Mermite Cans--Anyone? Anyone?

[10-95]

I saw the thread on ADV about making mermites into cheap aluminum panniers so a buddy of mine got me a few. Short story is they require too much work and I'm not satisfied with how they are going to turn out. I bought a set of soft luggage on sale and some ATV tank panniers. Now I need these things out of my garage.

I've got 4. One is stripped of the foam (my first "test"). This one has a missing clasp. The rest are original and all the hardware is there.

You want a set? PM me and make arrangements to PICK THEM UP. I will not be shipping these anywhere.

I'll be off the computer for a few days if no one responds by Wed the 31st but will get back with you as soon as I can. 1st / 2nd PM gets them.

[Squeaky]

How big are they? Are they heavy? (Heavier than my ammo cans?)
These might make lighter-weight options for what I've got now....

[Hairsmith]

How big are they? Are they heavy? (Heavier than my ammo cans?)
These might make lighter-weight options for what I've got now....

They are much lighter weight, (at least half) than the ammo cans you have now Squeaky. But they are not as big and are not going to be as rugged either. They are insulated for food storage, that takes up a lot of internal room.
If you can snag them and set them up so you have both would be nice.

This is what they look like mermite cans (http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=171813&highlight=mermite+cans)

[10-95]

Squeaky:


Rough outside dimensions are 9" wide X 14" high X 19" long.

If you can figure out how to seal the top after removing ALL the insulation they would be as big or bigger than many commercially made aluminum panniers. They would be a drastic weight improvement over what you have and I have read about how tough they are in several threads on ADV. I don't think anything would be as tough as your ammo cans, not Jesse Luggage, Metal Mule or Happy Trails. Steel is always stronger...

They will require a lot of work to prepare. One is stripped except for the "lip" at the top that everyone says to leave so the original gasket will seal correctly. I don't really have time to post up what you do to get these ready but if you do a search on ADV rider there is a detailed post on the process. They actually turn out pretty cool looking and are a good investment in time if you are like me and refuse to spend $800 or more on luggage. There's even a pic of a 650 Strom with mermites. Very industrial looking and very cool.

I just owned up the fact that I won't be doing any gnarly RTW-type travelling for the next 5 years. The soft luggage I got (on sale :clap: ) will do just fine when I'm doing my little week long trips. Especially when they're paired up with the tank panniers I found for $28. :deal:

Eventually I will invest in some metal panniers but not the name brand expensive ones. Especially when you can find these now and there is no telling who will be making knock-offs later.

http://www.klr650.com/images/Boxes1Large.jpg

[Squeaky]

Ok, I'll take 'em and see if I can mount them the same as I've got my ammo cans, that way they'll be interchangeable.

Now we just figure out when I'll be closest to B/CS - a nice day would make a ride to Navasota or Montgomery a dream!

[Hairsmith]

Ok, I'll take 'em
Now we just figure out when I'll be closest to B/CS - a nice day would make a ride to Navasota or Montgomery a dream!

Are you planing to carry all 4 of these on your bike?
WOW not sure even I would have thought of doing that.....
OK,,,,, yes I would and setting hear now working out how to tie them down....
WE want Pictures!!!!!:rofl: :rofl:

these look great for cases......

[10-95]

Cool.

That means all 4 are spoken for.

You and Big Bandit will have to thumb wrestle to see what 2 you each want. :lol2:

[Squeaky]

Are you planing to carry all 4 of these on your bike?

I don't see why not. I've been known to carry more...
It's all about proper use of bungee nets and cords! ;-)

[DANNYROTH]

Are you planing to carry all 4 of these on your bike?
WOW not sure even I would have thought of doing that.....
OK,,,,, yes I would and setting hear now working out how to tie them down....
WE want Pictures!!!!!:rofl: :rofl:

these look great for cases......


Tom, The Army-Navy Store, on North Timberland, in Lufkin, had some of these a while back. Might check with them if you are interested in making some cases for the KLR.

[Squeaky]

If anyone else with Givi racks wants me to help them fit a set of boxes or cases, I'm sure I can duplicate it faster and easier now that I've been through it once.

Oh - and I'll take pics for sure when I go get them!

[Beach]

Pictures?

[Squeaky]

We stopped off in Bryan yesterday to pick these up from 10-95, but I was without web access this weekend and only had his address stored in the GPS. He had no idea we were coming.

