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corbett8488 Samba Member
Joined: June 17, 2013 Posts: 10 Location: Virginia
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Posted: Sun Aug 18, 2013 3:02 pm Post subject: Front Luggage racks... useful or cool to look at? |
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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 |
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77kafer Samba Member
Joined: April 08, 2008 Posts: 823 Location: New Windsor, NY
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Posted: Sun Aug 18, 2013 3:41 pm Post subject: |
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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! _________________ 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" |
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Quohog Samba Member
Joined: June 30, 2009 Posts: 30
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Posted: Sun Aug 18, 2013 3:54 pm Post subject: |
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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! |
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corbett8488 Samba Member
Joined: June 17, 2013 Posts: 10 Location: Virginia
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Posted: Sun Aug 18, 2013 4:17 pm Post subject: |
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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? |
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Quohog Samba Member
Joined: June 30, 2009 Posts: 30
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Posted: Sun Aug 18, 2013 5:56 pm Post subject: |
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Two holes, but I don't have any wood slats or anything like that. Not sure which model you are talking about.... |
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corbett8488 Samba Member
Joined: June 17, 2013 Posts: 10 Location: Virginia
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Posted: Mon Aug 19, 2013 2:15 pm Post subject: |
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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. |
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Quohog Samba Member
Joined: June 30, 2009 Posts: 30
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Posted: Mon Aug 19, 2013 3:02 pm Post subject: |
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Are there two types of hood racks. I'll post a photo (with shield down) when I get a chance. |
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corbett8488 Samba Member
Joined: June 17, 2013 Posts: 10 Location: Virginia
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Posted: Mon Aug 19, 2013 4:31 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks Quohog I will owe you a beer |
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Rev. Scott Samba Member
Joined: June 04, 2006 Posts: 770 Location: Philo, Ca.
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Posted: Mon Aug 19, 2013 9:23 pm Post subject: |
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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. _________________ "I haven't seen one of those since I was shootin' at 'em!" |
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MRJEL Samba Member
Joined: June 04, 2012 Posts: 478 Location: Jawja, USA
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Posted: Tue Aug 20, 2013 6:24 am Post subject: |
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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. |
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Pinky Samba Ass Bandit
Joined: December 31, 2003 Posts: 554
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Posted: Tue Aug 20, 2013 1:56 pm Post subject: |
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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! That was honestly the most that I used it though.
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! |
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Captain Spalding Samba Member
Joined: February 19, 2005 Posts: 2519 Location: . . . in denial.
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Posted: Tue Aug 20, 2013 4:29 pm Post subject: |
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Okay. Here's the hood rack that's currently offered by TTS. Looks to be the "one hole" variety.
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.
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MRJEL Samba Member
Joined: June 04, 2012 Posts: 478 Location: Jawja, USA
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Posted: Tue Aug 20, 2013 7:18 pm Post subject: |
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How about a front luggage rack......
in the rear?
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corbett8488 Samba Member
Joined: June 17, 2013 Posts: 10 Location: Virginia
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Posted: Tue Aug 20, 2013 8:06 pm Post subject: |
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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? |
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Semper_Dad Samba Member
Joined: May 14, 2005 Posts: 3510 Location: Indiana
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Rev. Scott Samba Member
Joined: June 04, 2006 Posts: 770 Location: Philo, Ca.
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corbett8488 Samba Member
Joined: June 17, 2013 Posts: 10 Location: Virginia
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Posted: Wed Aug 21, 2013 6:12 am Post subject: |
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Simper Dad, That is a great set up. your cage looks custom built. |
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Semper_Dad Samba Member
Joined: May 14, 2005 Posts: 3510 Location: Indiana
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corbett8488 Samba Member
Joined: June 17, 2013 Posts: 10 Location: Virginia
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Posted: Wed Aug 21, 2013 7:19 pm Post subject: |
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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. |
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77kafer Samba Member
Joined: April 08, 2008 Posts: 823 Location: New Windsor, NY
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Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2013 6:39 am Post subject: |
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corbett8488 wrote: |
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. |
I'm beginning to think that is their way of saying - We Do Not Recommend Driving Around With the Windshield Down. (with stuff on the rack). _________________ 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" |
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