Topic: "Army Boxes"?...searching for a pair of boxes for saddlebags

[grcamna2]

I am searching around for a pair of boxes w/  lids that I can adapt to my motorcycle as hard luggage.I SAW A POST HERE WHERE SOMEONE HAD A PAIR HE WAS GOING TO USE & HE EVEN KNEW THE NAME ! THEY ARE A CERTAIN STYLE THAT THE ARMY, I THINK USE TO USE THEM;IF  ONLY  I COULD REMEMBER THE NAME OF THEM......but I just hope the member who posted them can see this post of mine & get back to me & help me get a pair for myself.They remind me a lot of the big square boxes folks put on their adventure tourer "world traveler" Cycles, Huge large square metal boxes;much Bigger than ammo boxes... . These 2 were painted U.S. ARMY green or similar & had lids that closed & overlapped the sides;they were aluminum,I think & just a small bit rounded on the corners & had latches for the tops...he said he was going to weather proof the lids & mount them up.They looked Very deep & I think they would be great(Albeit bulky looking)to have as removable hard luggage for my year-round use Honda !

[MCRider]

Pelican makes the best cases currently i think. Military uses them.
http://www.pelicanproducts.us/c.Pelican.Medium.Cases.html
If you were thinking of a military surplus case, I think even older ones are expensve, unless you just happen in to some. IF you've got the upswept pipes, you'll have trouble with a case of any size.
Lots of used ones on ebay.

[onepieceatatime]

Something like this?
http://store.colemans.com/cart/ammo-can-81-mm-p-225.html?currency=USD

I think I need to get a set of these now...

[grcamna2]

I looked at the Pelican site MCRider...I want to go w/ an older type,not so modern;the ones that the member was using,in the pictures he had looked like a  large,light duty aluminum square "Can" & I want to match what he has...if I could only remember what section of the forum..or what date..or what his member name was....  You're on the right track w/ your adds on that link onepieceatatime,Thanks to both of you for your feedback.

[Coyote13]

Are you looking for ammo cans?

http://www.armysurplusworld.com/product.asp?productID=920

[grcamna2]

CoyoteUSP,
     I am looking for a certain type of deep & wide,square Army metal "can"...they looked very deep in the picture that the other member uploaded of one of them.He said he did a bit of searching for the one & then more searching for the other one & was happy that he had finally located 2 of them.They are a lot lighter duty(aluminum I think) than an ammo box & will stick out from the bike in a wide way.I think if you took 2 sheet rock plaster buckets,cut  about 1/4 off the tops of each one & could somehow make it so you could attach them together by somehow bonding one to the other & then have a hinged top that would have hinges near the seat & have a pair of them done that way on each side(I could guess the capacity would equal almost 6 gals. more or less for each side)...that is what these things looked like in the pictures w/ the tops that overlapped & hinged near the seat.They would come up pretty high, maybe to seat level.They may have been from another country..their Army....I just can't recall right now.I have been searching the forum & trying to locate where he posted his findings. I am just hoping to I.D. them & get an Army name for them;I should be able to search easier that way.

[MCRider]

CoyoteUSP,
     I am looking for a certain type of deep & wide,square Army metal "can"...they looked very deep in the picture that the other member uploaded of one of them.He said he did a bit of searching for the one & then more searching for the other one & was happy that he had finally located 2 of them.They are a lot lighter duty(aluminum I think) than an ammo box & will stick out from the bike in a wide way.I think if you took 2 sheet rock plaster buckets,cut  about 1/4 off the tops of each one & could somehow make it so you could attach them together by somehow bonding one to the other & then have a hinged top that would have hinges near the seat & have a pair of them done that way on each side(I could guess the capacity would equal almost 6 gals. more or less for each side)...that is what these things looked like in the pictures w/ the tops that overlapped & hinged near the seat.They would come up pretty high, maybe to seat level.They may have been from another country..their Army....I just can't recall right now.I have been searching the forum & trying to locate where he posted his findings. I am just hoping to I.D. them & get an Army name for them;I should be able to search easier that way.

