Date:         Mon, 13 Feb 2006 09:42:33 -0600
Reply-To:     Max Wellhouse <maxjoyce@IPA.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Max Wellhouse <maxjoyce@IPA.NET>
Subject:      Re: Roof racks for non pop top vanagon
Comments: To: Joy Hecht <jhecht@ALUM.MIT.EDU>
In-Reply-To:  <8460724.1139820104821.JavaMail.cyyang@brunch.mit.edu>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

I made my own bullet proof rack for carrying canoes and kayaks( I
think Joy has even seen it).  Bought 8 QuickNEasy rack brackets and a
stash of 2x3" aluminum channel.  Cross bars are about 7.5' long and
the 4 outriggers are about 2' long each.  Used SS cairraige bolts to
hold it all together and it has toted some serious weight over the
years.  I also epoxied some outdoor conveyor belt material to the top
of the rack so the boats/cargo wouldn't slide.  also added SS eye
bolts(like 7 per bar and 2 per outrigger) for custom tie downs with
rope, cam strap, or bungie (not recommended).
   Had about $135 tied up in the whole process in 1997, so figure in
inflation.  You could substitute Yakima 1A Towers or the Thule
equivalent, but the cost would be higher unless you found a deal on
ebay or at a garage sale somewhere.

DM&FS

At 02:41 AM 2/13/2006, Joy Hecht wrote:
>Yakima racks work fine on poptops, too.  I've been using them for a
>couple of years.  So why is their availability stopping you on non-poptops?
>
>
>J.
>
>****************************************************************
>Joy Hecht
>and Matilda, 1989 Burgundy Vanagon
>
>For musings about life and the vanadventures:
>http://users.rcn.com/jhecht/gypsy
>
>****************************************************************:::-----Original
>Message-----
>:::From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf
>:::Of Gary Lee, www.vwrack.com
>:::Sent: Monday, February 13, 2006 2:56 AM
>:::To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>:::Subject: Roof racks for non pop top vanagon
>:::
>:::As most of you know, I make roof racks for the Westfalia pop top vanagon.
>:::I
>:::do not make roof racks for the non-pop top vanagon, but every now and
>:::then
>:::someone asks me if I would.  I haven't because Yakima, Thule and other
>:::types
>:::will fit - I assume.  My question is, would anybody be interested if I
>:::did
>:::go ahead and make them?  What is wrong with the other brands?
>:::It takes some time and effort to produce the prototypes and make the jigs
>:::and templates so I don't want to do it if only a few people eventually
>:::buy
>:::them.
>:::http://www.telusplanet.net/public/gary2a/rack/roof/roofrack.htm
>:::
>:::Another thing I've had in the back of my mind is making a full length
>:::roof
>:::top basket carrier for the non pop top vanagon.  I'm thinking aluminum
>:::would
>:::be best for this.
>:::Shipping would be expensive though, and that's a big part of the cost
>:::nowadays.
>:::
>:::Gary Lee
>:::www.vwrack.com