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Date:         Sun, 21 Mar 2004 09:48:39 -0500
Reply-To:     Matt Bennett <matsuwesty@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Matt Bennett <matsuwesty@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject:      Roof racks and kayaks
Comments: To: gamercer@aol.com
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII

George, Yes, it could remove the pop-top if the kayak/canoe were not properly secured. My solution to this is to secure the kayak/canoe down in the front using the tie down straps on the luggage bin above the driver. By using these straps, you aren't placing any lifting or shifting load on the front of the poptop or it's latch mechanism. The rear of the kayak/canoe can be secured to the rear bar because there is no lifting load and very little shifting load when driving. Also, the rear of the poptop has a very good built in brace in the hinge assembly for the poptop. On the racks that I designed, the rear bar and bracket mounts into that hinge assembly. The front bar and bracket mounts near the front poptop braces which can be seen when you raise your top and look at the front of the poptop. It does require that you un-secure the front strap to raise the poptop, but you can just use a bungie cord to hold the boat in place until you are ready to go, then re-secure the boat down with a strap. We have never raised our poptop with our 90 lb kayak. It's too heavy to lift the roof with it and the top would need extra bracing under the roof where the raising mechanism mounts. It should be able to be lifted with a 50 lb boat without any problems (structurally). I will be designing bracing that will go into those stress areas in the roof so heavier items can be lifted, along with struts that will assist you to raise the roof with those heavy items on it (just give me some time). The rack can be seen at my site here:

http://home.earthlink.net/~matsuwesty/page47.html

I have used my rack for over 2 years of hauling a 90 lb kayak without any problems.

Matt

website: http://home.earthlink.net/~matsuwesty "Life is a journey, explore each day and treasure every minute given to you"

Subject: Re: Raising poptop with kayak on roof

Joy, A rack mounted to the poptop could take the poptop off by lifting the kayak or canoe along with the poptop while your are driving at highway speeds.

One can use double Yakima towers on top of each other with a long bolt to keep them together mounted to the rain gutters. The other option (the one I opted for) is to use the highest towers from Thule. They mount on the rain gutter and clear the poptop.

To allow the poptop to open, place one rack in front of the poptop. The back or rear rack would have to be placed at the very back/end of the rain gutters. The Thule will not allow the poptop to open but I've thought of cutting 3 inches off the widest part of the towers foot on the trailing side to allow the tower to be placed back another 3" and that should allow the poptop to clear the rear rack.

Today, I take off the canoe and rear rack to pop the top.

I don't know how much clearance there is with the Yakima solution.

Good luck, George '88 Westy, Thule rack and 16' Wenonah Adirondack Canoe


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