Jerrycan Rack on a XT600Z - whats the best solution?
 

Hi There - Your opignion please....

I own a XT 600Z 3AJ.
I want to keep the original 23 liter tank but add on two 20 liter jerrycans.
What is the best place to put them?

On the bike there is a BerndTesch like rack and his ttt3 cases.

I can put the cans in front of the cases, but then they stick out.
A picture of that methode is in the book of Helge Peterson - ten years on two wheels.
When the cans are emty you turn around your cases and the cans are now behind the back wheel. Which gives you more room to sit.

OR I can make a frame like in the picture from the last HU - newsletter
Where you place the cans next to the tank as low as possible and just above your feet.
The picture of that you can find below.

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/new...MarkTenere.jpg

If you think that is the best solution, could you please tell me where to attach the frame to my bike!!!

Thanks for the loads of replies!!!!!!!!!!!!!


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CU under the Cu

Frank
http://www.crossing-africa.com .:. The Ultimate Travel on a Yamaha XT600Z

[This message has been edited by Fuchur (edited 11 July 2002).]

[This message has been edited by Fuchur (edited 11 July 2002).]

Hi Fucher,

Just curious: where are you planning to go with 63 liters op petrol?
On my XT500 and XT600 in Africa I never took more then 40 liter (usually only 25) and it got me everywhere I wanted...
If you seriously want to use the range of 63 liters you will probably have to take lots water and food too. This may leave you with a very heavy overloaded bike thats no fun to ride.

Peter

Hi,

Well, I guess you know best why you want to take so much fuel...
I would go for the front-side mounting if I were you.
Placing them in front of behind the case's (and let them stick out) make's you burn much more fuel.... and then you need to bring even more http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/wink.gif

If you have crash-bar's, you could attach them there. You only need to weld on a (kind of) footrest where it sit's on and attach the rest with tension-fastners (the strong kind).

Hope this helps

Maarten

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- www.maartensworld.tmfweb.nl -

Hi,

I´m also in the game for fitting two jerrycans on a 1VJ (one for water and one for gas).

Does anyone have a schematic of a good setup?

Regards...

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Rikard the Swede

This topic has occupied most of my spare brain-time for the past few months:
- what size/type jerrycans?
- where to mount them?

Fuchur, IMHO the problem with set-up in the photo you posted is that when (!) the bike falls over, the cans will ram into the tank or engine. Also, I am reliably informaed that you need a light front for sand and mud - this set-up looks like it doesn't offer the flexibility to move the jerrys to the rear of the bike.

I am just about to start welding up engine guards and a tank guard for my 3AJ. I will use these to mount a 10lt jerry on each side (or perhaps 3 x 5lt on each side - undecided as yet).

Engine guards:

I think these are a good idea regardless of whether or not you plan to mount anything to them. They can save your engine casings from sharp rocks, and your legs from nasty burns (I had an impression of three studs and a mirror-image of the words 'oil filter' burnt on my right leg after a low-speed fall in deep sand on my XT250).

I will post a drawing, however the general idea is to cut out a piece of plate steel to the shape of the flat sides of the lower engine bracket (the thing at the end of the frame down-tube that has two bolts attaching to the frame, and another two to the engine). This plate is bolted on using slightly longer versions of the existing four bolts. Using 20mm round section tubing, I'm going to weld a sideways 'U' onto the plate, with the top spar in between the top two bolts, and the bottom spar about an inch or so below the existing level of the engine bracket. This structure will be braced with a diagonal spar. The rounded end of the sideways 'U' will be approx 3 inches wider than the tank.

IMHO the problem with many of the engine guards I have seen is that they have no structural support to prevent them being flattened against the engine or pushed backwards. Imagine falling at running pace - most engine guards I have seen look like they would simply bend toward the back of the bike or against the engine. Therefore, the sideways 'U' will include a further piece of tubing running from the rounded edge of the 'U' to the top of the existing gussetting on the frame behind the rider footpegs. I will strengthen the whole structure with gussetting where necessary.

Tank guard:

I really need pics to explain this, but in essence it is a rail running around the outside edge of the tank, with a vertical support running diagonally from the rail to the front engine mounting bracket.

My jerrycans will be mounted in a 'roll cage', which in turn will be bolted to the tank guard and engine guard in a similar position as the cans in the picture above. When I need a light front the 'roll cages' can be bolted to the rear pannier racks, with the weight resting on the passenger footpegs.

I'm hoping the above set-up will weigh less than 7 kg and be able to carry 20kg per side. The engine guards will also mount two small boxes in front of the engine, and a 5lt round plastic water tank or tool box. The boxes/tank will be protected by a bashplate.

I'm making a mock-up this week, will take pics and post them here for discussion. Will also bring pics (and perhaps the mock-up) to the HU UK meet later this month.

What do you think of this?

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Barry
3AJ Tenere

Hi Barry,

I bought a five star engine crash bar.
This one protects te tank and the engine.
And has proven perfect for the job!

I screwed a light frame against that one to attach the jerrycans to the frame on both sides. The jerry can would sit in that and be hold into place by two straps.

I wish I could take pics right now but will have to do that later as I dont have a digicam.

I drove through some deep deep sand in Sudan with the jerrycans full so 25kg in the front and that was actually perfect! You want soem pressure on your front wheel other wise it will climb out of the tracks all the time.
I dont know about mud though never done that ;-)
About falling, I did that a lot but no problems with my tank getting dents or the cans getting into the engine. AND on big bonus if you are traveling alone. It will be a nice space for your legs when they are underneath there. The bike will drop on the tank and your luggage system in the back ;-)

I will be back in Europe soon so if you want to take over the frame I made??? Drop me a line. I dont need it anymore.

Thats all I an say for now hope it helps a little.

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CU under the Cu

Frank
http://www.crossing-africa.com .:. The Ultimate Travel on a Yamaha XT600Z

The racks mentioned can be bought from www.kimpex.com and www.motovan.com You can even get exandable ones that will fit food coolers. Check the ATV section of the catalogs.

Steve

Hmm..what about strapping the Jerry`s flat undre the case?? I does that under my Zega, but that only 10L jerry`s..

Hello. I was just wondering, don't you guy's feel nervous being surrounded by 10 gallons of gas, next to a hot exhaust pipe, just waiting to get clipped by that sharp rock, resulting in devastating consequences (shudder...)

Mr Ron: The first tope I hit in Mexico caused 3 twenty-five litre jerry cans, a gallon of antifreeze and two gallons of washer fluid to flip off of the back of my van and drag down the road for two blocks. :) I told my brother not to get those stupid Wedco pyramid style gas cans but he did it anyway and there's no way to bind them down properly since they aren't rectangular.

He learned his lesson that night after he got drenched in gasoline while trying to pour the ripped open jerry cans into the gas tank. hahahaha He was scared to death and I was happy to see him learn what happens when you don't follow instructions. >:) Ah well, there's no real point to this story so I'll stop now. :o) The previous post just brought back memories.

Steve

hi guys i have had some brilliant crash bars/jerry can racks made for my xtz660.
one for water(next to the exhaust) and one for petrol. the trick is to use the long thin 10 litre jerry cans...
my bike is heavily loaded toward the rear, alu panniers 44 litres and my girlfriend...(not that heavy)....
it has balanced out the bike nicely, and provided a perfect shroud for the radiator.
once i work out how to post a photo i will show you my modified machine.
oh by the way... plastic jerry can for water
the steal rusts out...

[This message has been edited by futronix (edited 23 March 2004).]