Canoe and bike rack- need help finding a picture

crowinghen

I swear i saw a picture here of a vanagon with a Yakima rack that was set up for hauling both bikes and a canoe. I'm trying to locate it-- does anyone remember it or have a picture of their set-up?
We just purchased two yakima hirise towers and long bars-- trying to see how we want to mount it-- not sure if we want to just use the rack for the canoe and buy a Fiamma bike rack, or if we should just use the rack to carry everything.
I guess I'm a litle concerned about the height with the bikes on top.
thanks for any help!
Susie
_________________
1984 Westfalia a work in progress " Butters"

IrideWheelies · Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2011 12:03 pm Post subject:

I am not a fan of bikes on top. I carry a canoe on top but haven't put bikes up there for a few years. It was always difficult loading them and I usually needed a helper. Often I would just throw the bike inside to avoid the hassle of mounting it, which was damaging my interior. Also, I could really feel the wind resistance with bikes on top. My top speed and fuel economy suffered noticeably.

One rainy morning I was loading a bike on the roof and I slipped and fell to the ground. I managed to land on my feet but not in an ideal position and I wrenched my back. That afternoon I ordered a Thule T2 and it was one of the best investments I've made in my van.

http://itsthewater.blogspot.com/2007/03/my-thule-t2.html

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

Carrying the canoe on top is great. I have Thule, not Yakima, but it's the same. I simply use two ratchet straps on the load bars and it's very secure. I have two load bars on the poptop and one more over the luggage rack. I use the Thule super-high foot for the one over the luggage rack. I had to buy a full set of four feet but only used two so I might sell the other set of feet.

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89' Dove Blue Syncro Hightop

ragnarhairybreeks · Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2011 12:34 pm Post subject:

18' cedar canvas Grenwood (~110 lbs)

16' kevlar/glass prospector (~50 lbs), with paulchen rack, 3 bikes)

alistair
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'86 7 passenger syncro, converted to westy pop top, project still in progress
'82 westy, diesel converted to gas in '94, now gone...
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DAIZEE · Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2011 4:47 pm Post subject:

Tride that is some back seat driver!!! Smile

_________________
'09 2.5L Jetta 5 cylinder, 5 spd, super turbo, see thread in H2O Cooled Jetta, etc...
83.5 Vanagon L Riviera Model with 98 1.9L TD AAZ 4 speed Daily Driver 3 out of 4 seasons (sold)
84 Vanagon GL Wolfsburg Westy WBX 4 speed (sold)

kamzcab86 · Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2011 5:20 pm Post subject:

I tried to find the pic (didn't find it, lots of canoe pics though), but came across this:

Who here owns Coyote Shuttle in Moab?!

[end threadjack Very Happy

]
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vspecter · Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2011 8:10 pm Post subject:

I saw that van when I went to Moab this summer !!
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Westfalia 1985
Doka 1985 Sold

Roadtrip to from Québec to Utah: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqCpcA7NLdE

connorsvw2 · Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2011 10:33 pm Post subject:

Here's my rig with both a canoe rack and the modified Thule swing-out bike rack with 4 bikes on it, just not both at the same time (yet):

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'85 Westy Wolfsburg camper/2002 2.5 Subaru since 2003.
'85 GTI 1.8L 1-owner 8v-gave up on 9A 2.0L 16v transplant. Keeping her stock!
'99 Passat 1.8T Variant-AKA "The Money Pit". Still limping along...
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plummerdesign · Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2011 11:43 pm Post subject:

Crowing Hen,
It has been great to read along as you bring your Camper back to life! And you ask a good question in regards to racks.
I have tried different combinations like when we had 1977 Westy with a bike rack up front. That worked swell.
.
Our white 1984 Westy had everything (bikes and kayak) on the roof using a pile of Yakima attachments and saddles. Not so good, as bikes are beasts to put up on the roof.
.
The green (current) 1984 Westy has a Yakima roof system employing the towers/bars and saddles for kayaks. On the back there is a Yakima hitch mount rack for bikes (GoWesty hitch). The current set up removes in a snap and loads/unloads with ease. Two thumbs up.
.
Cheers,
Jeffery
.

_________________
It is old and green and it makes me grin.
1984 Westfalia 1.9

bjrogers86auto · Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2011 3:54 am Post subject: racks

Don't forget that any weight on the top will require either shocks to assist or removal of the canoe to pop the top.

I put Yakima racks on last year with the intention of carrying a kayak or four. I tried an empty roof box and it was very difficult to pop the roof.

The boats went on a trailer. The racks are in the shed until the shocks are installed.

