Does anyone have some half-decent touring style panniers they'd like to convert into cash?

Ideally some old Ortlieb classics or the like. I need a pair for some upcoming trips, but not ready to spend 5500 thb on a set yet.

....go onto eBay and Amazon and do your homework searching for what is available. You'll find a set, but then will have to get inventive, re: shipping or

having someone bring them over. Ortlieb's are generally passed from friend to friend and are rarely for sale unless you buy new. They never wear out. Ortlieb's coated pack cloth is the same stuff used in dry bags by river runners. Search raft and river runner websites.

Do you have a front or rear rack, but need hooks and/or panniers? Get ahold of a set to cook book off of and have any of the fine local seamstresses in Thailand stitch you up a custom pair. Thai seamstresses have bolts of Cordura nylon on hand, check with them first for color. Their task is made much easier if you can bring them an existing set of panniers to measure the various panels. Do NOT make the panniers too big.

Failing these approaches, you can always purchase two "day packs" from any market in Thailand and have them modified to suit your needs. The hooks are to attach to rack are not an insurmountable problem. Study the websites of Avenier, Ortleib, LonePeak and others to get an idea. You will need some hooks (think electrical conduit securing clamps, elastic bungie material, etc.)

Make it a fun project and you'll be rewarded with a fine custom set.