RE: Hatch-mounted carrying rack?I notice a lot of interest in rear-hatch racks, when I've been hoping to mount a front bumper bike rack on my '85 vanagon. Compelling reason: it keeps the rear hatch accessible.

  My rear hatch will go up with my rack and bike on it... with a little muscle.. and will stay up with the pvc catch on the struts.

  Are there downsides to the front location? reduced visibility?, less aerodynamic? 

  Could interfear with cooling on water cooled vanagons.

  Bill

  I'd love to hear if you have tried mounting a front bike rack on a vanagon or a type II 

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  -----Original Message----- 
  From: K. Taylor [mailto:ktaylor@premier1.net] 
  Sent: Tuesday, July 25, 2000 7:33 PM 
  To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM 
  Subject: Hatch-mounted carrying rack? 

  When I bought my '90 Westy Multivan, the dealer was selling a rack that 
  mounted on the back hatch and could hold anything from a storage chest to a 
  couple of bicycles and, when not in use, folded up flat against the hatch. 
  When I went back to their parts department a year, I found out they were no 
  longer available in the U.S.  They are manufactured by a Canadian company. 

  Does this sound familiar? Anyone know what the brand was/is, or where I can 
  find a used one in good condition?  Are there other 'back-mounted' racks 
  available? 

  -- Ken 

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