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Mon Oct 27, 2014 1:52 pm

I've done several searches here and elsewhere. Maybe I'm not using the right search terms.

Does anyone know what a split bus weight limit would be for a rack mounted to the drip rails? Specifically a 1962 double cab with 3 leg rack but realistically ANY overall advised roof weight limit from the factory.

I saw 220lbs somewhere but wasn't sure

Thanks in advance.

Mon Oct 27, 2014 3:20 pm

Would depend on the manufacture of the rack. Anywhere from 100 to 300 Lbs..

Mon Oct 27, 2014 4:11 pm

Let me go check my ZVW rack sticker on my 6' VWoA rack, be right back...

OK, I'm back, and as stated earlier- it's is marked 220lbs. I'm sure that really means up to around 350 evenly distributed, as VW notoriously underrated their capacities for such things.

Mon Oct 27, 2014 5:07 pm

Hmmm....., I can't see anything in the splitty manuals but the early bay ones say 165 lbs for the DC under roof capacity (220 for bus), the drip rails are really similar so I'll bet that's the same for a split. They say "evenly distributed" so more legs on the rack is better, I doubt it's the strength of the drip rails that are the issue as much as handling unless you also have a heavy load in the back to balance things out.

Mon Oct 27, 2014 6:05 pm

350-400 lbs

about the same... maybe more.

Mon Oct 27, 2014 8:36 pm

Really appreciate the feedback. I was looking into one of those rooftop tents and was curious if it could handle the tent +2 adults (on a DC). It would be a Yakima rack, so the rack really isn't the problem. Its more of a matter if the rails can handle it.

I'm just a bit too long for the bed to lay down and it would be fun to have it up there for the kids.

I wonder if there was a way to tell if the rails were overstressed

Mon Oct 27, 2014 11:03 pm

on a related noted I know that HWE racks much like the ones that EZCamper makes originally came with a weight load sticker. IS anyone repopping them?

Tue Oct 28, 2014 6:18 am

I have seen racks that doubled as an observation deck. Not sure how much they hold but seems like you could put a tent on one. Here's a link to a guy that makes repro sundial/caravelle decks...pretty sweet.

http://customautoracks.com/vwracks.htm

Tue Oct 28, 2014 8:04 am

If your'e using 1A raingutter towers just use MORE sets. Mount 4 bars on 4 towers. Four contact points, each capable of holding 200-300lbs easily. It would be interesting to see an actual test on how much it would take for a rail to fail.

Tue Oct 28, 2014 2:56 pm

mtb7001 wrote: If your'e using 1A raingutter towers just use MORE sets. Mount 4 bars on 4 towers. Four contact points, each capable of holding 200-300lbs easily. It would be interesting to see an actual test on how much it would take for a rail to fail.

Ding Ding Ding! The perfect answer. On my Vanagon, I simply ran three 1A bars- I could stack two daycare centers up there and had enough capacity for a spare nursing home- all full of diapers.

Really though, the 1A towers distribute the weight with their wide feet on the gutters better than any VW rack. More importantly, and mtb7001 knows this one... the rack's clips handle the PULL against the gutters very well. It is this pulling force when on the highway that cause more stress to roof racks and gutters than the weight ON the gutters. If you catch my drift.

Tue Oct 28, 2014 4:35 pm

Malokin Martin wrote: Really appreciate the feedback. I was looking into one of those rooftop tents and was curious if it could handle the tent +2 adults (on a DC). It would be a Yakima rack, so the rack really isn't the problem. Its more of a matter if the rails can handle it.

I'm just a bit too long for the bed to lay down and it would be fun to have it up there for the kids.

I wonder if there was a way to tell if the rails were overstressed

You mean like this?-

I have camped with two kids and 1.75 adults (my wife & I). I wouldn't recommend that many people up there. Not because of the drip rails. But because it turns into a Monkey House and you can die if you fall out!

I don't have pics, but I made a rack that would hold the Camp'otel in the bed at the same height as an HWE halfrack. I never camped in it that way, but it was a better solution than so high on the roof. Easier to get in and out of and a slightly lower profile. My plan was to mount a piece of plywood in the rack and fab up a cover for it so we could sit up there. I called it "The PORCHE".

There was plenty of storage under the camper and up on the rack. Ialso made chains to hold the gates level when disconnected for a handy place to cook, store coolers, etc. I would be camping in it like a Boss if the economy hadn't kicked my ass.

In the pic you can one of the VW bus jacks that I used in the jackpoints to both level up the bus and stabilize it. That worked great.

And to answer the OP's question, a rack that positions the legs over the A & B pillars and the posts between the side windows will hold several 100 pounds. I don't think it is the bus structure that will limit you. It will most likely be the rack bending.

Tue Oct 28, 2014 7:39 pm

Thanks folks! Great info all around. Really appreciate it.