Don't worry about it.  If you buy the extension = for the 3rd bike all you need will be in the package to allow you to = carry up to 70kg on your Paulchen. 

Peter

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Anthony L. Mourkas [mailto:frankenstein@TELPLUS.NET= ]
> Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2000 9:46 = AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Four Bicycle Carrier (Need German = Translation)
>
>
> ><SNIP>
> >>the Paulchen rack is rated for a load = of 40 kilos, or 88
> pounds.  Unless you
> >>are carrying high end road bikes, four = bikes will exceed
> the manufacturer's
> >>load rating.
> >
> ><SNIP>
> >
> >Actually this is not quite true.  = Paulchen make racks for
> many different
> >vehicles in Europe and many of them are = limited to 40 kg. 
> However, the
> >Paulchen racks for Vanagons are rated up to = 70 kg.  And I
> have this directly
> >from their installation guides!
>
> I checked the label on my Paulchen rack a = little more
> closely.  It reads:
>
> max. belastung 40kg
> mit belastungsverstäkern u.
> verstenungstrenan 70kg
>
> Alta Vista came up with a partial = translation:
>
> max. load 40kg with belastungsverstaekern u. = verstenungstrenan 70kg
>
> Any German speakers care to translate = further?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Tony
>
> Anthony L. Mourkas
> Hampden, Maine, USA
> 1984 Vanagon Westfalia
> 1991 Jetta Eco Diesel
> 1991 Volvo 240 sedan
>