Ural Rack Problem

I was motoring through Michigan on I 94 after dropping my grandson off coming back from the BMW Rally in Michigan. I had two of the Helen Two Wheel large sacks attached to my trunk rack. The contents were 2 Kermit chairs, a very small lightweight tent, 2 sleeping bags, and on inflatable air mattress. Being a two-lane road heavily frequented by both trucks and motorist traveling at disparate speeds, and numerous construction zones, my ride required frequent passing. That siad it was a decent ride considering the 100 degree temps, and I was making good time heading southwest about sixty miles north of Kalamazoo when at about 75-80 mph I felt my rear tire "slide" like I was on dirt or gravel. My first thought was I had lost the tire and was desperately trying to get on the small shoulder and decrease speed at the same time without breaking. As I looked into my right hand mirror I noticed my 2 bags were no longer on my rack and initially assumed they had come unattached. It was no small effort getting over on the shoulder and at this point I had an endless procession of truck whizzing by mere inches from me at 70 mph. Thankfully a large pickup pulled over with his flashers on simultaneously and covered my move as well as gave me some protection on the shoulder. The guy driving the truck turned out to be John Brown "The Mix - It Guy" from Kalamazoo, who himself was returning from the rally. Turns out he had a tranny problem and to leave his bike and take his truck (fortunately for me) Anyway when I was able to get off and examine the rig, my bags were in fact STILL ATTACHED to the shelf, which was being dragged behind the bike which explained the tire action. One of the hinges on the right side of the Ural trunk had popped out and the bags were being dragged at a 45-degree angle. Helen's stuff held firm. I surmised that the top portion of the rack locks down to a locking hub on the spare and that had failed causing the problem and near disaster. John was kind enough to take the spare tie, the shelf, and the extra helmet in his truck and I repacked the bags inside the empty car and was able to complete my trip with no other catastrophes other that the Chicago Skyway toll incident we have already beaten to death. Maybe that explains my foul mood and reaction when trying to use reason and logic on mindless goons? I suggest those of you who use the shelf on your Urals please make sure that the locking hub is tightened securely AND perhaps we should find out from Ural what load capacity that locking hub is rated up to?

That's my story and I am sticking to it. Thanks John Brown "The Mix - It Man".

Regards,
Dr. Raoul Duke