Storage options

[BeefySTi]

hey guys, I am looking for some options for storage on the good old 400. considering maybe doing a 2-day ride in the fall with a buddy that also has a 400ex and need a way to carry some amenities along the way... maybe a gallon of gas, some food, and water. some of it i can carry in a back pack. there is just no way i would be able to carry a whole lot. i do not think I will be camping or anything, but stay in a hotel where i am riding. But I would still probably be riding for 8-10 hours a day or so. just wondering if anyone knows of anything, like racks, tank bags, whatever. And, yes, i do realize i am on a sport quad and not a utility, haha. Thanks in advance.

[01boneless]

ron is the man to pm

[BeefySTi]

sweet thanks, man. is his screen name ron, or something else?

[CJM]

tri5ron. He has some racks on his 400ex that work great!

[BeefySTi]

awesome, thanks!

[dukedrummer89]

have him post on here so the rest of us can get some ideas

[tri5ron]

Hi Ryan,
Haha, ... Yeah, I'm one of the very few guys who actually uses my 400Ex as a true "Trail machine".
I have absolutely No Intrest in riding a MX track, clearing a double jump, beating up on a 450r, or any of that " I'm going racing, and wanna-be a pro rider someday" crap. LOL !
I'm a Open Desert / Mountain Trail rider all the way,... although it WOULD be kind of fun to do some Enduro / Cross Country type events.

I'm WAaaaaayy too old, and have Zero desire,... to be trying to keep up with the teenie boppers, or teenagers who ride "Balls to the Walls" for 20-30 minutes, then they are either spent, or hurt for the rest of the day. LMAO !

I'd much rather spend 4, or 8, or 12 hours out on the trail, pack a lunch, have some cold brews, bring a camera, bring a pistol, find a swimming hole, a mine shaft, a mountain cave, a old Desert rat's Shack, or a new area to explore, and make some great memories with my wife and kids, that they will cherish and remember for the rest of their lives.

I laugh at all the youngsters who talk smack, and think they are the hottest thing since sliced bread,...
yet I know damn good and well,
they would fall apart crying for their mommies, trying to keep up with me after 4-5 straight hours, of grueling conditions, and we're still 20-30 miles from camp, out in the middle of the desert, when the Rattlesnakes are coming out, or the Coyotes start tracking you at night.
That's where the GOOOOOOD STUFF and Great times are ! ! ! Yea buddy ! ! !

Hell, I've been riding the deserts for over 40 years, (probably before half of these kids dad's were even born !

I remember riding, when 3"-4" of suspension was normal,...
kidney belts were made of leather and worn so tight that that breathing was difficult,...
and bottoming out the suspension, just meant that you should be riding faster to skip across the tops of the whoops !

I was 11 years old when the ORIGINAL "On ANY SUNDAY" came out, (1971) and I remember standing in line at the movies on opening day !

This is not to say that I don't also enjoy, a top speed run through the whoops, blasting down a wash, climbing up a rock covered hill, or banging through the gears like a madman,... I DO !

But I also very much enjoy a long ride with my kids and wife and friends,
out where there are no other riders for miles and miles,...
or even do a overnight ride, and stay out in the middle of freakin' NOWHERE,...miles from the truck,....with "just what ya brought with ya", ... ;-)

I did A LOT of research when looking for Racks to fit my 400Ex, and my wifes 250EX.
There is not alot of them out there anymore, and a couple that are pure junk.
Stay away from the ones that are shaped like a big "V". they are not built very well, don't fit right, can't handle any weight while bouncing down a rough trail, and,.... besides all of THAT,.... they dont make a cargo bag that fits the damn things !

The LAST thing you want to have happen, is a bracket breaking on you when you are miles from camp, and you have some expensive gear with you. THAT would SUCK BIGTIME !

The racks that you can occaisionally find, are made by Quadboss, (now called QuadPro, or something like that), and / or a company called CMP (Cambridge Metal Products).
These are built well, are similar to the racks on Utility type ATV's.

They will fit all the full sized cargo bags, and have held up quite nicely for me.

btw- Cargo bags quality, is very important too, but I do know of a couple of offbrands that are very good, and about 1/3rd the price of the big OGIO's and TAMARACK's.
(actually even made by the SAME manufacturers of the big TAMARACK TITAN's,.... and exactally the same bag,... without the TAMARACK name silk screened on them).