Brian.
_________________
86 Vanagon GL Westfalia 2.1
18 Nissan Frontier Pro 4X
19 Honda Civic Hatchback

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OddN · Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2011 6:00 am Post subject:

Ive got Thule racks for my canoe and a ladder from Gary. Only regret I didnt order the ladder with premade bike carrier, I guess i will have to make something similar on my own

My car:

Ladder with bike carrier:

_________________
1991 VW Multivan syncro 1,9 TD

crowinghen · Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2011 2:33 pm Post subject:

WhiteH2O · Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2011 3:40 pm Post subject:

I have yakima racks set up for carrying multiples, or a combination of: whitwater kayaks, surf skiis, sea kayaks, canoes, bikes, skiis, and snowboards. I have also had a cargo rack up there and also lots of wood from the lumberyard. Doing a canoe and bikes is super easy, but you will most likely want to carry around a little step ladder to make things easier. If you have long bars like I do, get the gunwale brackets on one side for the canoe, and whatever bike rack on the other side. Super easy.

I have had the pop top up with 4 whitewater kayaks up top, but I will admit that it was super hard to get up. Took two of us. I think struts are in the future for sure to help out in that case. The top up with a surfski and a bike or two isn't difficult, though.

_________________
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2002 Subaru WRX Wagon
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kamzcab86 · Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2011 4:13 pm Post subject:

buildyourown · Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2011 5:30 pm Post subject:

A hitch rack is by far the best way to carry bikes. It is not silly, nor expensive to add one just for bikes.

You should take into account how costly and liable it can be if you were to lose a bike. How much damage could be done to your vehicle? In some states, it would can be a felony offense with large jail sentences for unsecured cargo.

Not something to take lightly IMO.

connorsvw2 · Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2011 6:29 pm Post subject:

I agree. I added a Dennis Haynes trailer hitch just to be able to mount up a hitch-mount bike rack-I'm WAAY too short to be even thinking about roof mounted bikes on a Westy! I love being able to swing it all out of the way and get into the rear of the van, with 4 bikes loaded up. I did have to weld up a custom brace to prevent the torque of the rack from bending the rack fully-opened-works great for me.

I welded up my own canoe racks using gutter mount clamps given to me by a friend-I think it cost me $16 in materials from my local metal scrap yard. 4 flip-up cams and the racks are off. I personally wouldn't want to try and lift my 16-foot Penobscot canoe (60 lbs, I think) mounted to the pop-up and not be able to fully raise the rear gate either.
_________________
'85 Westy Wolfsburg camper/2002 2.5 Subaru since 2003.
'85 GTI 1.8L 1-owner 8v-gave up on 9A 2.0L 16v transplant. Keeping her stock!
'99 Passat 1.8T Variant-AKA "The Money Pit". Still limping along...
'09 Subaru Outback XT 5-speed, 245 hp rocket (wife's car)

indytriple · Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2011 7:26 pm Post subject:

crowinghen · Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2011 7:34 pm Post subject:

point well taken-- we will consider getting a hitch for a bike rack-- thanks--- well after we get the mechanicals figured out!!

susie
_________________
1984 Westfalia a work in progress " Butters"

connorsvw2 · Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2011 7:49 pm Post subject:

The picture shows 2 modifications-rack is/was a Thule 998XT 4 bike swing out rack.

#1 notice I shortened and raised the rear of the rack by cutting the 2 inch receiver tube and stacking, welding and gusseting the joint. This was because the Thule stuck out straight, hung low and dragged on the ground at low approach angles. This fixed that problem. Yakima's model is better suited for a low clearance rack than Thule.

#2 notice the horizontal brace. This rests/sits on top of the hitch and prevents the weight of a loaded rack from exerting full leverage from the center of the hitch. Now the leverage starts at the pivot region and barely flexes even with 4 full-susser mountain bikes loaded up.
_________________
'85 Westy Wolfsburg camper/2002 2.5 Subaru since 2003.
'85 GTI 1.8L 1-owner 8v-gave up on 9A 2.0L 16v transplant. Keeping her stock!
'99 Passat 1.8T Variant-AKA "The Money Pit". Still limping along...
'09 Subaru Outback XT 5-speed, 245 hp rocket (wife's car)

indytriple · Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2011 7:56 pm Post subject:

vspecter · Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2011 9:24 pm Post subject:

_________________
Westfalia 1985
Doka 1985 Sold

Roadtrip to from Québec to Utah: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqCpcA7NLdE


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Canoe and bike rack- need help finding a picture
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