Pannier Adapter Gen 2: What It Is and Who Needs It
Heads up!
This article mentions third-party child seats that are not manufactured by Tern. Please note that child seat designs might change, and that their manufacturers may choose to maintain the same product name even after the design has changed.
For your safety, always consult with your bike dealer, or with the child seat manufacturer or reseller, to make sure you have the right seats to safely carry your kid(s).
This article refers to the Pannier Adapter Gen 2.
If you want to use your GSD to carry a kid in a child seat and also a pair of cargo-hauling panniers, there are a couple of things you need to keep in mind.
We'll cover the following topics in this article:
Contents
- What is the Pannier Adapter?
- Do I need a Pannier Adapter?
- I don't have a GSD. Do I need a Pannier Adapter?
- What else do I need to know?
What is the Pannier Adapter?
The Pannier Adapter Gen 2 is a small nylon strap that may be required when using child seats together with Cargo Hold 37 or Cargo Hold 52 Panniers (in Bucket Mode) on a GSD. And it comes in a pair like this:
The Pannier Adapter Gen 2 is attached to the GSD rear rack and allows the Cargo Hold 37 or Cargo Hold 52 Panniers’ Fidlock® magnetic buckles to be secured in Bucket Mode. This also prevents the straps from dangling and getting caught up on something while you’re riding. Moreover, the Pannier Adapter Gen 2 is designed to be compatible with all versions of the Clubhouse, giving GSD riders greater flexibility to build setups that suit their families’ needs.
Do I need a Pannier Adapter?
In short, if you have a GSD and want to use panniers and a child seat or two at the same time, you may need it—but it depends on your choice of panniers, and your child seat setup.
For the GSD Gen 2
If you have a GSD Gen 2, here's a breakdown of your options if you want to use the Cargo Hold 37 or Cargo Hold 52 Panniers with child seats:
| Pannier Adapter Gen 2 Requirements | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Add-on | 1 child seat | 2 child seats | ||||
| Most child seats (rack-mounted) | Yepp Maxi (version 1) | Yepp Nexxt Maxi | Yepp 2 Maxi | Bobike GO Maxi | Urban Iki | |
| Clubhouse Gen 3 | ||||||
| Cargo Hold 52s | Maybe* | 2 sets | 2 sets | 1 set | 1 set | 1 set |
| Cargo Hold 37s | Maybe* | |||||
| Clubhouse+ OR No Clubhouse rails | ||||||
| Cargo Hold 52s | Maybe* | 2 sets | ||||
| Cargo Hold 37s | Maybe* | |||||
* Depending on your child seat and pannier placement, you may need one set of Pannier Adapter Gen 2. Please consult with your dealer.
For more information on child seats for the GSD Gen 2, click here.
For the GSD Gen 1
If you have a GSD Gen 1, here’s a breakdown of your options if you want to use the Cargo Hold 37 or Cargo Hold 52 Panniers with child seats:
| Panniers | Child Seat Setup (with or without Clubhouse rails) | Pannier Adapter Gen 2 Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Cargo Hold 52 Panniers | 2 Yepp Maxi (version 1) seats | 2 sets |
| 1 compatible seat | Maybe* | |
| Cargo Hold 37 Panniers | 2 Yepp Maxi (version 1) seats | 1 set |
| 1 compatible seat (front) | No | |
| 1 compatible seat (rear) | 1 set |
* Depending on your child seat and pannier placement, you may need one set of Pannier Adapter Gen 2. Please consult with your dealer.
Regardless of which setup you go with, you'll want to test it out on your GSD before purchasing to make sure everything fits properly.
I don't have a GSD. Do I need a Pannier Adapter?
No. If you're carrying a child seat such as the Bobike GO Maxi, Urban Iki, Yepp Maxi, Yepp Nexxt Maxi, or a Yepp 2 Maxi on a Tern HSD (Gen 1 or Gen 2), Quick Haul, or Short Haul, then your Cargo Hold 37 Panniers do not need a Pannier Adapter. You'll need to use your panniers in Bucket Mode, and connect the straps of the panniers on either side of the bike before installing the child seat:
What else do I need to know?
We strongly suggest testing the child seat before buying if you want to carry either kids AND use panniers at the same time. Different child seat brands and models may be compatible with your specific setup, but they may or may not require a Pannier Adapter. If unsure, please work with your Tern dealer and test your setup before riding.
