Singletrack/MTB
Gravel/All-road
Dirt-road Touring
Fat-bike
Mounting Mini Panniers and Cargo Cages on a Quick-Rack
Longing to bolt water bottles, cargo cages, or mini panniers to your rear rack? In this Gear Tip, Josh explains how to make the Ortlieb Quick-Rack and other racks even more bikepacking-friendly using nothing but included parts and a few extra bolts. Find a detailed walkthrough here…
My preferred setup for longer mixed-terrain tours is mini panniers and a dry bag lashed to a rear rack, and the versatile Ortlieb Quick-Rack ticks a lot of boxes in support of this approach. It’s relatively lightweight but sturdy, has a nifty quick-release system, clears tires up to 29 x 2.6”, and its generous top platform provides ample space for a medium-sized dry bag. If only I could bolt on mini panniers like I can with my beloved Tumbleweed T-Rack. Turns out, there’s a way, and it’s so clean that I’m not even sure it qualifies as a hack. What I do know is that it holds up fantastically to the rough and tumble realities of bikepacking.
How it works
The keys to this Quick-Rack hack are the included QL3.1 clamps intended to support compatible Ortlieb panniers. Designed to be secured with an M5 bolt that threads into a captive nut (also included), we can repurpose them for mounting virtually any type of cage, bracket, banana carrier, or whatever else you typically attach to your frame or fork. I’m using Ortlieb Fork-Packs merely to illustrate.
Obligatory warning: this usage is not (yet) officially supported by Ortlieb. Proceeding may or may not void your warranty. I’m not liable for your installation. Exercise your own judgment, and above all, make sure your cargo can’t turn into the spokes.
What else you’ll need
Besides the clever QL3.1 clamps, you’ll need M5 bolts with an appropriate head and length for your cargo. The Fork-Packs need countersunk bolts 35-40mm in length, while a typical water bottle cage wants 25-30mm bolts with a socket cap or button head. Additional washers or spacers may be needed to get a flush interface. I used three M5 washers per bolt to fill up the cavity on the back of the Ortlieb QLS mounting brackets.
How to install
In theory, there are an infinite number of possible locations, but ideally, you’ll want to position the QL3.1 clamps on two orthogonal struts to prevent any rotation. I would avoid placing both clamps on the same tube in the same orientation, as the assembly is more likely to rotate into the wheel with potentially catastrophic consequences. At least ensure the mounting holes extend to opposite sides of the tube.
I found two placements that worked well with Fork-Packs: a forward, vertical one and an aft, slanted configuration. Where you mount your cargo will depend on your setup and preference—heel clearance being the primary functional concern—but further forward, closer to the bike’s center of gravity, is generally preferred.
Make sure the tubes are clean and oil-free before installing. Once you’ve decided on the placement, simply bolt on your cargo by threading the bolts into the M5 nuts on the back of the QL3.1 clamp. Ensure the bolt threads all the way through the nut and the cage or bracket sits flush on the QL3.1 clamp. Tighten well, test vigorously before riding, and regularly inspect for signs of rotation.
While out Bikepacking
I ran two overloaded Ortlieb Fork-Packs attached to a Quick-Rack on my recent month-long all-terrain tour in Spain. The setup held fast with zero issues as I traversed all manner of rough roads and tracks, exhibiting minimal rotation and no detectable abrasion. This is not too surprising, as the QL3.1 clamps are designed by Ortlieb to hold full-sized panniers. I can wholeheartedly recommend this solution.
I initially had the Fork-Packs mounted in the aft position, but moving them forward seemed to reduce the longitudinal sway and looked better. My heel easily cleared, but your mileage may vary. Holding mini panniers on two out of three M5 bolts is no problem—you could hang a small car on one—and Ortlieb confirms this in the Fork-Pack instructions. With six clamps included in the box, you could mount up to three dual-bolt accessories if space allows.
Upgrading other racks
The QL3.1 clamps should work on any rack as long as the tubing is 10-11mm in diameter, which most are. They are a drop-in replacement for Logan’s old Tubus Vega hack, except no hacksaw needed. I successfully mounted a water bottle cage and Tailfin Mini Pannier on the Pelago Front Rack on my commuter and might just leave them on. You could mount four water bottles or more on certain racks. I’m curious to see the creative cargo configurations folks come up with.
Unfortunately, Ortlieb currently does not sell the QL3.1 clamps independently of the Quick-Rack, effectively restricting this mod to Quick-Rack owners and perhaps their lucky friends. As far as I can tell, there exists no commercially available alternative to the Ortlieb clamps, simple as they are. It’s a gap in the market, and I hope Ortlieb or someone else will soon capitalize so folks can dust off their trusty rear racks for bikepacking. Leave a comment in the conversation below to let Ortlieb know to get on this!
Wrap-Up
As mentioned, I’m a big proponent of lightweight rear racks for many flavors of bikepacking. They’re simple, versatile, and highly usable. But I don’t want bulky full-size panniers, so having the option of bolting on smaller mini-panniers or cages to the sides is key.
The versatile Tumbleweed racks are a mainstay in the bikepacking community for a good reason, and I’m pleased to find with this Quick-Rack hack a viable lower-cost alternative. With its full flexibility revealed, the Quick-Rack is an even better rear rack for bikepacking, and I hope owners of other racks can benefit from Ortlieb’s clever QL3.1 clamps in the future.
Further Reading
Make sure to dig into these related articles for more info...
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