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Date:         Fri, 13 Nov 1998 08:03:07 -0500
Reply-To:     "Anthony L. Mourkas" <frankenstein@TELPLUS.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         "Anthony L. Mourkas" <frankenstein@TELPLUS.NET>
Subject:      Re: Roof Racks
Comments: To: Steve <sxs@concentric.net>,
          Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@VANAGON.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Steve,

I have carried up to three bicycles attached to a Thule rack attached to bolt-on rain gutter sections mounted on forward part the pop top. This worked well for me HOWEVER be advised that securing a load on the pop top in this position greatly increasing the effort required to raise the pop top. Even the unloaded rack w/bike mounts caused a great increase in the force needed to raise the roof. With one bike attached it turned into a two person job most times and with two bikes mounted I definitely needed an assistant to raise/lower the roof. Never tried it with three bikes up there. In fact I am not sure whether the weight of the racks and three bikes (100-110lbs???) is such a good idea although I never noticed any damage from doing so in the couple of times I had three up there. Others have mounted their bolt-on rain gutter sections and racks/attachments towards the rear of the pop top and this should be much easier to lift due to the increased leverage of having the weight located closer to the fulcrum (pop top hinge.) I would probably seriously investigate a rearward mounting location should I choose to do this on my current Westy.

Best wishes,

Tony

Anthony L. Mourkas Hampden, Maine, USA 1984 Vanagon Westfalia...putting away for the Winter today :-( 1990 Passat GL 1991 Jetta Eco Diesel


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