I wasn't sure if he was still going to leave them outside for me as we had planned for Saturday (which I completely flaked on), so on Sunday we parked at his house and I went to look for them behind the camper...

As I got closer to the house, the garage door started to open. "Who hit the button?!?!?"

After we peeled our eyes away from the Bryan PD Bimmer parked closest to the door, we looked up to see Ken's wife. She greeted us, and I was a little embarassed by our unannounced visit.

Alas, the cans made it home. Thans SO MUCH to 10-95 for offering these up - they should look good and be MUCH lighter on the bike than the ammo cans I have now, although I'm hoping to make the two sets interchangeable depending on where I'm going and how much I have to pack.

http://squeaky.smugmug.com/photos/129240035-M.jpg

http://squeaky.smugmug.com/photos/129239997-M.jpg

[dukey33]

Now you're ready to start the TWT Mobile Soup Kitchen.....

Dave

[10-95]

Sorry I wasn't much of a host. I'm STILL sick and will be missing work again tomorrow.

Hope they work out and remember to post up some pics.

[Squeaky]

Now you're ready to start the TWT Mobile Soup Kitchen.....


Now that you mention it, I kinda like the idea of making a bunch of sandwiches and buying a case of bottled water and heading downtown to the park where the homeless hang out to pass out lunches.

When I get a better idea of what it would take, I'll go ahead and post it up. It'll be a day of TWT giving back to our community.

[Tourmeister]

Watch out... Noble as that sentiment is, I would not be the least bit surprised if the City finds out that they would mess with you... Lack of permits, blah blah blah... :doh:

[Beach]

Now you need some of those orange Pelican cases we bought with the holes in them to modify to work with your existing brackets and you'd have all kinds of cargo carrying options!

[DancesWithCurves]

Watch out... Noble as that sentiment is, I would not be the least bit surprised if the City finds out that they would mess with you... Lack of permits, blah blah blah... :doh:

Leave the motor running and your gear on. I've always wanted to see aerial footage of a police chase led by a Strom.



:lol2:

[bones]

If you have 2 left, I am interested.

Thanks

[10-95]

I have 2 left, but Big Bandit has already claimed them.

Sorry.

[bones]

I have 2 left, but Big Bandit has already claimed them.

Sorry.
No biggie. I need to get the racks and then decide on what I want to hang off them.

[84SabreRider]

I've seriously been thinking about a top loading pelican like this one [URL="http://www.casesbypelican.com/app-1430.htm"] and at a price of 63 bucks each I'm thinking they are hard to beat for what you're getting.

[bones]

I've seriously been thinking about a top loading pelican like this one [URL="http://www.casesbypelican.com/app-1430.htm"] and at a price of 63 bucks each I'm thinking they are hard to beat for what you're getting.

http://www.klr650.net/forums/showthread.php?t=22833

[stinky93071]

Squeaky,

aren't they just going to fall off going down the road? oh wait you have stuff to fab to keep them on the bike.. lol.

[Squeaky]

aren't they just going to fall off going down the road?

Didn't your heckling duties cease when the Tech Day was over? :giveup:

I'm going to learn from the mounting on the ammo cans and improve the mounting of the mermite cans. Besides - the heavy ammo cans did fine until now!

[84SabreRider]

http://www.klr650.net/forums/showthread.php?t=22833

That's the general idea I've had.. I agree with that thread that this size looks a little small.

Looks like a little time with the bike and a tape measure will be in order.

[Squeaky]

That's the general idea I've had.. I agree with that thread that this size looks a little small.

Looks like a little time with the bike and a tape measure will be in order.

I've sat here with a tape measure and I just don't think those 1430s are going to cut it. For a KLR or DRZ maybe - since you are limited to how much your pack mule will haul.

[84SabreRider]

I've sat here with a tape measure and I just don't think those 1430s are going to cut it. For a KLR or DRZ maybe - since you are limited to how much your pack mule will haul.

My mule is a little bigger than a KLR or DRZ... that's a long term project for me though... it won't be happening this spring... Sorry, this thread was about you wasn't it.... didn't mean to hijack.

I'll keep my eyes open for something smaller... shoot, if I still had access to a shop and welder I would build it all from scratch.