Older Trax Sidecase Review - Water Test

[Mellow]

First off, I need to state that Twisted Throttle DOES NOT STATE ANYWHERE THAT THESE CASES ARE WATERPROOF OR WATERTIGHT.

These cases have recently been updated so when I say 'older' it's not 4 year old luggage, it's new luggage but the last version, not the current version even though I received them recently on a new order so, if you order, you may get these or the newer ones.

So, this is not meant to trash the manufacturer or distributor or to in any way to say this product is a terrible one. I like the look, feel and construction of the cases but,
I was just a bit curious as to why dry bags are included in the purchase and I was planning on using the bags connection bags vs the dry bags, just easier to pack and
deal with.

This review is meant to just provide some clarification to others looking at hard case luggage and how they MIGHT perform in the real world - obviously, you won't be riding
your bike in a tub submersed in water however, I've ridden in a lot of rain so my curiosity got the better of me. What you do with this information and how you interpret the
test is up to you... it may or may not reflect real riding conditions so if you have suggestions for other testing, let me know. I will also be doing a similar test with the newer
updated Trax Top Box as a comparison.

So, the test begins, I decided to fill the tub.... and float the 37L box ...

Once the tub had enough water, I submersed the side case for about 3 seconds, then took it out of the tub and opened it up.

Okay... so where is it leaking? I had an idea... I dried the inside and got a 40lb weight to put inside which just kept it from floating and I watched.

The water is about 1/3 up the side of the case.

The weak points are the ones I expected (plastic corner/caps) but not bad.. After about 1 min... some weeping was coming in from 2 of the 4 corners.

So... where was all the water coming from? I previously put some clear RTV sealant on the lid corner/caps as they just 'looked' like a weak leaking point.

I tried just submersing the lid (open) and it was watertight with the added sealant and I plan on doing that to the lower box corner/caps as well.

Okay... so, the majority of the leaking must be coming from the seal area between the lid / box.

I dried the box again - inside and out - and closed/locked it then turned it upside down and submersed it for about 3-5 seconds.

When I opened it up... viola.. It 'looks' like it's coming from the corner but the box is tilted so all the water is just collecting there. So, it is leaking at the lid/box seal area.

I will now try the same type of test with the newer top box to see if there is a difference.

How do I know which case/top box I have? Well, I was notified they no longer have the older top boxes so you won't get one of those.

However, if you get side cases w/Trax logo on a metal plate that is glued to the side case, that is an older one. If the Trax logo is indented into the aluminum, that is a newer
version.

I posted my review of the Newer Trax Top Box here.

 

[fredz43]

Thanks for that, Joe. I know there had been a video on a much earlier version that had leak problems, but we were told that the production process was changed after that, which was said to correct those problems. Evidently that did not solve all of them. The upgrade I noticed at Indy was the 360 degree sealing gasket on the lid vs the four corner gaskets on your side bags. Evidently that solved the lid leaking problems, but there can still be slight leaking from seams.

 

[Mellow]

Yeah, hopefully that will help others here looking to get these... I do like the cases. I don't think I have much recourse as they were never advertised as water proof so I can't argue I didn't get what I ordered.

Maybe some sealant in the box / lid corner seams will help.

 

[ptfjjj]

Hmmmmmm, I would hope that your bags are never exposed to that kind of water pressure while riding. If so, we'll be hearing about how you submerged your bike while trying to cross a river or something.

 

[ptfjjj]

Even with my stock panniers on my concours while riding in heavy, heavy rain in Florida, nothing inside got wet, but I'm sure that they would leak if you weighed them down and submerged them. Unless you plan to go snorkeling with your S10, you should have nothing to worry about.

 

[twistedthrottle]

Hi Mellow.

I am saddened to see this and I will be passing your results along to SW-MOTECH (who makes the TraX line). I do have to agree with PTFJJJ though that you are adding pressure into the equation and this is not a normally occurring condition. At the same time I did tell you guys that SW-MOTECH does do a submersion test of each case.

I just wanted to respond right away to let you know I am looking into this. Mellow spoke with Dereck our head of Customer Service about this issue and he brought it up to me. I missed the thread or you would have heard from me sooner.

Kev

 

[Mellow]

Thanks Kev, as for the test, I felt it was a basic submersion test. The weight didn't really put any pressure on the box more so than just holding it under water. I just wanted to have my hands free to take pics.

I'm not sure what you can do for me as I just figured I had to live with it and went ahead and applied RTV sealant on every seam I could find. So, they are probably not returnable. Hopefully, this will help with the manufacturing process and others will benefit from it. I won't have a 'real' test until I get the bike and ride it in the rain, which seems to hit me on every trip lately. I'll just buy some smaller waterproof bags and if the leaks are bad I'll drill holes in the bottom to let water out. Again, in the 'real world' maybe this test is overkill and no amount of rain will equal the test.

Thanks again for the reply and would like to hear any comments from sw-motech.

 

[jajpko]

You sir are an easy going person!! I sometimes wish I could be like that.
I would think they would at least match the top box and side cases. If they have old stock, it should be noted and sold
as such. As for the leaks, for me that would be a deal breaker. When I have ridden in the rain all day, the last thing I need
Is wet gear. >

I hope this works out for you and you get to enjoy the cases.

 

[colorider]

Again, in the 'real world' maybe this test is overkill and no amount of rain will equal the test.

Not sure that is the case. We have all ridden in some REALLY hard/driving rain that can (and will) find it's way into the smallest of openings.

 

[Mellow]

You sir are an easy going person!! I sometimes wish I could be like that.
I would think they would at least match the top box and side cases. If they have old stock, it should be noted and sold
as such. As for the leaks, for me that would be a deal breaker. When I have ridden in the rain all day, the last thing I need
Is wet gear. >

I hope this works out for you and you get to enjoy the cases.

My favorite saying... "Don't sweat the small stuff.. And it's all small stuff"

 

[k woo]

Hi Mellow.

I am saddened to see this and I will be passing your results along to SW-MOTECH (who makes the TraX line). I do have to agree with PTFJJJ though that you are adding pressure into the equation and this is not a normally occurring condition. At the same time I did tell you guys that SW-MOTECH does do a submersion test of each case.

I just wanted to respond right away to let you know I am looking into this. Mellow spoke with Dereck our head of Customer Service about this issue and he brought it up to me. I missed the thread or you would have heard from me sooner.

Kev

When crossing streams as some of us are prone to do on adventure bikes I assure you the forward motion of the bike will cause significant pressure on the part of the case that is underwater. Adventure bike cases should be water PROOF, not water resistant.

 

[Venture]

My favorite saying... "Don't sweat the small stuff.. And it's all small stuff"

Ahhh, laid back. Downright mellow. 8)

 

[Epping]

I have these cases and the dry bags. My thought is the boxes are water proof for normal riding but at some pressure level can leak, hence the dry bags. This point may be when rubber side up in a creek with some unnatural pressure in the boxes. I'm happy with mine so far and use the top box daily in all weather. ::008::