Front Luggage racks... useful or cool to look at?

corbett8488

I have a few questions here on this topic and didn't see it anywhere else so here goes.

Are the hood mounted luggage racks useful?

Can you still lower your windshield?

Can you see anything with gear (Backpacks duffel bags) up there?

i have see a few different styles anyone have a preference, why?

Thanks

77kafer · Posted: Sun Aug 18, 2013 3:41 pm Post subject:

Quohog posted this yesterday:
Okay, I have one of those Thing Shop hood racks on my Thing. Looks great, but the one time I used it, I found it annoying to look over the duffle bag onto the road!
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Supposed to be 77käfer, but there are no umlauts on an american keyboard

Overheard on 27 June 07, one lady to another when they saw my Harli in a parking lot at West Point, "maybe he found it on the clearance aisle at the Volkswagen dealer"

Quohog · Samba Member Joined: June 30, 2009 Posts: 30

Yeah, I can lower my windshield! No, I don't like using it for anything. Yes, it looks cool, and I would never get rid of it. It is basically powder-coated Thing Bling!

corbett8488 · Posted: Sun Aug 18, 2013 4:17 pm Post subject:

Quohog, does the one you have have a single hole or two holes on each mount leg? I have seen both. I have pumped that i can clear the windshield by the way.

Also, the wood slates just stick on with 3M tape?

Quohog · Samba Member Joined: June 30, 2009 Posts: 30

Two holes, but I don't have any wood slats or anything like that. Not sure which model you are talking about....

corbett8488 · Posted: Mon Aug 19, 2013 2:15 pm Post subject:

Okay so I called the Thing Shop today to order my luggage rack and I went ahead and asked them just to make sure nothing against you Quohog... The guy on the phone said there is no way to have a luggage rack and still be able to put the windshield down. He called it a "Geometric impossibility"

Quohog, could you post a pic if it's not to much trouble.

Quohog · Samba Member Joined: June 30, 2009 Posts: 30

Are there two types of hood racks. I'll post a photo (with shield down) when I get a chance.

corbett8488 · Posted: Mon Aug 19, 2013 4:31 pm Post subject:

Thanks Quohog I will owe you a beer

Rev. Scott · Posted: Mon Aug 19, 2013 9:23 pm Post subject:

My TTS hood rack accommodates a lowered windshield just fine. A load of tents and sleeping bags is tolerable...duffles, etc. become a bit more of a challenge. I use mine.
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MRJEL · Posted: Tue Aug 20, 2013 6:24 am Post subject:

OK, I'll be the "odd man out" here.

Since "useful or cool to look at" was asked, I will be the one who says, I don't like the look!

In no way disparaging those who do, I just don't like they way they look.

Pinky · Samba Ass Bandit Joined: December 31, 2003 Posts: 554

I had one on my first Thing and found it super useful when my hood cable started to go out! I could pull on the cable and lift the hood at the same time! Laughing

That was honestly the most that I used it though. Wink

I did use it every now and then for soft bags when camping, and like Rev. Scott mentioned, tents and lower profile items were all I felt comfortable strapping to it when driving. Keep in mind that Things have a plunging noseline though, so you can get away with more than you think. I'd imagine a spare tire on the hood would obstruct your vision more than most of the stuff I tied to it.

Just make sure to mount it further down the hood, and you'll be able to fold down your windshield just fine (unless they have changed the dimensions.) It also makes a nice footrest when you're sitting on the hood watching meteor showers! Laughing

Captain Spalding · Posted: Tue Aug 20, 2013 4:29 pm Post subject:

Okay. Here's the hood rack that's currently offered by TTS. Looks to be the "one hole" variety.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Below is an example of the "two hole" version. It looks like both types will permit the windshield to be lowered.

I think esthetically I'm of the same mind as MRJEL, but if I felt I had a legitimate need for the hood rack, after seeing a photo of it with the wood slats, I might prefer something other than the wood. Maybe some sort of black body side molding.

MRJEL · Posted: Tue Aug 20, 2013 7:18 pm Post subject:

How about a front luggage rack......

in the rear?

corbett8488 · Posted: Tue Aug 20, 2013 8:06 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the input guys, I am pretty split in the look of it as well, but really need to free up some space.

I like that rear mount idea

Has anyone here ever mounted a luggage rack on a show bar?

Semper_Dad · Posted: Tue Aug 20, 2013 8:36 pm Post subject:

Rev. Scott · Posted: Tue Aug 20, 2013 9:45 pm Post subject:

Here is ONE of the threads on rear racks.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4...p;start=20

Put "rear rack" in the search at the top of this page and several come up.
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"I haven't seen one of those since I was shootin' at 'em!"

corbett8488 · Posted: Wed Aug 21, 2013 6:12 am Post subject:

Simper Dad, That is a great set up. your cage looks custom built.

Semper_Dad · Posted: Wed Aug 21, 2013 7:29 am Post subject:

corbett8488 · Posted: Wed Aug 21, 2013 7:19 pm Post subject:

So I e-mailed TTS just to check if there was anything different about their rack and I got this message back

"Sorry, the windshield is not able to fold down with the luggage rack"

I'm starting to think there are different manufactures that make the side that run up toward the cab longer. It seems like all the shops say it doesn't fit.

77kafer · Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2013 6:39 am Post subject:


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Front Luggage racks... useful or cool to look at?
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