I used to be the guy who strapped a cooler to the back of my quad with a single bungee cord. That worked for exactly two trips. On the third, I hit a washboard section on a fire road north of Ridgecrest, the cord let go, and my lunch bounced down the trail before I could stop. After that I started looking for a real cargo rack. I read forums, watched a few install videos, and finally ordered the Titan Ramps rear cargo basket. I bolted it on two seasons ago, and it is one of the few mods I would not ride without.
Here are the ten reasons, in the order I would give them to a friend who keeps asking why I bother. Some are obvious, some took me a while to appreciate, and one of them is the reason I stopped carrying gear in a backpack.
I am not a sponsored rider and I bought this basket myself. What follows is what I learned from two seasons of desert riding, camping, and one memorable trip where the basket saved my trip.
Stop strapping your gear to a bungee cord
The Titan Ramps rear cargo basket gives you a solid steel platform for coolers, gas cans, and camp gear. It bolts to the stock rack in about 20 minutes and holds up to 150 pounds. I have used mine for two years and it has never let me down.
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The biggest reason I bought the basket was the end of bungee-cord roulette. With the basket's tall steel sides, a cooler sits in a walled box instead of on a flat rack. I run two ratchet straps over the top now, and I have not lost a single item in two seasons. The mesh floor lets dust and mud fall through instead of packing around your gear. Last fall, on a run up the Cuddeback dry lake, I hit a series of whoops that used to send my gear flying. The basket held everything in place. That one ride paid for the basket in my mind.
It keeps dust off your load
On the desert trails around here, dust gets into everything. When I used to strap a duffel to the bare rack, the contents came out gray after a single ride. The basket's mesh sides break up the dust cloud that rolls off the rear tires, and if I toss a tarp over the top, my sleeping bag stays clean. I also noticed the basket cuts down on the fine grit that used to find its way into my tool bag. That alone made it worth it for me, especially on the long fire roads that turn to dust in summer.
It frees up the front rack
My Grizzly has a small front rack, and I used to load it with a gas can and a tool bag. With the rear basket taking the cooler and camp gear, I can keep the front rack for things I need while riding, like a tow strap or a spare spark plug. It keeps the weight off the front end and makes the steering feel lighter on rocky climbs. I also find I can see the trail better now that the front rack is not stacked a foot high. That was a surprise benefit I did not expect.
Loading and unloading is easier on your back
I am 58 and my back is not what it used to be. Bending over the rear fender to lift a 40 pound cooler out of a bungee web was a chore. With the basket, I set the cooler on the edge and slide it in. The basket sits low enough that I do not have to reach up and over the wheel well. It sounds like a small thing, but after a long day it matters. On a recent camping trip, I loaded and unloaded the cooler four times in one weekend and my back never complained. That is the kind of difference you feel on Monday.
It gives you a solid place for a gas can
I carry a two gallon Rotopax on the rear basket now, strapped flat against the side. The mesh sides keep it from sliding forward into the seat. On a long day out past Trona Pinnacles, that extra fuel is the difference between riding home and pushing. The basket's crossbars give the ratchet straps something solid to bite into. I used to lash the can to the bare rack with bungees, and it always shifted. Now it stays put even on the rough two-track that runs along the old aqueduct.
It handles the vibration of a 700
A big single cylinder shakes more than you expect. My old plastic rack cracked after one season of washboard roads. The steel mesh basket has been on for two years and the welds look like the day I installed it. I tightened the bolts once after the first few rides and that is it. This thing is built for abuse. I have hauled fence posts, a full cooler, and a bag of cement mix over the same roads that killed the plastic rack, and the basket has not flexed a millimeter.
It keeps the center of gravity low
When I used to pile gear on top of the rack, the load sat high and the quad felt tippy on sidehills. The basket holds the weight down between the fenders. I can carry a full cooler and a bag of charcoal without noticing the difference in how the Grizzly handles. That is a real safety thing on loose gravel. On a steep descent near Randsburg, I felt the rear end stay planted instead of wanting to swap ends. The lower center of gravity gives me more confidence on terrain I used to walk around.
Installation is a 20 minute job
I am not a fan of drilling into a new machine. The Titan Ramps basket uses the existing holes on the Grizzly's rear rack, so there was no cutting or welding. It came with all the hardware, and I had it on in less time than it took me to find my socket set. The instructions were clear, which is rare for aftermarket parts. I did the install in my garage with the quad on a jack stand, and the whole thing took maybe twenty minutes. The hardest part was deciding which side to put the license plate bracket.
It is stronger than the factory rack
The stock rear rack on the Grizzly is stamped steel, and it flexes when you put real weight on it. The Titan Ramps basket is welded steel mesh with a reinforced rim. I can stand on the corner of it and it does not give. That kind of confidence matters when you are hauling a deer out of a canyon or a load of firewood. I have put more than a hundred pounds of wet firewood in it and the rack never sagged. The powder coat has held up to rocks and branches, too, with only a few scratches to show for it.
It is the one mod you will use every trip
I have added a winch, a skid plate, and a set of hand guards to my Grizzly. The cargo basket is the only one that gets used every single time I ride. Whether I am grabbing a gallon of water or a couple of fence posts for a repair, the basket is always there. It has become the default spot for anything that would otherwise end up in my lap. On a recent trip, the guys I ride with all asked about it, and two of them have ordered one since. That says more than any spec sheet.
What I'd Skip
Not everyone needs a rear cargo basket. If you only ride short loops and never carry more than a water bottle, the stock rack with a bungee is fine. I would also skip the basket if you regularly haul oversized loads like a chainsaw or a full-size shovel, because the basket's walls can get in the way. And if you are the kind of rider who leaves the quad in the garage more than you ride it, you probably do not need another accessory. But for anyone who camps, hunts, or hauls gear on a regular basis, this is the best upgrade I have made to my Grizzly.
The cargo basket is the only mod I have made that gets used every single time I ride.
Ready to stop losing gear?
The Titan Ramps rear cargo basket is a simple bolt-on upgrade that pays for itself the first time it saves your lunch. See today's price on Amazon and order one before your next trip.
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