I notice a lot of interest in rear-hatch racks, when = I've been hoping to mount a front bumper bike rack on my '85 vanagon. Compelling = reason: it keeps the rear hatch accessible.

My rear hatch will go up with my rack and bike = on it... with a little muscle.. and will stay up with the pvc catch on the struts.

Are there downsides to the front location? reduced visibility?, less aerodynamic?

Could interfear with cooling on water cooled vanagons.

Bill

I'd love to hear if you have tried mounting a front = bike rack on a vanagon or a type II

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-----Original Message-----
From: K. Taylor [mailto:ktaylor@premier1.net]
Sent: Tuesday, July 25, 2000 7:33 PM =
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Hatch-mounted carrying rack?

When I bought my '90 Westy Multivan, the dealer was = selling a rack that
mounted on the back hatch and = could hold anything from a storage chest to a
couple of = bicycles and, when not in use, folded up flat against the hatch. =
When I went back to their parts department a year, I found = out they were no
longer available in the U.S.  = They are manufactured by a Canadian company.

Does this sound familiar? Anyone know what the brand = was/is, or where I can
find a used one in good condition?  Are there other 'back-mounted' racks
available?

-- Ken