed my pet carrier, did a visual and felt behind the panel. If you use short bolts, as I did, you are in no danger of getting in the way of anything...and with the lock nuts, you prevent anyone that works on your scooter (maybe you!) from scraping their hand on something sharp. I did not have to put the hardware in the creases like I did...I just thought it would be less conspicuous from the outside, and still functional.

Anyhow, hopefully this will help someone out. As per my normal posting, I do more pictures than some people need in order to make it clear for everyone who may not feel otherwise up to doing something to their scooter. It helps to visually see each step before you start a project some times.

This took me about an hour or so to do on two scooters, due to multiple interruptions by our puppies, my husband, taking pictures, and dropping and retrieving nuts.

Oh...this may be obvious, but if you choose to do this, it is best to do it over concrete so you can find dropped items easier.

NOTE: I forgot to mention in the pictures, but you will either want to spray your hardware with Plasti-Dip the day before, or much earlier in the day, as it says you should wait a minimum of 4 hours for it to dry....

[michelle_7728]

Last of the pictures....

[PeteH]

As always, Michelle, great ideas and great documentation!

[CapnK]

As always, Michelle, great ideas and great documentation!

Ditto, and in particular I like your efforts to make the mods as visually unobtrusive as possible.

[michelle_7728]

Thanks! Someone told me a long time ago "form follows function". Well, that's a good starting point, but I didn't want huge U-bolts (or what ever they are called) clanking around while I rode, so this seemed a good compromise.

[ericalm]

Another nice tutorial and a great idea!

[michelle_7728]

Used my new tie downs for the first time yesterday. Worked great!

Another nice thing about them...I'm always getting my saddlebags all loaded up with soymilk, or some other heavy objects, and THEN remembering I haven't secured the floorboard stuff. Since I prefer to have my saddlebags rest on the top of the seat where I sit on them and they are further from the exhaust, it would mean taking the now super heavy saddle bags off, so I could open the pet carrier to secure the stuff on the floorboard using the helmet pegs.

I of course forgot again yesterday, but this time it didn't matter! Yay!

[rick71454]

Hello BuddyLand:

I have carried loads on the floorboard inside of 2 large brown paper grocery bags. It is even more stable with a cardboard box of the about same dimensions. Better yet is a plactic or metal box, especially if it rains. As long as you dont wipe out, it is an OK way to transport things on your scooter like this. Use a long enough bungee cord or two to secure it more.

You could even transport animals this way, small ones, but not large ones like cows, manatees, and elephants.............

Thanks
Rick71454

[CapnK]

n00bie question - What are these "helmet pegs" you mentioned Michelle? TIA!

open the pet carrier to secure the stuff on the floorboard using the helmet pegs.

[michelle_7728]

Rick71454
What???!! I can't transport a manatee that way??? Just watch me!

Seriously though, many a time I have just used bungie cords around the floorboard, or under the seat. I was looking for a different option...one that would not necessitate opening the seat, nor have a bungie cord in the way of my feet....or using that hook above the front cubby. And when I had the cowel protector and foot pegs I would bungie there too, but having the foot pegs there took up real estate, and I rarely have passengers, so I took them off.

I'll still do the bungie cord around the floorboard bit when hauling a gallon of gas for the lawn mower, but I like having other options.

CapnK
Open up the seat. There by the hinges you will see two pegs sticking up. You can secure two helmets there.

[fatcharlie]

Very nice and discreet!

Now how do I get it to hold a 44oz soda???

[michelle_7728]

Hmmm...not something I've ever pondered....but you might find some ideas here.

[scullyfu]

the floorboard (without michele's mods) is a great way to haul pet food and tp, but my fave use for the floorboard is for beer.

[hal888]

Bottles or cans? I'd worry about carrying glass over bumpy roads. Ever have a beer bottle break during transport?

[scullyfu]

i've transported both. the roads here in buffalo are pretty torn up (big potholes), but never had any breakage. btw, i try to avoid those potholes at all costs. LOL

[michelle_7728]

If I recall correctly, you can fit 12 bottles or ~16 soda sized cans in the pet carrier also.

[CapnK]

Open up the seat. There by the hinges you will see two pegs sticking up. You can secure two helmets there.

A-ha! I had no idea.

Used 'em today, they work great!

Thanks for the tip, I made you a present. See below.

[hal888]

If I recall correctly, you can fit 12 bottles or ~16 soda sized cans in the pet carrier also.

You are a fountain of the most useful information

[michelle_7728]

Open up the seat. There by the hinges you will see two pegs sticking up. You can secure two helmets there.

A-ha! I had no idea.

Used 'em today, they work great!

Thanks for the tip, I made you a present. See below.

Very cute!

[pugbuddy]

This begs the question of why we have those almost useless little hooks on the Buddy. Why not a solid ring mounted there that we would simply slide a Carabiner or something similar though? Then we'd never have to worry about the strap or bag handle we wrap over the hook coming off. Just thinking out loud here....

