Full Suspension Bike Rack from Scrap!

I don't know about everyone else, but I want a bike rack for my Mountain Bike. Ever looked for one? Non-existant if you have a full suspension bike. This just cannot do.

This is my first Instructable. Please refrain from flaming and let me know what you think. I wish i had more pictures, but the instructable was an after-the-fact idea

Step 1 Parts and Tools

Parts
-50 Cal Ammo Can
-Electrical Conduit (Check out your area, if there's a renovation going on, you can just swipe it from a dumpster)
-Metal Support scrap (I used the support for a shelf but you might use something else, even a piece of bent electrical conduit)
-Several bolts, nuts and a few washers

Tools
-Drill
-Drill bits (dur)
-Wrench set

Comments

[admin]

Hey, this is a great instructable and is very informative. Just one thing is missing... pictures! It really helps a lot when trying to follow directions so you should consider taking some photographs. Once you do that and leave me a message when you have so that we can publish your work. Thanks! Thanks for the cool instructable and we hope to publish this soon!

[Plagueology]

Is this just as easy to use with panniers as a standard bicycle rack?

[acdc1226]

I have a full suspension aluminum mountain bike and want to build a bike rack for it. I came across this instructable, and I am glad I did. One question: can the ammo box be substituted?

[burnfatburn]

what nice work,

but I think the rack is a little bit too high,it should be a little lower, closer to the tire to maintain stability maneuver of the bike.

[Thunderborn]

Hey, great idea. I used an old toolbox for a bike 'trunk' after a I caught a guy breaking into my typical store bought bike bag. I don't have a full suspension like you do but you can see pics at:

http://acewarloch.jalbum.net/BikeTrailer

Since the photos there were taken I've made modifications to both the trunk and the trailer.
I will be making more mods this summer when I have time. Maybe after that I will do an instructable of my own.

[xArchersParadox]

Wow. people said i went crazy on my bike but i'd say you have taken the cake on that one! It's a beauty, that's for sure. No one will be stealing from either of our bikes lol.

[Thunderborn]

Thanks for the compliment. Later this summer I plan to modify both the trunk and the trailer. I have a bunch of ideas but sometimes I change them as I start to implement them. Anyway, I have been using the trunk for over two years now and it has survived being hit by a large pickup (just a couple of days ago at the can recycling center where I take my pop cans to get recycled) and a major wipeout on gravel as the result of being chased by two dogs. Recently I added an adjustable kickstand which I also hope to modify. Anyway, it's ideas like yours that inspire me so thanks for posting your idea. I actually tried to buy a hardshell trunk for my bike before it ever occurred to me to make one. Now that I found out about this site I'm always browsing for inspiration and ideas that will improve or better my ideas and that's why I had to check out your nifty design. : )

[dotdarkcloud]

Thanks man, I've got a full-suspension bike as well, and I really needed a rack.

[xArchersParadox]

Glad I'm not the only one to have that problem. Let me know if you need any more tips during the build. Also, I think the eyelet that the bolt goes through in front of the rear tire is usually used to hold fenders in place. So, if you have fenders, you might have trouble pulling this off.

[mothflavour2]

ah, ammo cans. How come they aren't more prevalent? I'm surprised there are no companies making them for primarily civilian purposes. Then again, there are so many military surplus ones out there, that there'd be no way they could compete. So many uses, from geocaching to bike racks. I've seen two of those tall skinny ones used as panniers on a bike. Just a good, durable, waterproof, all-purpose container. Nice instructable.

[xArchersParadox]

aye, those would be the ammo for M16s if memory serves me. I'm setting those up as attachments to each side of the 50 cal one. lol. supa expanded

[lennyb]

those 50 cal boxes are so usefull. i have one padded with sponge that i use as an armoured waterproof camera box on white water canoe trips. its saved my cameras several times.

[xArchersParadox]

Know what works better than sponge from my experiences? The blue foam pads that are meant to go under a sleeping bag. They cost like 3 bucks for a 7 foot roll and they work PERFECTLY