TheSamba.com :: View topic

Fri Mar 07, 2008 12:33 pm

As some of you may know I build surfboards and surf when I get the chance. So I had to have a way to carry a board or 2 on my buggy. I wanted to make sure that it would be strong enough, resist the elements here at the beach, and be removable. So here is what I came up with.

It is 26" long and is about 2" above the windshield.

It is 2 side view mirror mounts that clamp to the buggy windshield frame. I got them from Dino at Bugshields for $10-$11 each. They are made out of aluminum and are clamped on using 2 hex key bolts.
I had my local aluminum welder/fabricator bend and weld some 1" round stock to the mounts.

I took an old windshield frame to him so he could mock it up and so the brackets would line up with the windshield perfectly.

Here is how it looks on the buggy. (Please no mention about the messy garage, it was raining when I took the pictures and I could not move the buggy outside as I would have liked to)

I will put the rack pads on later, but that is how it will work. You could also use pipe insulation to pad the windshield bar and the "roll bar" to keep the board from getting dinged. I will use bungie cords to keep it from flying off. You could use it to carry other things like a kayak, canoe ,or even some 2x4s back from Home Depot.

I did have to lower the seats 2" so I would not hit my head on the board while driving.

The total cost including the mounts was $70, maybe a bit pricey but I will be able to use it for many many years and I will now be able to take the buggy when I go surfing!

**It can be used with groove forward or groove backward windshield frames.**

Fri Mar 07, 2008 1:25 pm

I like it, the surf board really adds character to the buggy. I don't surf, (don't live anywhere near anyplace I could), but I'd like to do that just for shows. Clever idea...

Fri Mar 07, 2008 1:35 pm

I would love to have one of those. How about I vacation at OBX this year and pick one up, and you can teach me to make a board and surf. I am not sure what I could offer in return though. Maybe help on one of your other buggy projects?

Fri Mar 07, 2008 2:44 pm

Yea that's a sweet invention there. good job.

Fri Mar 07, 2008 6:55 pm

very nice! i second the obx thing. i'll pick one up when i come down! :D

Fri Mar 07, 2008 7:26 pm

Way cool dude! It also fits into the 70s era look.

Fri Mar 07, 2008 8:32 pm

Looks great. I live in So Cal and am a surfer and also building a buggy. I was thinking what to do to about mounting my board. That's kind of what I was planning. Thank you so much for sharing you ideas. I can't wait to get my buggy finished.

Sat Mar 08, 2008 5:10 am

where did you get that rear view mirror?/ I want to buy one for my buddies buggy?

Sat Mar 08, 2008 8:26 am

Coop
Thanks, how are the Manxes doing?

engineerorange
You are welcome any time to help with my next project. Your buggy looks awesome and you should be very proud.

EMPIImp69,
Thanks for the kind words, as well as the "Glassmaster" comment.

90volts,
Let me know when you are coming down, I can set up some lessons and board building classes for you and engineerorange.

RaythO,
I got the mirror from here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SURF-BOARD-rear-vie...enameZWD1V thanks to jspbtown.

Anyone who is interested in a rack, PM me and I will see if I can get a quantity discount.

Sat Mar 08, 2008 8:59 am

man thats a great idea, can you fab me up one, i waterski, and would like to be able to attach my waterski the same way as the surfboard

how much

Sat Mar 08, 2008 9:09 am

Vince...Been accumuling parts and knowledge, hope to get the body off the Florida one this weekend, start building the new chassis. Put me down for one of those surf bars if you do go into production...

Coop

Mon Mar 10, 2008 1:51 pm

Nice Manx Vince..Where did you find that?

Mon Mar 10, 2008 2:12 pm

I would love to apply the same idea to a nice, removable lightbar.

Mon Mar 10, 2008 2:37 pm

Siggy
I have something like that in the works. I was thinking about making a bar that would work with a top on (soft/hard). Instead of attaching to the top of the frame it would attach to the sides kind of like the bars that go on Jeep CJs or Wranglers. I just need to come up with something for the back bar.

Mon Mar 10, 2008 4:41 pm

I totally agree with the side mounting although I'm not sure what you mean by the back bar?

If you make such an animal, let me know and I'll definately help you offset costs.

Mon Mar 10, 2008 5:21 pm

The back bar would be what I would use to hold the board instead of the "roll bar" since it would be covered by the top.

For a light bar I would need to know how many lights and how far apart you would like them spaced. I would have some tabs welded to the bar in those places. You could then drill the tabs to hold the lights of your choice and drill some holes to run your wiring. How would you make it removable wiring wise? Would use have a quick disconnect at the bar itself, or would you have a pig tail that ran down the windshield frame to a switch or disconnect under the dash?

Mon Mar 10, 2008 6:22 pm

So the back bar would only be for a surfboard application?

For the lightbar I would just like 4 forward and maybe room for a small one pointing back. (not sure how useful that would be mounted on the front shield)

I would run the wires down the passenger side windshield and pigtail it under the dash.

I would possibly be interested in a whole rack while we are at it..... even though I have a hard top on it's way? ah, maybe not.

If it's a possibility, let me know a price when the time comes.

Wed Mar 12, 2008 1:11 pm

Hope you wear slip on Vans when you drive around like that...

Wed Mar 12, 2008 2:07 pm

surfnc wrote:

Looks really good. Are bungee cords going to be enough to hold it down? It makes for a nice airfoil and may have the tendancy to lift off at highway speeds. Too bad the board does not fit between the windshield frame and your added bar.

Wed Mar 12, 2008 2:24 pm

dan macmillan wrote: [It makes for a nice airfoil and may have the tendancy to lift off at highway speeds. Too bad the board does not fit between the windshield frame and your added bar.

A "tendency to lift off" is a serious understatement. That board will generate more than enough force to pop off a bungee. I would go with surfboard straps, which have a loop-through buckles that the strap passes through to prevent that sort of thing. Or...just cruise the thing on side streets all the way there and back. :shock: