Frequently Asked Questions
Fabrication
- What is it made out of?
- Donkey Boxx bicycle panniers are made out 3-ply, corrugated high-density polyethelene (HDPE), the same plastic used in milk jugs and other consumer plastics. We use over 80% post-consumer recycled HDPE in our boxxes. To retain shape and stiffness we also use a 13-gauge steel rod in the boxx opening.
- How is it held together?
- Each Donkey Boxx uses reinforced heat welds to keep its shape in addition to a stiff steel rod at the top of the boxx. We use over 35 heat welds for a durable and rigid final product.
- How much does one Boxx weigh?
- Each Boxx is a scant, yet super strong, 14oz with standard hardware!
- Do you have any other colors?
- Other colors will become available – please let us know what colors you would like and we'll work on it.
- Where are they made?
- Donkey Boxxes are designed in Berkeley, California and fabricated in St. Paul, Minnesota at Minnesota Diversified Industries. We know that costs might be slightly cheaper going to China or elsewhere, but we wanted to support businesses in the states and create jobs here, too.
- Do you have a fold down version?
- Donkey Boxx wanted to be the “hard case option” like the motorcycle cases used in the infamous Paris to Dakar rally across the African desert.
Compatibility
- Are Donkey Boxxes compatible with any bicycle rack?
- We designed our Donkey Boxxes to work with most any bike rack on the market, even the homemade ones. Our boxxes come pre-punched with 8 top mounting holes and 10 bottom mounting holes to accommodate the largest possible variety of bicycle racks.
- Do you have a list of known racks that are compatible?
- Yes we do, right here:
Front Racks
Axiom
- Journey DLX Lowrider
Bruce Gordon
- Chrome-Moly Front
- Chome-Moly Mountain Bike
Jandd
- Extreme
- Low
Minora
- King Carrier
Surly
- Surly Rack
Zefal
- Raider
Rear Racks
Axiom
- Journey
- Journey Adj.
- Odyssee
- Odyssey
- Phoenix
- Streamliner
- Transit
Bruce Gordon
- Chrome-Moly Rear
Civia
- Cafe/Cafe Disc
- Hyland
- Loring
- Mission
Delta
- Mega Rack
- Mega Rack Ultra
- Post Porter
Jandd
- Expedition
- Lite Duty
- Standard
Nitto
- Campee 27
- MT Capmee
Portland Design Works
- Payload Rack
Pashley
- Expedition
- Adventurer
- Commuter
Performance
- Adventurer
- Commuter
- TransIt Pannier Seatpost
- TransIt TD-1
Planet Bike
- Eco Rack
- K.O.K.O. Cargo Rack
- Versa
Racktime
- All Rear Racks
Surly
- Surly Rack
- Adventurer
- Commuter
Topeak
- Beam w/ MTX Dual Side Frames
- Explorer
Tubus
- All Rear Racks
Zefal
- Discovery
- Rackoon
- Raider
- Do you know which racks are not compatible?
- There are some racks that aren't compatible with Donkey Boxx. Some have no potential of compatibility, others require user modification and ingenuity to make it work. Just remember, necessity is the mother of invention:
Front Racks
Civia
- Loring
- Market
- Pizzeria Rack
Nitto
- RK1001
- M18
Paul Components
- Flatbed
Velo Orange
- Passhunter
- Porteur
Rear Racks
Axiom
- Journey (Seatpost Mount)
Civia
- Loft Pannier
- Loft Seatpost
Delta
- Disc Rack
- Post Haste
Dimension
- Seatpost Rack
Moots
- Tailgator
Performance
- TransIt Quick Rack
Zefal
- Rodeo
Contents
- What does my Donkey Boxx come with?
- Each Donkey Boxx comes with:
- one (1) Donkey Boxx
- six (6) zip ties
- two (2) plastic stiffener
- two (2) reflective decals
- one (1) velcro adhesive strip
- one (1) heel clearance tool
- What do I need to provide?
- You'll need a Donkey Boxx compatible bicycle front or rear rack, which is almost any rack manufactured today.
Fitting
- What's the largest shoe size I can wear without having heel strike issues?