The semi-off-road "adventure" motorcycle crowd have these rectangular aluminum, top loading cans. YOu know the guys that take 650 high fender Kawis to Tierra del Fuego?    Or the big 1100cc Beemers.

Often the OEM units look like they were tagged on from a surplus store.  But often they are "DIY" (do it yourself) additions. I'll do some searching later tonight, but that might point you in the right direction.

[heffay]

CoyoteUSP,
     I am looking for a certain type of deep & wide,square Army metal "can"...they looked very deep in the picture that the other member uploaded of one of them.He said he did a bit of searching for the one & then more searching for the other one & was happy that he had finally located 2 of them.They are a lot lighter duty(aluminum I think) than an ammo box & will stick out from the bike in a wide way.I think if you took 2 sheet rock plaster buckets,cut  about 1/4 off the tops of each one & could somehow make it so you could attach them together by somehow bonding one to the other & then have a hinged top that would have hinges near the seat & have a pair of them done that way on each side(I could guess the capacity would equal almost 6 gals. more or less for each side)...that is what these things looked like in the pictures w/ the tops that overlapped & hinged near the seat.They would come up pretty high, maybe to seat level.They may have been from another country..their Army....I just can't recall right now.I have been searching the forum & trying to locate where he posted his findings. I am just hoping to I.D. them & get an Army name for them;I should be able to search easier that way.

So... they are cylindrical in shape?  How big around and what direction do the flat sides face... front and rear or side to side?

[grcamna2]

MCRider,
               Yeah...thats them,what the big BMW guys use  the square ones...only those OEM ones may be high$.I was trying to see if I could get something that wasn't dubbed "MC custom luggage boxes" because they would charge me a mint.I want to see if I can find a generic box like them & fit 'em on.They'd make a nice classic bike look horrible,but I could pull them off & just leave the upper & lower mounts visible when I want to make an impressive statement,but these type of boxes will sure haul a large volume of gear when I need to go to the store ! heffay,you "old timer";man you sure turned into an "old timer" fast ! Dude,you must "live & thrive" on this forum.I really appreciate your experience & input;you know a lot about bikes. I guess I was just using the"idea" of those 2 plastic sheet rock "buckets" as an example to give so that all of you can get a rough idea of the depth & width of these boxes.I suppose if I really did use 2 actual plastic buckets like that, they would probably have more capacity than I need.I wouldn't mind if the front or rear edges of the "boxes"were cylindrical in shape because that would make them more Aero & pull less wind resistance.I think if they were tough & not as heavy as ammo boxes as far as construction goes,that would be best;square is great for packing in plenty of stuff.I would like to have that top cover that I can securely latch down to keep out the weather & resist the rattle from vibration.I know if I'm patient that I will get an idea to be able to use something that I can still afford out of my monthly fixed income...with the help of you great members here on sohc4, how can I lose ? ! !

[grcamna2]

Thanks for your help to figure out a tough,large metal pair of luggage boxes to fit to my Vintage Honda;something that is very durable, but won't weigh more than necessary. I like the Vintage look & something that lots of folks can identify with;I was almost thinking of a pair of solid old Large size vintage steel milk boxes,but they would be worth more as antiques to collectors. A more generic item will work.

[FuZZie]

Sounds like a good excuse to empty a couple of kegs....   

[faux fiddy]

Remember this one?

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=22237.25

[grcamna2]

Fiddy,I like the look of those in the forum link on "wyc's" bike;I could get into a pair of them;I don't have the upswept pipes on mine,just straight back so I maybe could mount them even lower & get deeper metal(but aluminum preferably)boxes.

FuZZie, a pair of stainless steel 1/2 kegs w/ hinged tops? hmmmm...I'm getting thirsty.

[faux fiddy]

Search "Ammo Boxes" There is a picture of a 550 with two stacked on each side.

Many threads mention the subject.

