DeWalt "Tough Case" on Honda OEM Rear Rack

[Retsel_imp]

Thought I'd let anyone that is interested know how I mounted the DeWalt "Tough Case" as a snap-on to the Honda OEM rack on my 2014 STD.

I wanted to use my bike for work as I need all the excuses I can come up with to jump on her. To do this I knew I would require a fairly large case. The other thought was that I did not want to be limited to a big case for running errands around town. When I saw the "Tough Case" I saw a solution.

As these cases are made to stack and latch together they have a common base configuration for all sizes. So, it was just a matter of fabricating a base mount configuration to suit the bottom of these cases. If it fits one it will fit all.

it also needs to be easily removable.

These photos are from the job I did today. As you can see I was able to easily carry everything I needed to do a little grout work on a family memorial vault.

[url=http://s1168.photobucket.com/user/lester9/media/2016-08-12%2011.57.42-1_zps5tj60wmk.jpg.html]
[url=http://s1168.photobucket.com/user/lester9/media/2016-08-12%2011.58.06_zpssiwphdbl.jpg.html]

I'll upload a couple more photos and explain what I did.
I made the base out of a piece of 1/4" acrylic I had laying around. I used one piece, 19 5/8" X 11", for the base and another, 6 5/8" x 19 5/8", to fit between the feet on the bottom of the case.

This is the two pieces mounted on the rack. I used 1/4" X 3/4" stainless counter sunk machine screws and 1/4" capture nuts in the holes provided in the rack.

[url=http://s1168.photobucket.com/user/lester9/media/2016-08-12%2014.14.09_zpsiqc7eimg.jpg.html]

Here are the feet on the bottom of the case. they are 1/4" tall so the 1/4" acrylic piece fit perfect.
[url=http://s1168.photobucket.com/user/lester9/media/2016-08-12%2014.15.20_zps1vi9lkmc.jpg.html]
I added the two pieces of foam strips you see at the top and bottom to snug things up and cut down on vibration.
I mounted stainless steel catch latches to each side of the case after reinforcing the sides with 1/4" acrylic. I used stainless 1/4" X 3/4" round head machine screws with stainless acorn nuts to mount the acrylic on the sides of the case.
[url=http://s1168.photobucket.com/user/lester9/media/2016-08-12%2014.13.37_zps4fh0zanb.jpg.html]
I used "L" brackets to mount the "catch" portion of the latches to the bottom of the mounting plate.
[url=http://s1168.photobucket.com/user/lester9/media/2016-08-12%2014.14.56_zpsonclpcmz.jpg.html]
I have matching key locks for both catch latches and the case top but, I rarely us them as I am normally within sight of my bike. So, I just use a budgie cord from each side, through the latch, to the opposite tabs on the bottom of rack.

[url=http://s1168.photobucket.com/user/lester9/media/2016-08-12%2014.17.35_zpsai3fhzui.jpg.html]
So now I have a choice of cases and I can swap them in less than a minute.
[url=http://s1168.photobucket.com/user/lester9/media/2016-08-06%2017.34.21_zpstjq0tsfr.jpg.html]

Additionally the mounting plate can be removed, in a couple of minutes, by pulling four screws!

[PowerDubs_imp]

Smart. I like it.

[Rolls_imp]

Darn creative vision and clever engineering!

[4 Paws_imp]

good job.

[Roadwarrior_imp]

Necessity is the mother of invention (or innovation in this case).

[Retsel_imp]

Thanks!

Sent from my XT1096 using Tapatalk

[Cormanus]