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BrickFan Samba Member
Joined: September 12, 2007 Posts: 114 Location: Alaska
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Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 1:25 pm Post subject: Does anyone have a front mounted bicycle rack on their van? |
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I am thinking of making a front mount to haul my bicycle and wondered if anyone else had done it and if you did, did you have any problems with cooling? I am worried that a bicycle on the front would disrupt the air flow coming into the radiator.
I don't want to mount it on the roof and it would be a hassle mounted on the back hatch. If mounted in the front, It would not be in the way of anything and I could always keep an eye on it. _________________ '86 syncro
'82 westy diesel 1.6 n/a |
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buildyourown Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2009 Posts: 1668 Location: Seattle
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Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 1:28 pm Post subject: |
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Cooling will be fine.
The issue I see is visibility. |
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presslab Samba Member
Joined: September 29, 2008 Posts: 1730 Location: Sonoma County
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Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 1:35 pm Post subject: |
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I have a front receiver hitch mounted pretty low, about where the bottom of the stock bumper is. I use it for a cargo carrier.
I tried my Thule T2 carier, with one bike it's okay as long as you put the handlebar on the passenger side and drop the seat. With the handlebar on the driver's side it's pretty much dead center and in the way of viewing the road. _________________ 1986 Vanagon Westfalia EJ25
1988 Subaru GL-10 EJ20G --- 2000 Honda XR650L
2010 Titus El Guapo --- 2011 On-One 456 Ti |
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IrideWheelies Samba Member
Joined: July 09, 2009 Posts: 386 Location: Olympia, WA
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Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 1:35 pm Post subject: |
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I've considered it but think it may block the headlights. Also, there may be dead bugs all over your bike. Not cool. _________________ 89' Dove Blue Syncro Hightop |
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Rhinoculips Samba Member
Joined: August 08, 2005 Posts: 918 Location: Keystone, Colorado
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Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 1:48 pm Post subject: |
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The visibility is fine, headlight work alright and flow to the radiator is uneffected. The downside is that the bike will be more exposed to driving rain, muck, sand etc. that can do a number on the bearings and creep into crevices. I used a cheaper bike rack that is normally used on the rear bumper. Just under the windshield I riveted two attachment points that are identical to those found in the roof luggage rack on Westies. I used these to mount the straps that would normally go to the back hatch (when mounted on the rear bumper) Then the bottom section is fastened to the stock front bumper with bolts that hook into two small holes. I prefer the front mount over all options. _________________ “May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds.” - Edward Abbey
Click to view image |
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buildyourown Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2009 Posts: 1668 Location: Seattle
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Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 2:04 pm Post subject: |
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As an alternative, I would suggest a hitch mounted swing away. They are affordable and allow access to the hatch w/o lifting. |
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kevtherev Samba Member
Joined: December 23, 2007 Posts: 897 Location: the 51st state
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Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 2:37 pm Post subject: |
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This rack opens with the gate
It can hold up to 4 bikes |
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vanis13 Samba Member
Joined: August 15, 2010 Posts: 3100 Location: ABQ NM USA.... Except when not
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Posted: Sun Apr 03, 2011 8:36 am Post subject: |
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I'd love to see some pics of front racks.
I've been thinking of installing a front hitch just so I have the option to install a hitch mount bike rack on the front.
PS. I have a swing away on the back and its ok but its heavy and the back sags w/all the other crap I carry around and its quick but not super quick to swing out (and it swings to the passenger side where we tend to do most of the living when parked so its a little in the way). _________________ 83.5 Westy with Subaru 2.5, 4 spd manual, center seat, COLD A/C on 134a!, Winter camp heated with an Espar B4 gasoline furnace
www.SuperVanagon.com - some stuff I make |
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ajdenette Samba Member
Joined: February 15, 2009 Posts: 768 Location: Hope Valley RI
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Posted: Sun Apr 03, 2011 8:58 am Post subject: |
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We have a couple clamp on racks for steel bumpers on the wety my grandfather ties the top of the rack to the lugage rack however to keep good wiper operation he has a block of wood he places unter the roap at the bottom of the face of the lugage rack to space the roap. i find on my syncro without the upper mount it tends to bounce around a bit. _________________ 1985 2wd Westy with 2000 Subaru 2.2 current driver
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=685635
1986 Syncro Doka Project next in line
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=732777
1990 Vanagon Syncro Base awaiting body work |
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BrickFan Samba Member
Joined: September 12, 2007 Posts: 114 Location: Alaska
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Posted: Sun Apr 03, 2011 1:16 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for all the tips guys! _________________ '86 syncro
'82 westy diesel 1.6 n/a |
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noganav Samba Member
Joined: January 06, 2006 Posts: 1236 Location: San Diego CA
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0to60in6min Samba Member
Joined: November 27, 2006 Posts: 3417 Location: OR & CA (Oregon/California)
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Posted: Sun Apr 03, 2011 5:15 pm Post subject: |
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I have a bike rack in the front of my rig, it holds 2 bikes.. but..
I do not have lot of infos since it came with it when I bought the van.. the brand is Graber, I send them email for infos but never get any reply.. so I sent it to a shop to make one similar but stronger (thicker wall tubing)..The receiver is quite simple, a L-shape tube welded to the front bumper mount...
btw.. I don't think it's straight from Graber... it's being modified to fit...
Visibily is fine, cooling is fine, may be a bit of reflection from the headlights on the chrome parts of the bike at night but easily fix by covering them with some rags..
also I am not worry about the bikes, they are mountain bikes, not high end/expensive bikes...
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