Date: Wed, 25 Feb 1998 09:52:58 -0900
Reply-To: "Kevin J. Turinsky" <turinsky@JUNO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: "Kevin J. Turinsky" <turinsky@JUNO.COM>
Subject: Yakima Deals AND How to Mount it on a Westie!
Good deal on a Yakima Rack? Yeah, well...whew. Wouldn't we all?
All I can suggest, after much searching and looking, is head to REI.
They'll have the complete system, AND you'll get 10% of your purchase
price back at the end of the year. That's about the best deal I can find.
I'd too like to know of a better deal.
About mounting the rack to Westie pop tops:
One of the Syncro Westie guys here in Anchortown (I spoke to him, but I
can't remember his name - I don't think he's on the List) had a local
machine shop fabricate 4 (two for each side) stainless steel raingutter
rails. The rails fit in horizontally in the recessed area of the vertical
sides of the pop tops. This setup allows for a wide adjustment range of
the rack, fore and aft, whilst mounted on the vehicle. Now, for the
design of the rail, he took one of Yakima's "bolt-on" rain gutter mounts
to the fabricator to use as a pattern for the "Lip" portion. Therefore,
the resulting stainless steel rail has the same "rail" dimension as the
Yakima original, yet is LONGER!
You should see this setup. I've seen all kinds of suggestions on the
List, and when I saw how this guy did it I was amazed at the simplicity
and functionality of his design!
He told me that if he had to do it again he'd make two changes:
1) Make the rail for each side ONE piece instead of two. This would allow
for even greater adjustment possibilities, of which he did find
necessary. This would be a good idea if you're carrying bikes one day and
kayaks another.
2) Mount a plate, equal in length (and width?) to the outside rail, on
the INSIDE of the pop top, opposite the outside rail. Stainless mounting
hardware, with neoprene and stainless washers would then pass through
both the inner reenforcement plate and the outer "rain gutter rail". This
would provide more torsional rigidity to the entire setup. He said the
fiberglass is working fine so far (several years now), but having steel
on both sides of the pop top would be much better. (Again kayaks)
I hope this is clear enough for y'all. If not, let me know. I'll try to
'splain better.
Kevin...turinsky@juno.com
"Anchored, down in Anchorage---Alaska"
61:10:42 North
149:11:11 West
Elevation: 101 feet
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