Date: Tue, 29 Dec 2009 07:50:26 -0800
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 Rec
In-Reply-To: <eccfedcc0912281357tc858d19i92bd98185d037b72@mail.gmail.com>
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If you have the rain gutter mount Yakima towers...What I do is mount them
right on the hatch using the edges of the hatch to hook the clamps over. I
took some short peices of Westie curtain track and screwed that right onto
the hatch to "land" the "feet" of the towers into....It takes the place of
the rain gutter. You can make the racks work without putting on the curtain
track, but I think it makes the rack more secure. I positioned the screws
so they are below the ends of the rack 'feet' and I used some round head
stainless steel screws, which 'catch' the racks from sliding down, if the
clamps should come free or loosen up with vibration.
I had visions of my upper rack failing it's grip and letting my expensive
racing bikes dangle along on the pavement at highway speed... I sometimes
have up to four bikes and as many as 8 wheels on the van, easily 4-5 times
the total worth of my van..
http://picasaweb.google.com/dhanson928/Summer09?authkey=Gv1sRgCKzYpKnE8MDODg#5420677067085149282
When I travel alone I use a fork mount and carry my main bike inside as
shown in the one pic. If I camp I take the bike round back and hang it on
the rack overnight.
I use those electrical conduit hatch strut overlays to hold my hatch open
normally, but with bikes mounted it's quite a load, so I use an additional
'prop' just in case. That prop is simply an oak peice with a short
1/4"dowel in one end, sticking out about 1/2" inch. I drilled a hole in the
hatch for the dowel to insert, then you slide the other end (bottom end)
into the groove in the bodywork that takes the weatherstrip for the hatch.
That way, on windy days the hatch won't get blown up and let the 'stick'
fall out.
Be aware that if your bikes are on the hatch and you do any dirt
road-dusty road driving, the dust gets drawn up behind the van and really
collects on the bikes.
I like them back there rather than on the roof..for clearance issues, for
aerodynamics and it make a handy 'work stand' for minor tune-up. Two
Cruiser bikes might be a bit heavy when opening and closing the hatch.
Don Hanson
On Mon, Dec 28, 2009 at 1:57 PM, Michael Sullivan <sandwichhead@gmail.com>wrote:
> Just wanna put two cruisers on the hatch. Have Yakimn racks on top, w/o
> bikes attachemnt, but prefer hatch mount. Any recs for a cheap install?
> thanks.
> Michael in San Antonio
> 91GL AT 'Gringo'
> 73 Beetle
>
