PVC and Milk Basket Bike Basket

I needed a simple and cheap way to carry vegetables from our crop share this Summer. I really like my cruiser bike, but did not want to buy a basket. I made the following with some left over PVC and a milk basket I am borrowing.

Step 1: Get the Supplies

A basket, and some 3/4" PVC pipe & fittings. I needed about 6 feet of pipe, 4 "T" s, 4 "L"s, and 6 caps.

Comments

[TnT101]

you may wanna heat the PVC (heat gun/propane torch) and flatten, let cool, THEN drill hole to fasten to wheel (jes'sayin')

[sjoobbani]

where does everyone get milk crates?

[Yard Sale Dale]

You can get milk crates at a lot of places. Look on the sides of highways, in apartment trash dumpsters, and drive to a dairy trucking yard. They often have a bunch of them, dirty, old, maybe cracked or scraped up, that customers don't want to use. You can buy them or maybe they will give you one. Also look around where bums hang out a lot. They leave them everywhere.

[wjp4140]

outside of my corner store.... try late at nite

[Tren509]

Thanks, this looks good! But how sturdy do you think it is really? I plan to commute to and from school on it, which is about 6 miles; if I were to put about 8 - 12 pounds worth of text books in it, would I have to fear the basket falling apart mid ride?

[rakejooney]

But i think if you go the DIY route its about as sturdy as you make it.. the PVC won't break until higher weights I dont think, more ti would be making sure the screws wont come loose(happened to me) or that you use a strong sealant

[rakejooney]

if you are worried about that, consider purchasing a metal bike rack (~30$ for me) that has a high weight rating! I bought one that can do up to 35 lbs I think.. (I have a boombox that I strap onto it)

[itobor2525]

I don't like encouraging theft (alright 'borrowing') but these types of crates come in many shapes - square and rectangular- and can be bought cheaply from a local thrift store. If you have the means, buy them new from Staples, Office Depot or Office Max but please BUY THEM!!!!!

[kz1]

A borrowed milk crate, eh? Sounds like my kid when she told me, "it's not called cheating any more, Daddy; it's called team work." : >]

[bluelego99]

I'm always riding my bike to my Granny's down the street to get cooking stuff for my mom. This will be perfect!

[kz1]

Don't take that short cut through the woods! There's wolves out there. : >}

[vov35]

This would be awesome if I weren't a dairy clerk now who hates milk crates.

[wawee]

does this bike rack happen to swerve? i buillt a similar model before you probably created this but mine was created out of wood and wiggled side to side when i put heavy weight but mine was built for heavy weight so i can put all my fishing equipment and groceries in it. that was probably the only problem i had with mine im just wondering because i could probably make one similar to this one but without any swerving any ideas?

[bonedoggie]

Only a little "swerving". I've filled it up with veggies and not had a problem.

Jon

[josieisacoolcat]

This is also a great tutorial for college students with lots of stuff that wouldn't fit well in a bookbag

[kironbutterfly]

Thank you sooooo much! I CAN DO THIS And my great grandkids won"t laugh at it

[mastermakoko]

nice cruiser bike.....

[thewetturd]

I did something similar to add a milk crate to the back of my bike and I have an important warning. I had about 4 pounds worth of stuff in the crate and that was enough to throw off the equilibrium off the bike. I fell twice, the last one, injuring my knee and almost getting run over in the process. I have been riding for about 30 years and am an avid mountain biker. I think that it is safer to either wear a small back pack or saddle bags where the weight is further down in the center of gravity. Be very careful. Good instructable though, thanks for offering it.

[carpe_noctem]

yeah, i think panniers are better for carrying any kind of heavy loads. they rest at about the level of the wheel, and keep the center of mass relatively low 

[gennyman]

Thanks for such a great idea. I adapted this for my son's bike, combined with another Instructable: Rack From Electrical Conduit. I found I could slide a PVC Tee fitting down over the seat post, and attached the rest of the rack to that. It was slightly rattly so I threaded a bolt through the side of the tee to snug against the post. Thanks again for a really eye opening idea!

[bonedoggie]

Excellent! I'm glad I could help and am happy you could adapt it to your own need. Jon

[theburn7]

I used the same concept months ago for a "leprechaun catcher" for the elementary kids because of a program they have, and I got first pick from it because the other people only had drawings and models of the trap, but mine had dual milk baskets on the front, and a line to open and shut the doors on it. It was awesome.

[crimson sausage]

That is such a sexy bike.

[A good name]

/lmfao'd.

[CMKJubilee]

Groovy bike, G! I wonder if Home Depot sells milk crates. Perhaps a purple one to match my bike? lol

[nibbs_fosho]

I WANT YOUR BIKE!

[SureShot]

Right on, this is cool and quick too! Ya know you could hit it with some Krylon plastic paint to make it look a bit nicer also. I'm going to mod this for the front of my bike:-) Thanks a bunch for a good instructable.

[bryandhispup]

I would love to see that instructable, I have a rear rack and I am having trouble with a fron one, because of the whole turning handlebars thing...

[silverhawk319]

Just how much weight can you load in?I want something that i can carry my 10lb dog in.

[bonedoggie]

Have not tested it, but it should hold 10lbs. I wouldn't carry a live animal in it though. Jon

[Phil Dodd]

An excellent design. I've done something similar, but instead of attaching the pannier part to the saddle post, I've taken a bar from the front of the pannier down to the strut coming from the back-wheel centre to the seat post. Doing this means that I've been able to angle the pannier slightly further back, giving more room to sit well back on the saddle. Also remember that a triangle is the strongest shape that there is, so if you want to carry heavy items, it may be worthwhile putting an extra support from the wheel centre to the back of the pannier. You've pioneered the use of plastics for rear carriers though - mine's metal - you've ncouraged me to try plastic next time. Excuse my UK spellings ! Well done with your design and thanks ! Phil

[bonedoggie]

Thank you for the comments all. I considered the triangle, but was limited by the PVC available. Also, I don't plan on very heavy items at all. Having live in London a while, I didn't think twice about the spelling. Cheers!

[SinAmos]

Simple and effective. Good work. Where does one find a bicycle?;)

[Yerboogieman]

Dumpster, party, behind dumpster, outside safeway (don't steal, ask and push down, well, maybe not that) ditches, behind big stores, that's where i found my red bike.

[stephenniall]

WOOOOWW Thats a great idea and will work Great But im more intrested in your bike lol Its really nice It looks great (ur bike and ur cycle Rack)