TheSamba.com :: View topic

Wed Feb 08, 2006 2:30 pm

Hi

Who can tell me more about the original ALOHA RACKS they made for the splitbus.
Are they really hard to find these days ?

Rgds

Filip

Wed Feb 08, 2006 3:08 pm

Aloha racks are/were a universal surf rack made to fit almost any vehicle with rain gutters (drip rails). For the longest time they were the best racks available, (one set I have, I've used for close to 30 yr.s!) and used to be fairly easy to come by. I bought a second set a few years ago at a yard sale to have any spares I might need.

I live in so. cal., and truthfully you don't see them much anymore, even here (where they made). Occasionally, I've seen them for sale on here.They became kind of out dated when most cars became gutterless, that and newer lightweight racks were produced.

One other thing, the original "straps" on the racks were large springs which tended to damage boards, wore out over time, and were covered with a white vinyl cover which was usually the first thing to wear out/go. Most have long since been replaced with rubber bungies.

I'm sure there are tons of them around in the rafters of beach city garages, just a matter of finding them. Hope this has helped. :)

Wed Feb 08, 2006 5:46 pm

http://cgi.ebay.com/vintage-Aloha-surf-racks-longb...dZViewItem

like these

Wed Feb 08, 2006 6:06 pm

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=213808

I tried putting the rack in the above link on my bus, but it wouldn't fit. I don't exactly remember why it didn't fit, just that I monkied around with it for a while and gave up.

Wed Feb 08, 2006 6:48 pm

Yeah, they're hard to find but worth it. I have my original pair that are rusted (who hasn't hit themself in the nose when the canvas tag broke off?), 2 other pair I bought from a friend who took them to Virginia when he left Diego for $75, a pair at Familianfest for $10 (the guy didn't know what he had), and I just found my best pair in the trash. My original pair I bought in 1966. They are orange and don't adjust on the risers. You have to bend them in the middle to fit the bus. The later orange and the blue ones are adjustable and will clear the roof dome without bending but you have to cut the middle u-bolt flush or it will gash your roof especially if you put heavy old long boards up there. There were accessory locks that had a huge side apparatus that became the nut and then locked to the riser. People would steal them all the time and just rip the gutter to shreads so people would make it easy if a thief came or else you had to take them off and put them inside with the wingnuts. I thought they are being reproduced?

Wed Feb 08, 2006 7:10 pm

Still got my original pair under my house. I used to use them to transport my ocean kayak and boards but since I bought my Ford "Exploder" I bought a set of Yakima's instead. Got them way back in the early 70's in Hawai'i at the swap meet...

Wed Feb 08, 2006 7:19 pm

Another thing was, jerk thieves would take one rack and get tired of rocking it back and forth till the gutter broke and leave one rack. My friends just put whatever single rack was left in the front and let the board hang willy nilly in the back just using one rack. After a while it became a fad and you weren't kool if you had two racks.

Wed Feb 08, 2006 10:18 pm

I paid $14.95 for mine, new. times have changed :roll:

Thu Feb 09, 2006 8:24 pm

$14.95 was a lot but it came in a cardboard box. It was 2 dollars more than $12.95 which was a scary lot. An 4 or 8-track or cassette (new format) was 1.49 to 2.49 and a serious investment.

Thu Feb 09, 2006 9:15 pm

Holy Shit!!!! $327.75 :shock:
http://cgi.ebay.com/vintage-Aloha-surf-racks-longb...dZViewItem

I can't remember how many pairs of those I've been through. Bought, traded, been given, given away..... that's just crazy money there on that auction.

Thu Feb 09, 2006 10:47 pm

DraginInk wrote: Holy Shit!!!! $327.75 :shock:
http://cgi.ebay.com/vintage-Aloha-surf-racks-longb...dZViewItem

I can't remember how many pairs of those I've been through. Bought, traded, been given, given away..... that's just crazy money there on that auction. :shock: :shock: :shock: Well apparantly, after that auction "winning " bid, I have two sets for sale! :wink:

Thu Feb 09, 2006 10:56 pm

In cases like this, I would email the second highest bidder. :)

Fri Feb 10, 2006 9:14 pm

Done :D

Thu Dec 09, 2010 4:21 pm

i'd like to purchase an aloha surf rack... anybody?

Thu Dec 09, 2010 5:22 pm

i would think somewhere locally along the coast of Florida or CA are your best bets while searching classifieds around those parts. Also eBay as every so often they pop up on there. The ones i have seen though never go cheap.

here's a copy of sorts:

http://www.malibulongboards.com/hardsurfrack.html

Thu Dec 09, 2010 5:22 pm

Aloha Surfboard Rack
94-1018 Lelehu Street
Waipahu, HI 96797-4904
Phone: (808) 864-3552

Thu Dec 09, 2010 10:20 pm

Original branded Aloha Surfracks do not fit on split buses. It is too low for the high curve of the roof and too narrow for the width of the roof. You may want to try what was very standard and typical of the split bus surf era, Quick-N-Easy racks made in Monrovia California. In the 60-70s this was the rack and is still available today. You have to buy them in parts. Typical is the four drip rail clamps, 2 tube cross bars, and the tube holder accessory.
You will see it in this link but you have to look closely. Page 71: http://books.google.com/books?id=DgEAAAAAMBAJ&...mp;f=false

Here on page 182: http://books.google.com/books?id=jAAAAAAAMBAJ&...mp;f=false

Here is a source: http://www.nrsweb.com/shop/product_list.asp?deptid=1379

Fri Dec 10, 2010 4:11 am

I took a beautiful set of Alohas to Bulli Brigade this year to sell. They went quick. They are still out there. E Bay has them from time to time.

Fri Dec 10, 2010 10:37 am

I've got a really nice set in the corner of my garage, stopped using them in 1986 but couldn't sell them. I know I'll never use them again but just can't bring myself to let them go.

Fri Dec 10, 2010 3:51 pm

Aloha racks were made by the Bay Standard Co. in Concord Ca. East of Oakland. My neighbor worked there in the 60's and I don't think they make them anymore - Replaced by Thule and Yakima - which are far superior.