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.
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.