[FuZZie]

Are you looking for ammo cans?

http://www.armysurplusworld.com/product.asp?productID=920

CoyoteUSP had it he just didn't show you a big enough can
http://www.armysurplusworld.com/product.asp?ProductID=3433

[grcamna2]

FuZZie,
     I like it...kinda HEAVY(16lbs.per) & just a bit too narrow;I want an aluminum pair of boxes that are wider on the the bike.The idea I had was like the old style milk boxes of the past that held the old style milk bottles delivered by the milkman to your back door? remember? I think they made some that were huge for some multi-family dwellings back then...maybe like 16-18"L. x 12-14"W. x 16-18"H. something like that.I don't really want actual "antique milk boxes",but something along those lines w/ very sturdy aluminum construction w/ latchable tops that will close securely over the edges of the lower part to seal out the weather & not vibrate so much.
I am trying to research them now because I think they will be difficult to find & may take lots of searching & patience from me...a real challenge to find the right ones.

[MCRider]

Remembering that purists refer to side boxes as "panniers", I did a search on "adventure bike DIY panniers" and came up with some interesting ideas.
http://bridginggaps.com.au/?page_id=45

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17843

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=102759

[grcamna2]

Thanks MCRider, these will give me some more ideas.
I've also found out the name of those large army containers that I originally had in mind,they are Army surplus "Mermite cans" food transportation cases.When the cooks got done cooking the meals they would put that "chow" in these containers & bring it to the destination...they are insulated w/ different compartments.It's just the things are HUGE from some pics I saw from another forum;I need to research them & get their dimensions & weight.

[FuZZie]

Ok, the second link from MCRider. I like very cool shape  I'll borrow a pic for you maybe someone here will have or know a cheap source.

 

[MCRider]

Thanks MCRider, these will give me some more ideas.
I've also found out the name of those large army containers that I originally had in mind,they are Army surplus "Mermite cans" food transportation cases.When the cooks got done cooking the meals they would put that "chow" in these containers & send it to the mess halls...they are insulated w/ different compartments.It's just the things are HUGE from some pics I saw from another forum;I need to research them & get their dimensions & weight.

Yeah, those are the subject of the second link. The biker stripped out the insulation, etc, etc.

[grcamna2]

Thanks MCRider & FuZZie:depending on the dimensions, i think these may be worth going for...talk about capacity...!
My 2 large challenges now:finding 2 of them that are in good shape for cheap$.....&..... .....Trying to build a strong mounting rack system to fit my 75' CB400F !

[faux fiddy]

Th.....Trying to build a strong mounting rack system to fit my 72' CB400F !

Frankenbike?  Modded 350f? Wha?

[heffay]

I think some old army ammo boxes would look great on a 350f... something about that tank looks like an old army bike to me, along with the painted fork sleeves. 

[grcamna2]

It's really a "75" CB400F...I made a typo on the previous post & have edited it.I know that it won't make much of a "fashion statement" with those Large cans on it,but I will be able to make a lot more all-around use of my bike,rather than always having to rely on my automobile;I want to set them up w/ a set of 4 twist bolt knobs inside the boxes for easy removal to "lighten the load". 2 Wheels beat 4 any day in my book ! I will be doing a little "home brew" engineering to figure out how to build a steel tubing wrap-around rack to mount them to my frame.I have a couple different ideas from that one Adventure Dual Sport link.I wouldn't even mind having a rack from one of those companies for another Adventure rider bikes large touring boxes & then trying to modify & strengthen it to fit my machines application;it will take a bit of doing !
I want to build it & load them in such a way as to NOT change my handling WAY too much, or overload the capacity of the frame...at least not more than 50lbs over.I am thinking of welding up the spot welded halves of the 2 frame backbones where they meet under the fuel tank to help stiffen up the frame & compensate for the extra load. I appreciate ANY ideas you kind folks have on how to start & fully accomplish this project; I want the finished project to look BETTER than home made...I guess that means building or adapting a very nice mounting rack.

[faux fiddy]

I think some old army ammo boxes would look great on a 350f... something about that tank looks like an old army bike to me, along with the painted fork sleeves. 

Not a 4, nor Ammo boxes, but a friend took a pic of a bike in Dubai.  I guess there is a fleet of delivery bikes of this make over there. It is honda, I guess this one doesn't have the panniers at all.