Date:         Tue, 14 Aug 2007 20:28:41 -0800
Reply-To:     Kevin Turinsky <kjturinsky@MAC.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Kevin Turinsky <kjturinsky@MAC.COM>
Subject:      Seeking Yakima Rack Advice
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed

Hi all,

I'm ready to put a Yakima rack on top of the Syncro Westie. If any of
you have any tips and/or advice, please send 'em/it my way. I don't
want to screw this operation up. Are there better spots and worse
spots on the sides of the pop-top to mount the Yakima brackets? How
high should I mount the brackets? Mount 'em low to minimize the space
underneath the rack's cross bars, or maximize it? Any special
considerations when drilling through the fiberglass? Any unexpected
surprises I should watch out for?

FWIW, I'm planning to carry at times, not all at once of course, a
few single bicycles, one tandem, a Yakima Space Case, several pair of
skis, a couple kick sleds, lumber, a few sheets of plywood, a couple
kayaks, maybe a canoe...the usual stuff.

Anyway, I'm considering putting 4 Yakima rack bracket mounts on each
side of the pop-top. I'm aiming to mount two in the rear recessed
area and two in the forward recessed area of each side of the top.
I'm trying to figure out which is better: Yakima's 8B Side Loader
"Kwik Rails", or Yakima's WideBody Brackets. Reading the Yakima FAQ,
they say that the WideBody Brackets, "extends outward more to give
added clearance for square sided shells..." I guess this one is the
best choice. If you think otherwise, please let me know.

Thanks,

Kevin Turinsky
'90 Syncro Westie
Anchorage, Alaska