- It's tough to give a concrete answer since chain and seat stays are of various lengths, as are shoe styles, etc. But in our experience, we've found that up to a size 13 can pedal without much chance of heel strike if the boxx is installed as far aft as possible. Our official dealers have a heel strike test tool to see if a heel strike issue might occur.
Installation
- How do I install my Donkey Boxx on my bicycle rack(s)?
- We've got a bunch of information (text, photos and videos) on our installation page.
- Can I install it on «insert your rack here»?
- Donkey Boxx is designed with a wide variety of bicycle racks in mind. Check this list to see if we're 100% sure your rack will be compatible. If your rack isn't on the list, contact us. But we did our best to make it work with most any rack out on the market today.
- Are tools needed?
- Scissors are needed to trim zip tie excess. You may need the appropriate tools for your rack if some adjustments are necessary for a proper fit.
Using Your Boxx
- What fits inside a Donkey Boxx?
- You can fit lots of stuff inside a Donkey Boxx (about 4.2 US gallons (dry) or 1120 in3) some common items are:
- One reusable grocery bag full of groceries
- Small backpacks, purses
- Jackets and cold weather gear
- Wet suits
- Will my Donkey Boxx hold an avg. bag of groceries?
- The Donkey Boxx works beautifully for grocery shopping. It's deeper than the average grocery carrier pannier and narrows toward the bottom to avoid heal strike. This design snugs the average grocery bag at the bottom. We recommend, in the spirit of sustainability, that you use a canvas grocery bag, placing your heaviest items at the bottom for the best fit, while benefiting from the Boxx's ridged structure that protects your tender fruits and vegetables.
- Are they noisy?
- Because the Donkey Boxx is an empty box you can put your hard things in a canvas bag or backpack to avoid possible rattle as you ride. Otherwise they are quite and firm.
- Do you have a case lock available?
- The Donkey Boxx works best as a gear carrier. We recommend that for best security you keep beloved and useful items of concern with you and use a U-lock only to lock up your bike.
- Can I use the Donkey Boxx for my Cross Country Panniers?
- Donkey Boxx is a new product and hasn't made this sort of journey yet, but please give them a try and send us photos — we'll do what we can to help.
- How do I make my Donkey Boxx extra water tight?
- Making the Donkey Boxx extra water tight, for extended touring let's say, is easy. You simply tape over the edge seems and mounting holes with 3” wide clear plastic weather seal tape. Make sure the surfaces are clean so you get a good watertight seal.
Performance & Durability
- What is the volume capacity for my Boxx?
- The amount of space is just shy of 4.2 US gallons (dry). That's 1120 cubic inches.
- What is the load limit?
- We are putting a 30 pound wight rating on each Donkey Boxx, which is ¾ full of liquid rock known as sand. It feels very hearty and secure with this weight on board.
- How is my Boxx affected by rain, sun and snow?
- The Donkey Boxx performs like a shed that keeps things inside dry while not being a sealed air chamber — should liquid spill inside your Boxx, drain holes help drain the water, keeping your other items dry. After install, we also recommend using clear packing tape to cover any unused holes to increase waterproofness of your boxx.
- Will the hinge break due to repeated use?
- The corrugated plastic material is made with both high strength and flexibility characteristics. A pattern of use with flexible hinges has shown a high resistance to tears and cracking.
Cleaning & Repair
- How do I clean my Donkey Boxx?
- Use a sponge, soap and water to clean your Donkey Boxx. Avoid getting excess water in the inner corrugation layer because it will take additional time to dry.
- Can I repair my Donkey Boxx?
- Depends on the damage your Boxx has sustained, but the tried technique of some duct tape will work wonders in most instances. For a more 'stylish' fix, you can use some stiff clear packing tape.
Personalizing & Customizing
- Can I sticker my Donkey Boxx?
- Yes! Our plastic is smooth and perfect for adding your own flair to your Donkey Boxx panniers.
- Can I paint my Donkey Boxx?
- We haven't tried any paints yet, but you'll want something that's flexible and adheres to HDPE very well.
- Where can I share photos of my personalized Donkey Boxx?
- Visit our personalize section and upload your photos there!