Date:         Sun, 6 Jan 2008 20:45:58 -0500
Reply-To:     Greg Potts <greg@POTTSFAMILY.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Greg Potts <greg@POTTSFAMILY.CA>
Subject:      Re: [WetWesties] VW Campers and Kayaks
Comments: To: Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
Comments: cc: davangie794@msn.com, "Peter T. Owsianowski"
          <pnoceanwesty@gmail.com>, Loren Busch <starwagen@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <4d1b79350801061606o97a461aq80cbed6a644120f3@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed

Hi Volks,

I've been carrying a pair of homebuilt canvas-and-plywood kayaks on
the roof of my westfakia for years. I fabricated my own roofrack from
scrap plywood and a couple of 1x2s, and it has logged thousands of
trouble-free miles. It isn't the prettiest solution, but it is very
functional and can be made by a competent DIY'er in a couple hours or
less. Although originally designed for a baywindow (1968-79) camper,
I see little reason they couldn't be adapted to work on a vanagon
camper.

A long time ago I created a set of plans in PDF format, you can find
them online here:
http://www.geocities.com/vw_type2/roofrack.pdf


Happy Trails,

Greg Potts
1973/74/77/79 Westfakia "Bob The Tomato
www.pottsfamily.ca
www.busesofthecorn.com



On 6-Jan-08, at 7:06 PM, Jim Felder wrote:

> We strap two 17 footers to the top of my diesel westy and you don't
> really
> know they're up there until the wind blows really hard from the side.
> The only down side is that you have to slacken the rear straps to
> open the
> back hatch completely, but that's no big deal.
>
> I have part of a yakima rack, including the kayay mounts, but so
> far the
> bare westy top has been simple and easy to deal with. I
> singlehandedly put
> mine up and down all the time.
>
> Jim
>
>
>
> On Jan 6, 2008 5:03 PM, Peter T. Owsianowski
> <pnoceanwesty@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Yakimas from GoWesty.  Kind of pricey, but carries our 2 River
>> Otters/Paddles down to the beautiful Tippecanoe River with ease.
>> Mounted
>> on
>> the '87 poptop.
>>
>> Also, you can get Yakima bike adaptors to carry bikes on top.
>>
>> Pete
>> '79 Westy "Aardvark"
>> '87 Westy "Joe's Van"
>> WWW. Busesbythebeach.com
>>
>> On 1/6/08, Loren Busch <starwagen@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> A lot of paddlers on the list I'm sure someone will jump all over
>>> your
>>> question.
>>>
>>> On Jan 6, 2008 :53 PM, DAVID & ANGIE BUTLER <davangie794@msn.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hello from Arizona!
>>>>
>>>> We have a recently acquired '87 Vanagon Westphalia camper.   We're
>>>> avid kayakers and are planning a long trip around the US beginning
>>>> next spring with our rig.  Can we learn from your experience about
>>>> ease and convenience of carrying kayaks? Thanks in advance.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>>