Just installed a hitchdoc, a cpl issues

[Romeo]

I just installed a hitchdoc hitch on my '99 Tourer. My problem is the rear crossmember of my bag rails don't reach the rails any longer. It's obvious why, but I was wondering if anyone has a remedy. It is basically 3/4 " short on each side across the back, also the ends of that same piece that run forward and attach to the bracket that comes from beneath the bags is now inside of that bracket. I am sure some of you have run into the same thing. Just wondering what ya did. Any suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks

[BF]

Yes, I have a cure.....you have to make a set of spacers.  I'll post back in a little bit with pics and such (have to get to another computer). 

[BF]

You can spread your bag rails out some at the rear where you need it.  I made a set to accomodate my Mustang saddlebags I put on.  With the mounts I modified for the bags, it made the bags stick out just a little bit more than the regular OEM saddlebags do......so I made the spacers.  They're 1 1/4".

Here's a couple pics to show you the finished product......











I made and cut the spacers out of a 3 foot piece of 5/8" round bar (I got the round bar at either Home Depot or Lowe's.....don't remember which, but it was definitely one of those two places) and some stainless tubing I found on ebay.  

You might could find some (either the round bar or the stainless tubing) at McMaster Carr or Grainger, but about the easiest source I found for the stainless tubing was on ebay.  The stainless from the guy on ebay comes in 1 foot sections.  I just ordered two pieces to play with from him.  This is exactly what I bought (Stainless Steel 316L Round Tubing, 3/4" OD, 0.065" Wall, 12" Length) and from the guy I got it from.......

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Stainless-Steel-316L-Round-Tubing-3-4-OD-0-065-Wall-12-Length-/110775382445?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19caba31ad

The stainless matches up with the chrome rails pretty good.  I originally thought about and had planned to polish the stainless to better match 'em up to the chrome, but after I mounted everything together, they looked pretty good as they were and I decided not to polish the stainless after all.  Nobody has ever noticed until I point out the spacers to them.



I don't have any pics of the finished spacers before I installed them, but to give you an idea, here's a pic of the first set I made (these were too long and I had to cut more round bar to drill the holes at different spacing).....

[BF]

btw........Whenever you get it all done with your Hitch Doc installed with your bag rails, I'd love to see some pics of the rear of your bike when it's all done.   

[Oklahoma_Valk]

I did this same project about a month ago. Hitch doc, Tourer bags, and Hondaline Bag Rails. That sure is a lot of crap (oops meant to say chrome) to try and finagle on to the back of a valk. But it can be done!!

I was able to do the entire project without cutting or using spacers. The bags sit a little farther apart, and are slightly closer to the Hondaline rails  than they were before. getting the bags down into the rails is a chore due to the reflectors on the OEM valk hard bags. I will try to come up with some photos as well. Ill post them here in a bit.

okie

[Oklahoma_Valk]

I made my own spacers with old nuts. Also did the carriage bolt/nut cage mod on the rear fender bolts.

[Romeo]

Not completely finished yet but it looks like I will be closer to BF's application. 3/8 spacer between fender rail and hitch. 1/4 between hitch and bag hanger. Originally the bike had 1/2 spacers between the fender rails and the bag hangers. Once I got the hitch on, I needed to cut spacers for the center rail across the back. 1" on each side. Found aluminum tubing exactly the same diameter. Polished it up, looks just like chrome. Need to get some bar stock to insert in the ends of the center rail, going to figure a way to permanently connect them, effectively adding an inch of length on each end. Bags slide in and out perfectly. I'll post pics when I get it together. One difference, my hitch doesn't have the hidden receiver, it has the horizontal plate with the hole for the trailer ball, so the center rail rests across it.