Westy SO42 Roofrack and Garage clearance

[chamilka]

Hi All,
My garage clearance is 84 inches (7 feet). I have a 1966/67 Split SO42 Westy. The bus is standard stock height with standard wheel/tires. I would like to install a Westfalia Roof rack (original dimensions) at the back section.
I would like to know if my bus be able to clear the garage with the roof rack.
If the Westy Rack does not fit my garage, I have look for a aftermarket low-profile one. Do you know someone who makes custom racks for our buses in SoCal area?

Thank you

[ZENVWDRIVER]

We put our full rack on, when our SO 33 was inoperable - I think, I measured our 7' opening, against the height of the rack, on the bus and all was good - I think - I hope - z

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[jeremy57ride]

I'm afraid it is painfully close and may not fit. I've heard of guys taking air out of tires each time. My old garage had 7 ft doors and it did not work for me. I specifically used 8 ft doors when we built.

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[EverettB]

I searched the Forum and someone else said you need 83.5" of clearance

This thread asking about pop-top clearance:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=602836

I found another person saying the rack is 450mm high total (450mm = 17.7")

Found this too:

[earlywesty]

I had a westy rack on a bus and it did not go in a 7' garage door. I had to deflate the tires, stock suspension etc. Bay window westy rack legs should work to lower it enough.

[LAGrunthaner]

I hope someone could post those shorter bay westy rack legs. I have the same problem. buseric is that 1" shorter? There used to be some lower profile racks by Pedro (not sure of the name spelling)? But I don't think they are available any longer.

[Miskeroo]

I use a 2x4 also. If I support the centre of my double wide garage door, it will give me the clearance needed to drive my 66 So42 pop top Westy, with a rear rack, into the garage.
My bus is stock height and the garage is standard height, around 7 ft.

I even measured a few times with a bar and level. It didn’t appear as though it would fit, but I drove in slowly, with a friend on a ladder observing, and luckily all was good.

One other option it to remove the trim at the top of the opening. The garage door is usually taller than the opening and you can sometimes gain a couple inches.

[NUTSFORBUSES]

My 21 had to wait for it's rack until I installed drop spindles and an IRS.
It missed the mark by 1/2".Every garage is different and it may also depend on the type of garage door you have, age of home, and construction. I installed the rack W/O the top luggage bars for about a year. My wife's rack is fine, for that I am grateful.
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[barfsurfer]

It's super close, and it might just barely work. I've got a stock height '66 kombi, and added a repro Westy rack not too long ago. I had to remove a bit of garage trim, but it fits. See this IG post to see just how close:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CRXXQt_McsP/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

I just measured the clearance of my garage opening, and it came it at 6' 11 5/16" - so just shy of 7'. So stock height of the bus + roof rack must be just over 6'11.
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[earlywesty]

[LAGrunthaner]

This might get the job done if your not concerned with looks.

https://nlavw.com/home/12-classic-roof-rack-for-vw-t2-t25-tin-top.html

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[LAGrunthaner]

buseric can you describe how you can tell that is not an OG rack? Your eyes are amazing.

[SplitBusVanatic]

@linda.
Bows on SO42 racks are curved.
That’s flat with curved outer pieces.
Once you see. You cannot unsee.

[KTPhil]

Beware, the door opening itself was not the limiting factor for my Bay pop-top Westy.

Part of the travelling mechanism of the roll-up door was the low point. I cleared it, but barely.

If I had to, I could have trimmed the end of the standard bracketry to get another inch or so, but it wasn't necessary in my case.

[Clara]

[LAGrunthaner]

Excellent thanks so much Clara and SplitBusVanatic, excellent explanation & visuals.

[Clara]