Tandem Bike rack?

Corn1849 · Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 3:26 pm Post subject: Tandem Bike rack?

Anyone have advice on a Tandem bike rack for a Westy?

I have Yakima bars... but it seems too high use a SideWinder.

See:http://www.yakima.com/Product.aspx?Number=8002071

With the the wheels on, the bike is about 2' longer than the van width.

(I don't have a trailer hitch, But I do have an old Paulchen).

Comments?
_________________
Now: '89 Westy
Then: '99 EVC
Before then: '84 Westy
Way before then: '64 Bus

rockfish · Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 3:36 pm Post subject:

Consider buying a trailer hitch. Mine is from GW - easy to install - all you need is a socket wrench and a crescent wrench to get the job done. And then I'd look at this product:

http://www.northshoreracks.com/NSR%202-bike.htm

Besides the 2 bike model, they have racks for 4 & 6 as well.

I have a swing out bike rack for 4 bikes - but we don't have the tandem bike width concern like you do...

Plus I can only imagine what a royal PITA it would be to do the roof rack program with any bike - let alone a tandem.
_________________
89 Westy
GW 2.5 5-speed trans

"It's what you learn after you know it all that counts."
- John Wooden

kd4yor · Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 4:34 pm Post subject:

I'd consider a small light trailer
_________________
82 Westy oil burner

buildyourown · Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 4:38 pm Post subject:

Roof racks are about the only way to do a tandem. Just too damn long.

Corn1849 · Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 4:39 pm Post subject:

Corn1849 · Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 4:42 pm Post subject:

bac914 · Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 4:54 pm Post subject:

Both of your rigs look nice.

One thing I've seen done was yakima bars mounted across the back of the tailgate. I don't know what mounts were used, but they were probably just simple gutter mounts. The owner was able to attach the bars so that they crossed the tailgate horizontally, with one at the top, and the other about mid way down, and then you can mount your tandem vertically using the yakima tandem rack. Similar to Gary Lee's (http://www.telusplanet.net/public/gary2a/rack/4bike/4bike.htm) or maybe just go with what he has and put a tandem rack on there instead of the "half bike" rack. I'd think you'd be able to position it so that it sticks a bit above the top, but isn't too low at the bottom.

connorsvw2 · Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 5:10 pm Post subject:

Not ideal because you have to store all 4 wheels inside, but I carry our 2 tandems across the back w/ a Thule 998 4 bike rack with no problem.

kd4yor · Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 5:17 pm Post subject:

Corn1849 · Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 5:29 pm Post subject:

kd4yor · Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 5:31 pm Post subject:

Corn1849 · Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 5:34 pm Post subject:

izzydog · Samba Member Joined: April 28, 2005 Posts: 665

Beautiful tandem!

I think I would go the trailer hitch route and take off the front wheel. A tandem would really be a pain to get on and off the roof and god forbid you forget its up there one day...

The cheapo OEM trailer hitches come up for sale on the Samba every now and again. Folks on the Vanagon List might help you find one too.

I've tried the Yakima bars across the rear hatch and it doesn't work for anything heavier than a light road bike. The Yakima towers won't stay put on a near-vertical surface - even with rubber feet and mongo torquing of the clamp. The highest point you could mount the top bar would still be too low to mount the bike's fork and not have the back wheel be really close to the ground.

S&S couplers? LOL.

Corn1849 · Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 5:49 pm Post subject:

mbcbags · Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 7:08 pm Post subject:

What if you installed a single cross bar with a fork mount (similar to the Yakima Boa) mounted to it with the towers as far back as possible in the raingutter? Then you could hang the bike off the back by it's front wheel and maybe strap the back wheel to the bumper. I'm not sure what the dims on the bike are and if there's enough height for it. You'd just have to try it, but it might be a simple solution to your problem.

I have a picture in my head but don't know if I'm describing it well enough. Does that make any sense?
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I'm horizontally opposed; what's your problem?

shepherdsond · Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2009 6:06 pm Post subject:

We carry our tandem (C'Dale Mountain) on a Yakima swing down hitch mount rack. The bike actually fits width wise without removing either wheel. I just turn the front wheel around as far as it will go and bungy it to the frame. In this form the bike is no wider than the mirrors and we have had no problems during thousands of miles of driving including off road. You do want to be careful though if the road is narrow as a branch could potentially pull it off. A hitch mount rack is so much easier to use with the weight of a tandem than a roof rack which I have also used).

Dogpilot · Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2009 6:39 pm Post subject:

Draftmaster makes a receiver hitch mount for tandems. You may want to consider a small trailer. I have a similar problem with my GT recumbent. It is loooong as well. It does fit my little mini trailer quite nicely with the yakima King Cobra, which can accept extended wheel trays. I am just such a dwarf and a weakling to boot, that I don't think I could hoist my recumbent up to the roof without doing some kind of muscular/skeletal damage.

http://www.precisiontandems.com/draftmaster/draftmaster.htm
_________________
Geology with a Syncro rocks!
86 Syncro Westy AKA "The Bughunter"
98 Disco I
08 Range Rover SC
08 VW Rabbit S
1951 O-1G

Claretcarat · Samba Member Joined: November 08, 2006 Posts: 90

Trailer hitch carrier is best and a standard tandem is not too long if you turn the handlebars at 90 degrees. I've been toting a tandem on the back of my Miata for 5 years with no problem, legal or otherwise.

Corn1849 · Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2009 3:02 pm Post subject:

Thanks all...
I'm going to first try to rig it on my Paulchen.....
and if that won't work, ..... go with a Yakima swing down hitch rack (bighorn).
_________________
Now: '89 Westy
Then: '99 EVC
Before then: '84 Westy
Way before then: '64 Bus

Corn1849 · Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2009 10:47 am Post subject:

This will do for now.......

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

_________________
Now: '89 Westy
Then: '99 EVC
Before then: '84 Westy
Way before then: '64 Bus


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