TheSamba.com :: View topic

Sun Feb 13, 2005 10:02 pm

Hello everyone!

I am interested in getting a roof rack for my bus. I do not like the "westfalia" style racks, but the plain metal ones.

I understand they come in different styles and lengths. Can anyone post some pictures and info?

Did a search, but did not find the info I'm looking for.

thanks!

Sun Feb 13, 2005 10:07 pm

hello robot 909 8)

Sun Feb 13, 2005 10:43 pm

check out tom conners racks

Sun Feb 13, 2005 10:49 pm

Give me til next weekend.
I'm pulling all my Bekowa racks down for a "photo shoot"

Full length Bekowa
3/4 length Bekowa
1/2 length or Double Cab Bekowa (NOS)
Single Cab Bekowa (NOS)
Curved front Single Cab Bekowa (just picked up at OCTO)

Sun Feb 13, 2005 11:23 pm

here's mine. i'm no expert but i believe this is a later one '68+[/url]

Mon Feb 14, 2005 9:47 am

Here is mine...not sure of the brand or year. I'm getting ready to sell it, if your interested shoot me a PM.

Mon Feb 14, 2005 4:18 pm

Here's 3 of my racks that were readily available.

Curved Bekowa

NOS Single Cab

3/4 length rack

The other ones I'll have to get down from the loft.
I do have an extra Double Cab or 1/2 rack that I'm selling....

Mon Feb 14, 2005 6:47 pm

BeKoWa racks have clamps like these.

Photos by staceyz

Mon Feb 14, 2005 7:35 pm

not to nitpick but based on the clamps i would say the above rack is a repop- the originals have similar clamps but are "curved" at the eop which is why they are often referred to as "horseshoe clamps"

Mon Feb 14, 2005 7:42 pm

velvetgreen wrote: not to nitpick but based on the clamps i would say the above rack is a repop- the originals have similar clamps but are "curved" at the eop which is why they are often referred to as "horseshoe clamps"

I'm pretty sure the Bekowa clamps differ from the horseshoe clamps.
Those photos look normal from what I remember about Bekowa racks.

Who manufacturers the horseshoe style racks? I remember seeing logos stamped in he rack itself a while back....

Mon Feb 14, 2005 8:48 pm

Can anyone tell me how wide (far apart side too side) the legs are at the point where they go in the gutter on a bus rack? I found an interesting rack and wonder if it will fit on a bus. Thanks

Tue Feb 15, 2005 5:39 pm

These are the clamps on my rack.
Have no idea who made it but im missing a clamp.
Anyone have a extra one?

Tue Feb 15, 2005 7:09 pm

If you look at "radrob's" photo of the clamp you will notice that the top of the clamp is angled not squared off. If you look at the pic of the clamp on the other wood slat "bekowa rack" posted earlier in this thread earlier you will see that the top of the clamp is squared off. I believe the "angled top" clamp is OG whereas the "squared off" style is a repop.

Some in Cali is repopping bekowa "horseshoe" clamps that fit on the bekowa racks. Sorry can't recall who they are but they advertise on TS from time to time. I bought a clamp from them and while they are not 100% copies (back threaded "female" part is slightly different and is imperial thread) - they are as close to OG as I have seen.

Tue Feb 15, 2005 10:04 pm

so does anyone make these clamps for sale besides trying to make them yourself???

Tue Feb 15, 2005 10:16 pm

The guy selling the clamps was up here in Nor Cal, Gary ..... something. Last time I asked him about them he said, no more.

Tue Feb 15, 2005 10:40 pm

robot,

Here's a link to a larger version of my avatar with a full length rack on top. Nothing special, but it holds lots of stuff and was cheap to buy locally.
http://thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=48829

Tue Feb 15, 2005 10:51 pm

velvetgreen wrote: If you look at "radrob's" photo of the clamp you will notice that the top of the clamp is angled not squared off. If you look at the pic of the clamp on the other wood slat "bekowa rack" posted earlier in this thread earlier you will see that the top of the clamp is squared off. I believe the "angled top" clamp is OG whereas the "squared off" style is a repop.

Neither of those clamps are reproduction clamps. The radrob photo, is of a clamp for a roofrack that was available through VW dealers. The company that produced those racks also produced the folding ladders. Both the ladders and the clamps have a mark on them from the company that produced them.

The BeKoWa rack is similair to the VW rack, with a few exceptions. I believe most BeKoWa racks came with wood slats secured to the metal cross bars. And the clamps are slightly different, BeKoWa clamps have a built in pivot point, as can be seen in the photo.

Wed Feb 16, 2005 2:12 am

Mr Warehouse, have you got a pic of that curved rack on the bus in your avatar, that I would like to see!

Wed Feb 16, 2005 3:31 am

How about this for a super-cool ski rack!

Wed Feb 16, 2005 2:06 pm

velvetgreen wrote: If you look at "radrob's" photo of the clamp you will notice that the top of the clamp is angled not squared off. If you look at the pic of the clamp on the other wood slat "bekowa rack" posted earlier in this thread earlier you will see that the top of the clamp is squared off. I believe the "angled top" clamp is OG whereas the "squared off" style is a repop.

The woodslat bekowa roof rack in the earlier photos is my rack. The clamps are original. This is an early rack dating from the mid 50's. Here is a photo from a 1955 vw Accessory cataloge, and you can see the squared off clamps. They made 2 styles then: 200 x 125 cm with wooden grid (the one I have) and the 120 x 125 cm for sunroof buses, (a little taller for clearance of the sliding roof)