"Gurrie" <
[email protected]> wrote in message news:<
[email protected]>...
> Anyone attempted to build such a thing?
>
> I am contemplating building one out oa aluminium. That will enable it to be stroing enough and
> light enough.
>
> Hard shell cases here in Australia are excessively expensive and the price of the aluminium is a
> lot cheaper.
>
> As anyone out there tried doing such a thing?
>
> What are the possible pitfalls?
>
> All advice appreciated.
Yes I did. To travel from Oman to NZ.
It was trashed!
It was Al angle (25mm) with 24G Al pop rivetted on to it. Top and and bottom were strengthened with
the same Al angle across lengthwise and 2 across sideways. Sides I strengthened with diagonal braces
(this was a mistake). The bike was laid on pieces of 50mm nice squishy foam and this saved it. The
box was was light, though! I'll take a photo and post it if you are interested.
The problems were:
- The sides got crushed as there was no substantial member going from top to bottom. Two of these
instead of the diagonal member would have been a lot better.
- I had some small wheels pop riveted directly to the bottom. These just got pushed straight back
into the box. The Al ripped.
If I were to do it again I think I would have somebody weld a frame for AL angle and attach the Al
sheet directly to that. It would make it much stronger.
I am sure that these baggage handlers see the fragile stickers and that acts as a red rag to a bull.
They love to see how far can throw, drop, or otherwise do whatever they can to damage it.
FWIW
Dave