Here's some old threads you might find interesting...
(yeah, I know a bunch of the same pics are posted in many of the threads), but there is some good info, and even a few good arguements,...
(As well as a few"Richard Craniums" too).
Enjoy

http://www.exriders.com/vbb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=416599&highlight=rack

http://www.exriders.com/vbb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=400851&highlight=rack

http://www.exriders.com/vbb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=375793&highlight=rack

http://www.exriders.com/vbb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=423460&highlight=rack

http://www.exriders.com/vbb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=423238

http://www.exriders.com/vbb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=434224&highlight=rack

http://www.exriders.com/vbb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=441439&highlight=rack

http://www.exriders.com/vbb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=441189&highlight=rack

http://www.exriders.com/vbb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=444353&highlight=rack

http://www.exriders.com/vbb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=388700&highlight=rack

[tri5ron]

These SUCK, and you can't find a bag ANYWHERE that will fit them.
(Go ahead,...... ask me how I know this ! ! !)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HONDA-TRX400EX-TRX-400EX-REAR-RACK-CARRIER-99-04-/130527616117?pt=Motors_ATV_Parts_Accessories&hash=item1e640d5c75


THESE are the kind you want.....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Honda-400EX-ATV-Rear-Sport-Rack-Kit-1999-2005-/330353036437?pt=Motors_ATV_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4cea934c95

and here are the bags of choice...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ATV-Quad-Cargo-Bag-Racks-Luggage-Rhino-Rincon-Polaris-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem25627b9710QQitemZ16056 6056720QQptZMotorsQ5fATVQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

and just for your entertainment,....
Compare that bag above ^^^ to this bag below VVV, (they are EXACTALLY the same bag, for just a TEENY difference in price LOL!)
but, without the TAMARACK name printed on them ! Check it out...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-TAMARACK-TITAN-SERIES-ATV-OFFROAD-CARGO-BAG-/200314351773?pt=Motors_ATV_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2ea3aa709d



here is the TAMARACK TITAN RIFLE BAG...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/TAMARACK-TITAN-SERIES-ATV-OFFROAD-RIFLE-BAG-/190230775410?pt=Motors_ATV_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2c4aa34672



(Same thing here, but called a wab-801)....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/New-ATV-UTV-Racks-Luggage-rear-Rifle-Bag-Rincon-Rhino-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem1c1a93d40eQQitemZ12070 4979982QQptZMotorsQ5fATVQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories


These OGIO's are certainly very nice,... but at $250 bucks ??? no thanks .....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ogio-Atv-Rear-Rack-Bag-Black-11-X33-5-X12-Blk-/220771979067?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3367090f3b


I also have 4 of these. (one on mine, and one on my wife and kids quads too)
They are the the BEST tank bags I have had....
not too big, not too small, don't get in the way, and stays mounted,... (even when the kids fill theirs up with "Treasure rocks"), they find along the trail, in the desert, and we ride whoops back to camp, LOL!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/QUADBOSS-TANK-BAG-MOSSY-OAK-CAMO-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem29febe5a00QQitemZ18036 7546880QQptZMotorsQ5fATVQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

[tri5ron]

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n148/tri5ron/03%20400ex/IMG_8191.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n148/tri5ron/03%20400ex/IMG_8203.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n148/tri5ron/03%20400ex/IMG_8260.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n148/tri5ron/03%20400ex/IMG_8261.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n148/tri5ron/03%20400ex/IMG_8420.jpg


I also have this one. Similar to the black one, SLIGHTLY a bit smaller,... but I liked the tan color,... (and besides,... I Sniped / Snaked / SNATCHED it off of ebay, for $18 bucks SHIPPED,... when the seller mistakenly listed it wrong, and I just happend to see it 2 minutes before the auction ended, with 0 bids on it ) SCORED !
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n148/tri5ron/03%20400ex/IMG_1909.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n148/tri5ron/03%20400ex/IMG_1911.jpg


Hope some of this helps, and have a safe and great upcoming 4th of july to all....
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n148/tri5ron/memorial%20weekend%20camp%20trip%202010/IMG_1117.jpg

Ride Hard,....
Ride Safe,....
And keep the Rubber Side DOWN !

Ron