Altitude Vacuum of Panniers

[JCapo33]

Has this happened to anyone and how did you correct it?

Riding from Durango CO. (altitude 6,500 ft.) to Montrose co. you can reach altitude of 11,000 ft. at Red Mountain Pass. I don't recall where I stopped but I did stop to put on some clothes due to temp change. Now the Panniers on my 08 RT are a great improvment over old BMW because of the seal, but when I stopped to do the clothes change I about broke my fingers getting them open. There is approxitmatly an 1/8" gap between the lid opening. this vacuum eliminated the gap and the seal was rediculous. I assume this was caused by Altitude. Any help????

[cfell]

Well, going "up" in altitude usually means a pressure DROP...on the exterior of the panniers. It doesn't make sense why you would have a "vacuum"... of course a significant "cooling" would cause a lower pressure inside the panniers... since you were stopping for that reason, that, it seems, is most likely.

Next time, leave a bit of cloth such as a bandana hanging on the seal... you won't get much water inside and you'll find the pressure balances pretty well.

[brick_haus]

Yes, that happens to many of us. Temp and pressure differential will cause it. I havent done any remediation to mine, but some have drilled a very small hole in a low, non conspicous location of each pannier to prevent this.

[JCapo33]

Thank you Brick, that is what I intend to do.

[tbarstow]

Well, going "up" in altitude usually means a pressure DROP...on the exterior of the panniers. It doesn't make sense why you would have a "vacuum"... of course a significant "cooling" would cause a lower pressure inside the panniers... since you were stopping for that reason, that, it seems, is most likely.

Next time, leave a bit of cloth such as a bandana hanging on the seal... you won't get much water inside and you'll find the pressure balances pretty well.


Then he opened the panniers (pressure equalization), closed them, then rode back down (increased outside pressure), resulting in the PITA opening.

I'd go with putting something across the seal that interferes with out damaging the seal and will allow pressure equilibration. Try some webbing or a shoe lace. You should experiment and ride up and down this same path a few times.