Newer Trax Top Box Review - Water Test

[Mellow]

I did an unofficial water test of the older version of the Trax side cases here.

This is a continuation of that review as I was sent the newer version of the Top Case that Trax produces.

I placed a 40lb weight in the box and put it in a tub w/water. The water was about 1/3 of the way up the side of the box.

Immediately, the box started leaking at one of the seams but NOT at any of the corners as with the older version. The box construction itself is identical to that of the older
cases so this is just a slight manufacturing issue where more or less sealant was used when making them. This is easily fixed with some clear RTV sealant so not really
a deal breaker in my mind.

Okay, now the lid - well there is a big difference in how the lid is constructed - from the inside - between the older / newer versions. It appears there's an extra sheet of
aluminum covering up the weak exposed plastic corners - the lid feels heavier so that's how I came to that conclusion and it's just an assumption.

As you can see from the pic above, the lip/seal area in both the lid and box are now a one-piece section instead of 4 plastic corners as seen below in the older side case:

Okay... let's really test it....

I performed the same upside down test I did with the side cases that produced the most amount of leaking. Except I submerged the lid-area and about 2 inches further for
about 10 second.

BONE DRY!!!!

Conclusion:

If you order the side cases or the top box,
1) order all 3 at the same time as they don't have any of the older top cases and they will probably match all 3 w/newer versions
or
2) call and ask for the newer versions.

Now, to be perfectly fair - again - no where have I see anything stating these cases are water proof or water tight and they come with free dry bags so, leaking or not
they did deliver what they advertised. I do feel with some sealant you can make the newer versions very water tight but not so much with the older ones due to the
design.

I hope this review helps those out there looking at hard luggage.

 

[fredz43]

Mellow,

In reviewing the entire thread on aftermarket hard luggage, I found a couple of interesting comments concerning the water proofness of the Trax bags. Check out pages 12 and 14 of that thread. Here http://www.yamahasupertenere.com/index.php?topic=264.165 in post number 170 Steve from Twisted Throttle assures that every Trax box is submersion tested at the factory to assure that it is waterproof. On page 14 of that thread Twisted Throttle again assures us that

"SW-MOTECH started to do a leak test of every case at the time of assembly to insure that everything from the factory was water-proof."

It sounds to me that you do have grounds for complaint.

Kev, are you still on the forum? What can you tell us about this?

Thanks

 

[Mellow]

Mellow,

In reviewing the entire thread on aftermarket hard luggage, I found a couple of interesting comments concerning the water proofness of the Trax bags. Check out pages 12 and 14 of that thread. Here http://www.yamahasupertenere.com/index.php?topic=264.165 in post number 170 Steve from Twisted Throttle assures that every Trax box is submersion tested at the factory to assure that it is waterproof. On page 14 of that thread Twisted Throttle again assures us that

"SW-MOTECH started to do a leak test of every case at the time of assembly to insure that everything from the factory was water-proof."

It sounds to me that you do have grounds for complaint.

Kev, are you still on the forum? What can you tell us about this?

Thanks

Thanks Fred, I'll have to give them a call.

 

[twistedthrottle]

Kev, are you still on the forum? What can you tell us about this?

Thanks

Hi Fred.

As I mentioned on the other thread started by Mellow on this subject I am sending this information along to SW-MOTECH. At this point I do not have any real answers. Will pass along what I find out.

Kev

 

[martinh]

I just got my new Trax EVO cases and have to say quality looks great. They look sharp but the only problem I have is they are not water proof at all. Both cases leak badly. I got caught in the rain for about 1/2 hour and when I got home everything in them that was on the bottom got wet. It was not suppose to rain today so I did not take the water proof bags in the cases that Twisted throttle supplied. Now I see why they send them and I guess I will have to use them all the time. It is a shame they are not watertight for the price you pay for them. You would expect them to stay dry. I guess I will have to go to Home Depot now a buy silicon to seal all of the seams.

 

[jajpko]

Sorry to hear the boxes are leaking. You may want to try 3M 5200 as a sealer. It is easier to work with and you can clean up the excise. I used it on my boats and never had a problem.

 

[martinh]

I just found over on ADVforum about the submerge test and did that. No leaks when I submerged it half way down. then I ran the shower on it and seem like it is leaking from the top gasket. Gasket looks good case locks tight so I have no idea. Hopefully TT can shed some light on this. The new design looks great but seems like it still is not bulletproof or shall I say leak proof.

 

[fredz43]

I have been in touch with TT recently and they said that SW-Motech found a problem with viscosity of sealant used in the robotic machines to seal joints, as it was affected by ambient temperature during construction. Supposedly sealant has been changed and TT is doing a submersion test before sending them out now.

Interesting, as the new 360 degree gasket on top looks to be an improvement over earlier models and new sealant is supposed to have solved problems with seams, but it appears that yours leaked around the new top gasket, correct? Mellow's submersion test of the new gasket came out ok and my water hose test was ok, but yours was not.

Kev, please pass this on to your folks.

 

[martinh]

My boxes went back to TT. They took back the boxes, racks and locks. I am glad that TT stood behind the products they sell. ::012:: They felt bad they were leaking, SW-Motech site use to say they were water proof and now that has been taken off their site. TT told me they could not guarantee me that they will not leak. I plan on carrying a laptop in the cases and they told me they wouldn't do it. They tried to sell me other cases but did not want to go with what they had. Pelicans they told me would be the best for the laptop but they were not big enough to carry stuff for a trip. Then they also had Givi Trekkers where are nice and stay dry but stick out really too far for my liking. You need a wide load sticker for them.