Will a WMIK Rear Pannier work on a Lightweight?

[telwyn]

I have a chance to buy a WMIK Rear Pannier as used on military rovers in Iraq and Afghanistan. Here's a few pictures of one. I think this would be great to add additional storage to the Rover although I know it's heavy and will be heavier still once you put anything in the basket.

This goes on a D90 or 110 in place of the rear tailgate and apparently uses the jacking points as I'm told on the rear of the Rover.

Wondering aloud if I could install this on my Lightweight. The Lightweight uses the same tailgate (drop down) as does a Series III or D90. I also have a full size rear door that works on hinges that I've used on the rare times I've had the hardtop on.

Anyone have any idea if this rear pannier would fit on my Lightweight before I buy this thing and have it expensively shipped from the UK?

Thanks!

 

[diesel_jim]

In theory, yes it would, as the lightweight uses the same width tailgate as 90/110's, and as the WMIK pannier fits into the edges of it, then all well & good.

I think they do have a bar (just visible on your second picture) that goes down to the jacking point (i've got some other close ups somewhere, will have to dig them out), however.....


These bars transfer the weight down to the chassis, they don't help the "pulling" effect, say from the top of the pannier back down at an angle... i've seen a few WMIK's where the bodywork is cracked and broken (especially if the driver has reversed into something and cracked/weakened the bodywork) so some internal beefuing up might be called for... especially a lightweight body, which isn't the strongest of things in the first place.

 

[d110pickup]

Tel,
There's absolutely, positively no way that pannier will fit on a LW. . . . . .
But I just happen to have an ex-MOD 110 that it would be a perfect fit on :sombrero:

Good Luck
Mike

 

[telwyn]

Thanks for the feedback.

Looks like I may be out of luck as the seller has decided he'll no longer pack and ship it. So I'll have to figure out how to get it picked up from him in the UK, boxed up and sent.

Anyone on ExPo in the UK with a hankering to ship a heavy box to FL?

 

[telwyn]

Found a different seller on Ebay and won the bidding last week, so the heavy sucker is on it's way across the Atlantic. Can't wait to figure out how to fit it to the Lightweight!

 

[telwyn]

The WMIK rear pannier arrived tonight from the Ebay seller in the UK. This is one heavy sucker. UPS guy earned his keep on this one.

Definitely over engineered and rock solid. :victory:

Took a quick measurement tonight and looks like it will fit the Lightweight (phew!). Will add good storage capacity to the rear of the Rover.

Can't wait to get it installed.

Here's a quick pick I snapped when I got home tonight.

 

[tacomadave]

Looks great, make sure to get some pics once installed!

 

[telwyn]

Well, good news and the challenge.

Good news is the pannier fits! :wings:

Bad news is it's going to require some serious modifications to get the hinges, etc bolted on properly to allow it to be permanently mounted. Somehow I'm not sure the bungee cords on there now are road worthy.

So here's some teaser pics of it on there, but more work is obviously needed.

 

[d110pickup]

Telwyn,
If you need them I've got some photos showing the mounting & latching in some detail.
Mike

 

[telwyn]

Thanks - I'd love to see photos of the attachment points. Please feel free to reply and post here or email to telwyn at tampabay.rr.com

 

[d110pickup]

Telwyn,
I hope you can still use these photos. I never saw your answer to my offer.
Did you get the vertical tubes that bolt to the tub and rear crossmember? I didn't see them in your photos.
Mike

 

[telwyn]

Thanks! Those photos help quite a bit. I did get the mounting hardware pictured - so now it's just a matter of getting it done.

Thanks again!

 

[JSQ]

I'm very curious about those vertical components from the crossmember to the tub.
I've been planning to adapt a NAS swing-away carrier, but keep the drop down tailgate. However, Mike Smith has told me that the tub is too flexy for the load. I'm planning to have the carrier lock into the tailgate key posts like the Scorpion Racing carrier. Now I'm thinking the addition of those uprights pictured above could help stiffen the tub as well.