I'm considering the Harley luggage rack for my TLE to get more carrying space on a long trip. My concern is that once the rack is mounted there are permenant holes in the car.
Any of you TLE owners use the rack or have an opinion on it's actual usefulness?
Hey Ralph,
I have one - had it put on when I first got the rig 8 years ago. Use the thing all the time - mostly to bungee down jackets, bags etc....pretty useful addition in my opinion - and it looks good too!
Happy Motorin
Dean
i use mine all the time - load it first before the one on the tour pak
but its true - once installed its permanent - no going back
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What is the recommended weight limitation? I have the Premium Rack on my Tour Pack, but realize that to load it makes Tour Pack access problematic.
Originally written by skaeser on 2/6/2008 2:47 PM
What is the recommended weight limitation? I have the Premium Rack on my Tour Pack, but realize that to load it makes Tour Pack access problematic.
The limitation is probably no more than 25 #. I have thought about installing one on my TLE but I shudder at the thought of drilling any holes in either the bike or the tub anywhere. Once it's drilled and installed, you are stuck with it. If you do go ahead and do so, make sure to get some large washers to help spread the load. I've seen several HD's and Goldwings with cracks around both the sidecar racks and the tour pack racks.
Usually, every time I think about drilling holes, I just have a beer and lie down until the feeling passes. Ha. LOL
I have one too. It is sitting on a shelve in my garage. Every time I get close to the car with drill in hand, I come up with excuses for "doing it later".
I moved the right front turn signal from the handle bar to the right side of the hack (where it belongs) and ended up mounting it using one of the windshield mount screws. I just could not bring myself to drilling a hole in the body.
Guess I'm a hole wus!
Originally written by Kirk on 2/6/2008 3:45 PM
I have one too. It is sitting on a shelve in my garage. Every time I get close to the car with drill in hand, I come up with excuses for "doing it later".
I moved the right front turn signal from the handle bar to the right side of the hack (where it belongs) and ended up mounting it using one of the windshield mount screws. I just could not bring myself to drilling a hole in the body.
Guess I'm a hole wus!
I agree with no drilling. Whenever I'm tempted to do so, I always come up with some sort of removeable bracket so as to sidestep the issue nicely. It's long been my practice to avoid drillng anything, at least if the change is somthing that shows.
the tour pak racks and the sidecar racks are permanent
but i dont think they lower the value since they are usually a dealer installed option [and in a few cases factory installed items - as in the se ultra's for instance]
if you dont like drilling its a good idea to have the dealer do it - then if they mess up they get to get a new body - not you
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Thanks for the feedback. I'm much like Kirk and gnm - I hate to drill holes in things.
If my Dakota trip comes off this spring/summer I'll probably bite the bullet and drill away (I suppose double sided tape won't work very well).
if im off doing something by my self [like at work] i can carry everything inside the sidecar
but a 3 day trip with swimbo requires that i get by with one saddlebag and the tourpak rack
she gets the other saddlebag, the tourpak, the sidecar trunk, and the sidecar rack
just the way it is -
every time she asks for a trailer for more stuff i change the subject
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Well I'm near the end of a 4,000 mile trip to the Dakotas (from Ocean City, NJ) and the luggage rack on the TLE was well worth the agony of drilling holes in the fiberglass. I used a Kuryakyn bag which was perfect - my wife loved it!
GOOD FOR YOU RALPH, OUR BIKES AND TUBS ARE TO BE USED AND NOT SAVED FOR RESALE, SO DRILL AWAY, THAT'S WHAT MAKES YOUR BIKE YOUR'S. AND BESIDES THE RACK LOOK'S GREAT. RIDE SAFE
