Date:         Tue, 23 Mar 1999 09:11:16 -0800
Reply-To:     Max/Joyce Wellhouse <maxjoyce@IPA.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Max/Joyce Wellhouse <maxjoyce@IPA.NET>
Subject:      Re: Car-top carrier advice needed
Comments: To: "Merin, Lawrence M" <MerinLawrenceM@EXCHANGE.UAMS.EDU>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

I must admit, I've never seen a sears sbox on top of a vw
bus/vanagon/eurovan.  Although it wouldn't be a bad idea for carry all our
wet smelly paddling gear after a river trip.  I've never understood how
those things stay on the average car with just those littlle rain gutter
hooks.  Anyway, I digress....

I would mount the thing on a pair of transverse 2x4's and use a set of quick
n easy gutter brackets(if you are into cheap, high quality stuff!).  Yakima
and Thule will set you back ove $100(not that they aren't worth it), but the
Quick N Easy's are $45-48 for a set of 4 and add a couple dollars for the
wood.  My set has survived  80 mph straight line crosswinds with canoes on
top of the vehicle(semi on other side of the road was blown over on its
side).  They are made in California, but available at most canoe kayak
retail shops ie.  Nantahala Outdoor center(bryson city, NC)  or through the
mad River Canoe Catalogue(waitsfield VT)

You don't even want to think about the lawsuit you'll have on your hands it
that box blows off the top of your van and goes through someone's windshield
and kills them as a result of the wreck.

Dimwitted Moose and Flying Squirrel   90GL  Millennium Falcon III   129k
-----Original Message-----
From: Merin, Lawrence M <MerinLawrenceM@EXCHANGE.UAMS.EDU>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Date: Monday, March 22, 1999 6:44 AM
Subject: Car-top carrier advice needed


>Recommendations and/or caveats needed about mounting a Sears hard-shell
>cartop carrier to my 1987 GL.  My wife is concerned that the increased
total
>vehicle height may make it too unstable.  Also, if it sounds feasible,
>should the carrier be mounted directly onto the roof (straps hooked to rain
>gutters), or should I purchase and install a roof rack first?  Any specific
>recommendations for a brand and availability?
>Thanks, list members!
>Larry Merin
>1987 Vanagon GL
>Little Rock
>MerinLawrenceM@exchange.uams.edu