I've just purchased docking hardware and mounts for my 2008 flhtcu from ebay(aftermarket).

Havent mounted it yet, but looks good so far.

Been reading the other threads about changing over to the removable tour pack hardware and now feel armed to do battle.

I'll try to remember to report back in a week or two when I get this changed out.

 

So, yesterday I hit the garage and dove into the detachable conversion.

I bought both rear and front docking location sets and also bought 2 different tour pack mounts.

Started out with the bike on the jack for levelness.

Removed bags and seat.

Removed tourpack and mounts.

Installed front mount near the shocks(simple). Not impressed with the rubber and plan to make my own replacement bushing or buy a set from somewhere.

I had recently picked up a rear backrest off craigslist.(genuine HD)

I placed the backrest on the front mounts to confirm where the rear mounts to it needed to be.(I have seen lots of pics posted here and also subscibed to several threads that I used for references.Then I spaced it out properly (rear mounts).

Next, one of the tour pack mounts I bought mounted on these front mounts. I placed in position and imediatly saw that it would set the pack at an angle downward at the rear. Also the mount sides were parallel and did not fit at all. I could have bent it or changed the mounts but then I could not use eith the passenger backrest or tourpack without tools and time. Sending that one back. I sort of hoped to avoid the rear loop mount thing on my 2008, Oh well.

So I was left with the rear docking kit to install and use the "standard" rear docking mount for the tourpack.

This went on easy and after a bit of sorting through hardware I was all mounted up.

I placed the rear saddle bag mounts behind the black plate so as to not angle the bags outward at the top.

There is a little wiggle at the top of the passenger seat. I may try replacing the plastic bushed mounts with solid aluminum mounts eventually.

Anyway, I have a bit of wiring to decide what to do with but for now I will detach it and simply tuck either side into the saddlebags and close them. It seems to work.

Quite pleased with the end result and option to remove the pack.

fwiw, I bought all the parts on ebay and they are all knockoff(china) parts. After seeing the Harley prices and the box they come in with "made in Taiwan", I had no preference if my parts came from the island of Taiwan or mainland China.

Thanks to all who have posted the endless threads on this conversion. I read a bunch of them, and used them as references. they helped me a lot.

The whole deal took a couple Hours

 

 

Great info doghead!
At some point I want to do this to mine as well, as I just recently removed mine.
One thing I was hoping for was a mount that lets me attach the tour pack to the front mounts, it still give me the use of the passenger seat. I really don’t like the looks of the rear hoop mounts.
Is there something like I am wanting available?

 

 

 

I have no issues with anything aftermarket, but you need to be careful of the fasteners that come with the kits. I have too much experience with junk fasteners to be anything but extremely cautious. Doesnt matter where they are made, some are good and many are of dangerously poor quality. The worst thing is its very hard to visually tell if fasteners are ok to use. Noone wants their backrest, tour pack, wife, girlfriend, daughter, etc. to literally hit the road.

Counterfeit low quality fasteners is a multi-billion dollar industry. Just be careful.

 

That is the same problem I have with the HD sissy bar. I have to wrestle with it for about a 1/2 and hope it doesn't slip and gouge my fender...

 

Plus 1--have same issue with my factory HD sissy bar. "Quick" it most certainly is not...

 

I bought the oem Harley 4 point docking station parts/kit as I didn't want to be wrestling an ill fitting king tour pack on & off. Goes on & off like butter. I then bought a passenger backrest off Ebay (Import type). It was very I'll fitting and wouldn't line up, flex-push-yell. So, knowing I was returning it I ordered a 2nd one from someone else (also import). It too was an I'll fitting nightmare. Looking at them both I noticed they had plastic inserts in the jaw area's that mount to the 4 point post, but they were slightly different in that one had more clearance (ID gap). Swapped the plastic inserts from one backrest to the other and wa-la got 1 to be functional & returned the other one... More work than I cared for. I also bought an Imported black hinge & latch set for my tour pack off Ebay from usamotorpartsfactory. Latch kept popping open when the passenger leaned back. The original (chrome) Oem set didn't do that. Bought a black oem Harley set, installed it and have had no issues. so makes me wonder about the fit Vs $ diff of Harley products Vs the (cheaper) imported stuff.. Hit or miss on the Import stuff Vs the Oem-Harley?