Date: Thu, 13 Aug 2009 22:08:45 -0700
Reply-To: Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: bike rack bolted to hatch
In-Reply-To: <6bc66ccf0908121157y3c71f8c9l1599a5be5bb537bf@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Forgot one more thing: For any fork mount rack (and especially one
mounted vertically on the rear hatch) I like to use a bungee (across the
stem or the top tube) to "back-up" the quick release that holds the fork
into the rack. Just in case..I have seen these (the quick release skewer)
break and I have horrible visions of my expensive race bike bouncing along
behind the Van, being dragged along upside down by the lower rear wheel
mount should for some reason that fork mount get loose or fail. The Yakima
has a 'fork locking' option which is a little "T" that goes into a slot and
is turned with a key..this prevents the quick release lever from being
released and also functions as a back up, but it's not very convenient to
use..I always seem to be standing there, bike in one hand, front wheel in
the other and find the rack is locked and my keys are in the ignition...You
can not put the bike into the rack unless you unlock it and you can't get
the keys out unless you lock it..Must be a Beta version I have...anyway, a
bungee on the ones that don't have the fork lock makes me feel better..
Don Hanson
On Wed, Aug 12, 2009 at 11:57 AM, Don Hanson <dhanson928@gmail.com> wrote:
> Forgot, the bikes do get real dusty if you do much dirt road travel with
> them back there. We recently did a 50-60 mile dirt/gravel section with the
> bikes on and before we could ride em I went to a coin high pressure wash and
> cleaned em, right there on the rack.
> Don Hanson
>
> On Wed, Aug 12, 2009 at 11:53 AM, Don Hanson <dhanson928@gmail.com>wrote:
>
>> I have my Yakima rack mounted on the hatch of my 84. I used a couple of
>> sections of Westie curtain track to land the gutter tower in. I screwed
>> that track onto the hatch so the towers would not slide off and for some
>> extra support. Then you can hook the gutter clamps right over the edge of
>> the hatch and tighten them down. When the rack is off, you still have two
>> little sections of track on the hatch. I painted mine black to blend in
>> with the dark brown van. Mine works very well and keep the windage down. A
>> bit of a grunt to open with 3 or 4 bikes on the hatch and I have a
>> suplimental support (an oak stick) that holds the hatch and bikes up..too
>> heavy, of course, for the struts.
>> Don Hanson
>>
>> On Wed, Aug 12, 2009 at 11:28 AM, Greg S <sorkilmo@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Does anyone see a problem with doing this to a Vanagon? Besides having to
>>> butcher the back hatch a bit.
>>> http://picasaweb.google.com/sorkilmo/VanagonStuff#5369145191194401426
>>>
>>> Thanks
>>> Greg S.
>>> 87' Wolfsburg Van
>>> Ottawa, Ontario
>>>
>>
>>
>
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