I pretty much just use my rack to carry an occasional 2nd rider but most of the time it just holds the beer cooler.

 

I just picked up a sweet bag for the back rack through RockMountain that was on sale back in Dec. I think it was $20 or something rediculous like that? It has a nice removable cooler inside of it that can hold a good 12 pack. Really well made too. It was made by Tusk if you come accross one it is a good buy.

 

Careful with that bag. I bought the same bag in December. After just two outings, three of the the rack straps tore off. They gladly accepted the return. I went for a more expensive, better quality bag. It's too bad, because I really like the removable cooler in that one. After getting it, I also noticed that it did not have as much padding as some of the more expensive bags. But, it was worth the risk. I hope your bag works out better for you than mine did for me.

 

Thanks for the warning! I will keep an eye on the attachment straps. It did pop in my head as a concern but figured I would give it a shot. For the price it is hard to go wrong with it.

 

My brother bought a really good rear bag for his Kodiak that was made by Quad Boss. It's not really meant for ice & stuff but it sure as heck holds a lot of cold ones. Sure it starts to leak after a while but in the summertime when we're riding in streams getting all soaked....who cares about a little leak!

 

I would like to get a set of racks like are on the camo edition sportsmans which have the textured wrinkle finish. my local powdercoater has the wrinkle finish, I may go to him this spring to see what he would charge me to spray both my racks.

 

WIth the Dupli-color spray on bedliner, it gives a slight wrinkle finish for about $6 a can.

 

Quick update on the rack painting. Well the Plastidip spray was almost a good idea. I didn't sand the rack and the stuff peels off pretty easy. I had some peeling from putting the racks back on my Vinson. Oh well, for $6 it was worth a shot. Since I used black, it's hard to tell unless one looks closely. I may try the bedliner approach next. Did you have to prepare the racks first by sanding or priming?

 

I prepped by sanding with a coarse grit paper. I would use a 80-100 grit paper. Then do a quick wipe down with some thinner and let dry. That should get all the dust and grease off.

 

Mine are sprayed with Duplicolor bedliner material. You can buy it in a spray can from Oreilly auto parts stores and it seems to works OK. I have scrapped some spots back into mine but I didnt sand as well as I should and they go through heavy abuse. Its not but about 7 bucks a can and 2 cans should do both racks.