Date:         Mon, 24 Sep 2001 22:45:49 -0500
Reply-To:     wolfgang <wolfgang@PIPELINE.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         wolfgang <wolfgang@PIPELINE.COM>
Subject:      roof racks for Westy with NO DRILLING
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII

I just wanted to let the list know about my roof rack solution.  I
know the subject comes up sometimes, but I've never seen this
answer.

I had put a Yakima rack on an 89 Westy by using the drill+bolt-on
fake raingutters.  Carried three whitewatewr kayaks no problem
many, many times.  But it's too hevay to lift the top with the load
on.

So when I got my next Westy, I decided that drilling wasn't the
answer.  If I had to take the boats down to lift the top, it was no big
deal to remove the rack too.  So I went looking at all the systems
from the two big manufacturers, Yakima and Thule.

Yakima made no rack towers that could attach to the real
raingutters that would clear the top.  Even the 1A Hi-rise towers,
which barely clear the roof at the top, won't clear the sides of the
top.

So I looked at Thule. Their fit-list book, like Yakima, said the
Westy needed the bolt-on artificial raingutters.  I told the dealer
forget the book, I wanted to do visual fits.  Thule made a hi-rise
tower too.  I tried it but no dice.  But then I saw a super-high-rise
tower.  Dealer said it won't work.  I said I don't care I want to try it.
It cleared the top with good room to spare, and cleared the sides
by a half-inch.  So I bought them.  Work great.  Only downside is
that the racks must come off before popping.  I initially thought that
if I mounted the leading rack forward of the poptop, then I only need
to remove one.  But then the load extended out over the front
windshield.  This is great to get the visual warm-fuzzy feeling that
your gear is still there, but it acts as a air scoop pushing up on the
boat, so I chose to mount further back.

I think the extra trouble is worth it to save myself from the extra worry.

If you're interested, the part is "953 - Super High Foot Gutter".

I can also send digital pics of my installation.  Maybe I'll put them on a
web site.