[michelle_7728]

I'm with you. I've never been a fan of that hook above the front storage area...too easy for things to fall off, and I don't like things swaying when I ride, either.

[scullyfu]

instead of the 'hook', i use the under seat pegs to hold bags that are on the floorboard. sometimes the recycle bags have entra long straps and i can wrap them around (and across) the under seat pegs for extra stability.

[TVB]

This begs the question of why we have those almost useless little hooks on the Buddy. Why not a solid ring mounted there that we would simply slide a Carabiner or something similar though? Then we'd never have to worry about the strap or bag handle we wrap over the hook coming off. Just thinking out loud here....

Well, a ring by itself is useless: you need to add a carabiner or rope or something to do anything at all with it. So a hook is simpler, and for the most part ... it works, as a hook. I find it useful enough. If you don't... nothing stopping you from taking it off and replacing it with a ring.

[michelle_7728]

instead of the 'hook', i use the under seat pegs to hold bags that are on the floorboard. sometimes the recycle bags have entra long straps and i can wrap them around (and across) the under seat pegs for extra stability.

That is usually what I do too, but sometimes it's just not convenient to do that (ie, loaded and heavy saddlebags in the way before I remember I have to secure that stuff).

Okay, apparently I'm the only lazy person here. That's okay--I'll own up to it!

Actually it's more my bad back...if I forget to secure stuff on the pegs before hand, I don't want to hurt my back by lugging heavy saddle bags off, then back on, the scooter (I prefer to lay my saddlebags over the seat, and sit on them, rather than securing them under the seat).

....although I AM lazy to a certain degree.....

If I recall correctly, you can fit 12 bottles or ~16 soda sized cans in the pet carrier also.

You are a fountain of the most useful information

...been there, done that, a time or two....

[KABarash]

The 'bag hook' on the front, I although I don't carry one, I refer to it as a 'purse hook' typically I use it to hang my helmet when the scoot is parked at home in my garage.
I have yet to have the need to secure much in those locations, particularly on the floor as my rear basket is large enough for my needs. One bag from the 'purse hook' steady it with a foot or two if it swings while riding.
The helmet pegs, I've got to say they're tha best invention out there, my son's sport bike has no such thing, when we ride together he'll secure his helmet on my scoot when we stop.

[CapnK]

I am a 1-man IT shop and I've found the bag hook to work very well with my messenger bags and the smallish laptops I carry in them for outcalls. I'm using a Sol eReader Accessory Messenger for my 11" machines and an Ogio Covert for my "large" 13" laptop. Both bags stay very stationary while riding, and neither quite touches the foot platform, so if rain puddles there it won't contact the bottom of the bags and 'leak up' into what is in them.



I tried hanging the Bailout Bag there, but it is too wide/big for comfort.

[bluegrass]

Caution when using loctite. I've not seen but read Loctite will eat some plastic. Just 1 drop on the bolt thread so as it doesn't run onto any plastic would be advisable. [/b]

[michelle_7728]

Caution when using loctite. I've not seen but read Loctite will eat some plastic. Just 1 drop on the bolt thread so as it doesn't run onto any plastic would be advisable. [/b]

Thanks for the tip. I don't think any of mine touched plastic. I wonder if all Loctite does that or just the permanent stuff?

Bag hook. I know it works for some...I've just never felt good about using it. Sometimes I hop on the freeway and I'm always worried about what ever I have on it slipping over the top....and then then there is the thing about the stuff I put on the floor wouldn't work well hanging from the hook anyhow. But if it works for you, great! Sounds like what you put on there might be heavy enough to not worry about that. My stuff is usually fairly lightweight and in a bulky container...or two.

...and really, no one is hurting my feelings by not liking/using my method...just threw it out there as an option--I like options!

[bluegrass]

I just saw another story about Loctite. It hardened the plastic to the point of crystal shattering around the bolt holding the parts down leaving a big hole. I'm leary of it now and use silicon seal on threads close to plastic. Works great.
Your idea and instructions are excellent. Keep-um comin'.

[OldGuy]

True about Loctite, from personal experience. Years ago we had a new product, still in design, that we were going to run vibration tests on for durability. Unbeknownst to us, one of the electrical engineers decided to add Loctite to the handle screws the night before testing.

The next morning the Mechanical Engineer and I (Manufacturing Engineer) found the aluminum handle had fallen of, and the product was surrounded by bits of crystalized plastic which used to be the arms attaching handle to product. The plastic looked like it had exploded, as it travelled further than just falling to the table. it literally popped apart.

That plastic was either poly-carb, or ABS-PC, I forget now. Please never use standard Loctite on plastic unless you know it is compatible. Bad things can happen, and it may not be obvious immediately.

[michelle_7728]

Wow-scary stuff!