Tool Tube and mounting

[MileHighTenere]

Hi chaps, anyone have any good ideas on mounting locations for a tool tube? I’m pretty torn on where to mount my tube. 

[bth2]

i have mounted two on the inside of my outback mototech pannier racks.

[Louis]

I did this on adventure spec rack

[Louis]

Back view

[MileHighTenere]

7 hours ago, Louis said:

Back view

Thanks chap! That’s the ticket right there! 
 

not sure why my search didn’t bring this one up. I appreciate the help! 

[Liquidape]

On 10/7/2020 at 11:11 PM, MileHighTenere said:

Hi chaps, anyone have any good ideas on mounting locations for a tool tube? I’m pretty torn on where to mount my tube. 

I’ve been eyeing the charcoal vapor canister nestled above the transmission. If one was to remove the canister you could fit a nice tool tube in that location. Nicely centralized mass. Mostly protected from the elements as well. 

[wilky11111]

That's where mine is mounted.  There has been for no issues for me with its placement.

Edited October 26, 2020 by wilky11111

[Liquidape]

On 10/24/2020 at 12:39 AM, wilky11111 said:

That's where mine is mounted.  There has been for issues for me with its placement.

You replaced the charcoal canister with a tool tube?  Do tell. What issues?  
I would love to see some photos of how you did it. 

[wilky11111]

2 hours ago, Liquidape said:

You replaced the charcoal canister with a tool tube?  Do tell. What issues?  
I would love to see some photos of how you did it. 

No. I've used the same position as your photo.  I've found no issues with it in that position.  I used electrical cable ties for attachment, and have so over many years with the previous bike.  Never had an issue, and have travelled throughout outback Australia.

Reasons being.

1. I only use this tool tube for my isolate trips as I need to take extra tools.

2. If I go "bum-up" and the tool tube breaks off, I figure its easier to re-attach with more cable ties than having the tool tube rendered useless with broken brackets.

 

[DazR]

On 10/8/2020 at 5:40 PM, Louis said:

I did this on adventure spec rack

That is perfect!!...and you have confirmed the same idea I had, that is when and if my side racks finally make it to me after being ordered several weeks ago.  

[SociallyStunted]

This is a $10 welding rod storage tube from Amazon on Rally Raid soft luggage racks.  The band clamp mount is Moroso #63401.  I welded an M6 nut to the smaller zip tie cable mount.  I'm not a fan of how few threads there are on the tube cap.  But seems like I can tighten it enough so it doesn't vibrate off.  It has a good rubber seal to hold it too.  I'd like to find a better option for the lower mount.  The Moroso mount works perfect and seems like it'll hold up.  I just had to weld a nut to the top hole as it's inaccessible once mounted.  I only had to drill one hole in the rack.  I'll have the same mounted on the right side once I get better bolts. There's just enough clearance to get the cap off and access tire spoons, wrench, tire mat, etc.  I'll be trying the other style tube, pictured above, when it gets here.  I have a similar one on my DR650 and like how it's cap feels a little more solid.  The Moroso clamp holds up to 3 3/8" diameter and may work for that tube also.

[RACEBANNON]

HERE IS MY TOOL TUBE.  I USED SOME 3 INCH ABS FROM HOME DEPOT. GOT THE END PLUGS AT HOME DEPOT.

 

1) I GOT THE Superfix Cushioned Pipe Clamp, Size 3 AT GRAINGER SUPPLY

2) 3/8 TO 1/4 SCREW ADAPTER FROM AMAZON

3) 5/8 CLAMPS FROM AMAZON

4) USED 1/4-20 BOLTS TO ATTACH TOOL TUBE TO  TUSK PANNIER RACKS. I REMOVED THE RUBBER OFF THE CLAMP SO THE REMOVABLE PANNIER RACKS STILL WORK. 

5) I DIDNT ATTEMPT TO TRY. BUT A 4 INCH ABS PIPE MIGHT FIT. 

[AZJW]

Here's my take on a tool tube, mounted to Tusk Pannier Racks.  Many good ideas above and mine incorporates many of those, but I went heavy duty on my straps and mounts this time around.  In the past I'd used the Tractor Document Holder that many have used, but found that either I had too much weight in it or am too abusive a rider, as the plastic mounting tabs broke on mine, plus the cushioned loop Adel clamps failed after multiple rides in the desert. 

 

This time around I went with a 4' ABS tube to carry my Dirt Napper bike lift. https://www.keithproducts.us/product/dirt-napper-adventure-bike-spill-recovery-jack  I ride solo a lot and don't want to get caught out without that lift in the remote areas that I ride and didn't like strapping it to the rear rack.

 

Although it's only 4 lbs, that weight banging around concerned me with the previous mounting methods I'd used, so I went with 1/8" x 3/4" aluminum strap and 6mm bolts.  The straps were bent around the tube and secured to the Tusk rack, requiring drilling two holes for a secure mount.  I glued in the internal end cap, but also used 10/24 x 1/2" set screws to help the glue joint hold up to the 4 lbs of weight banging against it when off-road. I put a 1 1/2" piece of foam in each end to compress the load and keep it stationary and the pressure cap keeps it all tight. The clearance for the 4" diameter pipe required to fit the Dirt Napper is a tight fit near the chain guard, but field testing will determine if my eyeball assessment was correct! Street riding was fine, but I need to take this setup off road to give it the litmus test.  Future plans are to get a helmet lock and fashion a cable lanyard to the cap wingnut to help keep the honest ones out of my stuff.

 

Parts list:

19" piece of 4" ABS Pipe

48" piece of 1/8" x 3/4" aluminum strap

ABS Clean out Plug (red end cap)

#10/24 x 1/2" set screws

6mm x 20 mm Flange bolts

 

 

 

[AZJW]

Up date to the tool tube I built.  I fashioned a 1/16" stainless cable lanyard fastened to the cap wingnut and secured to a combination helmet lock. As noted above, this is just to keep the honest people honest as anyone with a couple of 10mm wrenches could undo the whole setup.  

 

[ADVUSA]

2 minutes ago, AZJW said:

Up date to the tool tube I built.  I fashioned a 1/16" stainless cable lanyard fastened to the cap wingnut and secured to a combination helmet lock. As noted above, this is just to keep the honest people honest as anyone with a couple of 10mm wrenches could undo the whole setup.  

Brilliant!  I just completed that mod, yours looks cleaner and easier!  I used 1/2" X 1/8" steel bent by hand using mega vice grips to wrap around rubber cushions on my Givi panniers!  Oh man, what a job but it works and looks ok! Nice to have a spare tube in there (vacume packed with powder) and a huge tire iron.

[AZJW]

@ADVUSAMine might look better, but guessing yours will last longer. I'm keeping an eye on my mounts for possible vibration fatigue and might eventually change over to steel straps like yours when I can get access to the right tools.  Agreed, the extra tool storage room is great without taking away from the limited cargo storage we have on these bikes.

Updated 6/17/23.

The aluminum strap is holding fine after 11,000 miles and 2 years of AZ backroads and pavement.   No signs of fatigue or stress cracks so 1/8" strap works for the 6 lb load I've carried for the entire time. 

[T7ADV]

Thanks everyone.  I was looking for a place to mount my tool tube and found this thread. I have it zip tied for now.  I wanted a place to store tire irons and a usb compressor.  Works just great.  I don’t know where the tool tube is from. A friend gave it to my years ago.  It’s totally out of my way.  Love the mounting position.   I may make some more permanent mounts for it later. 

 

Edited June 18, 2023 by T7ADV