Rotopax on AltRider rack

[anotherbiker]

I know there are a few threads on Rotopax already, but I can't see the answer to my question in any of them (apologies if I've just missed it).

Does anyone know whether, with the AltRider pillion rack and rear rack combination (with the rear rack in the low position to create a flat surface), if there's enough room to mount a 2 gallon Rotopax on the pillion rack, plus a 1 gallon Rotopax on the rear rack at the same time?

Thanks for your help!

 

[tomatocity]

Both of the 1 Gallon and 2 Gallon Rotopax containers are 3" High.

With that said may I ask where are you riding that there is not gasoline in 250 miles? TAT, Continental Divide Trail, Backcountry Discovery Route(s), Alaska and/or Canada Wilderness, ???

Couple of years ago we took a trip... CA, NV, AZ, CO, UT, WY, MT and return. I carried a 1.5 gal Rotopax container and never needed it... though it was a good feeling to have it.

 

[anotherbiker]

Thanks Tim! I was wondering more about width/length though... whether with the 2 gallon on the pillion rack, there would be enough room for the 1 gallon on the rear rack?

Reason for the need to carry so much is because I'm planning trips to Baja and Canada/Alaska with my girlfriend, and her bike has a tiny tank range. 150 miles until it runs dry. I hear there's a 220 mile stretch with no fuel in Baja. I thought I could mount the 2 gallon Rotopax as fuel reserve for both of us, then the 1 gallon with water for camping. If I mounted them beside each other, I could strap a duffle on top of them without it being too tall.

 

[limey]

I have a one gallon on my Altrider rack that is in the lower position and with the Rotopax mounted it's level with the seat.

 

[tomatocity]

Thanks Tim! I was wondering more about width/length though... whether with the 2 gallon on the pillion rack, there would be enough room for the 1 gallon on the rear rack?

Reason for the need to carry so much is because I'm planning trips to Baja and Canada/Alaska with my girlfriend, and her bike has a tiny tank range. 150 miles until it runs dry. I hear there's a 220 mile stretch with no fuel in Baja. I thought I could mount the 2 gallon Rotopax as fuel reserve for both of us, then the 1 gallon with water for camping. If I mounted them beside each other, I could strap a duffle on top of them without it being too tall.

https://rotopax.com/rotopax

Fuel 2 Gallon
Dimensions
9 1/2 L x 13 1/4 W x 3 H

Water 1 Gallon
Dimensions
9 1/2 L x 13 1/4 W x 3 H

If you used both Altrider plates and the Rotopax 3" containers you could mount what you want on them. Good setup.

 

[Checkswrecks]

With anything else on the rear rack that will be a lot of weight mounted high up.
Do-able but you may want to keep them empty as much as possible.

 

[Spider]

Anotherbiker, if your question is "can the two fit side by side on the AltRider luggage rack system," it would probably work (see my reasoning below). And there is a nearly-as-good alternative.

I looked at the photos of a 1 gallon RotoPax on the altrider system (front and rear in different shots): http://www.altrider.com/index.php/product/detail/pid/1417/cid/14. When mounted on the rear section, there looks to be less than an inch of space between the Rotopax and the space between the two racks (the second picture). When mounted on the front rack, it looks like less than two inches of space (the 14th picture). The 1 gallon Rotopax is 9-1/2" wide. The 2 gallon is 13-1/4" wide. So taking 13-1/4 minus 9-1/2 gives us 3-3/4, divided by two gives us 1-7/8 inches. Which means you might just be in business.

Of course, you can also stack Rotopaxes (you just need one or more of these: https://rotopax.com/1-2-4-gallon-extension.html?category_id=7). On long trips, I've stacked three one gallon Rotopaxes on my AltRider rack (I just have the rear rack), two gas and one water. Works great, the mounting system is rock solid, no issues whether on or off road for me. A one gallon will stack just fine on top of a two gallon.

As far as any "top heavy" concern, we're talking about less than 25 pounds to carry two gallons of gas (12 lbs) and a gallon of water (8 lbs). I haven't had a pillion rider yet that weighed less than that. In fact, after Thanksgiving dinner...then again, never mind.

Good luck!

G

 

[anotherbiker]

Thanks! That's exactly what I meant, side by side. Sounds like it'll work then. Interesting to hear that you've been stacking 3 of them... my only worry about stacking 2 is that it might be a bit high to then strap a waterproof duffel bag on top, which is what I intend to do. Then again, I do like the look of the 2 gallon storage pack for tools etc. I know it's not waterproof, but I could put my tool roll in a ziplock, so I'm not too worried about that. Then I could stack the 2 gallon fuel and the 2 gallon storage together, and stack a 1 gallon water and 1 gallon fuel next to it.

Food for thought!

 

[Velvet]

If you do any stacking of Rotopax and you intend on doing any riding on really bumpy dirt roads I highly recommend sinching the packs down with a Rox Strap or bungee for added stability. I had two stacked Rotos on the back of my bike and the threaded portion of the extension sheared off and the top Roto went bouncing on the road. Luckly I saw it in my mirror and I didn't lose it. I can definitely attest to the toughness of Rotos. Even though the road was very rocky, there were no punctures and not a drop of fuel lost.

 

[Cycledude]

Anyone know what just the pillion rack would cost ?

 

[Cycledude]

Anyone know what just the pillion rack would cost ?

Here it is just the pillion rack $167.00, seems very expensive but I might buy one to carry extra gas for our Inuvik trip in 2018
http://www.advdesigns.com/alpilurafory.html

 

[bob dirt]

FWW...This is what I did on my 2012 when I went to Deadhorse. I used (2) 1.5 gallon Kolpin. The left side was about 1" wider than the Jesse. My exhaust burned a hole on the way home second to last day in Kanab Utah. It was hot in the end of June.
Same Jesse luggage on my 2016, But now I installed 1 gallon Rotopax on each side. They are a lot skinnier. I like them low so the COG is lower. They can be stacked with special hardware so I can have 4 gallons. I don't think I would ever need that much though. I run (2) 2 gallon Rotopax stacked on a rack I welded on my RZR roll cage. I ride the crap out of it and no problemo.

 

[Cycledude]

Wow that looks scarry , good thing a fire never started !!! thanks for the pictures, not sure yet what I'm going to do but a extra gallon or two attached to saddlebag seems like a possibility.

We did Deadhorse this year, my low fuel light started flashing only a few miles before we got there so I had plenty of fuel. So far I know next to nothing about gas issues on the way to Inuvik .

 

[bob dirt]

It looks worse than what it was. Just a very small pin hole. My buddy and I pulled over in Kanab to discuss how far we wanted to go that night and I smelled gas. I thought that I smelled it a little before we stopped. I poured it in as soon as I knew what it was.
BTW, I bought "seconds" from Rotopax for a lot less money and the only problem was a blemish on the finish on a corner. I would do it again.