RE: Hatch-mounted carrying rack?Nils,

I am tempted to try the very same solution.  It would put a little more weight on the nose, so that's OK.  There would be a slight increase in drag, but I don't think it would be noticeable.  Two drawbacks I can think of:  possible obstruction of headlights, and BUGS.  In the summer the bikes would collect suicidal bugs faster than a mosquito fogger at 2 am.  

I was thinking of devising some kind of a brush guard with removable bars on which you would mount the bikes.  It's just a matter of getting them high enough as not to drag the pavement on steep driveways.

Chris.
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Nils Huebner Rain 
  To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM 
  Sent: Wednesday, July 26, 2000 11:31 AM
  Subject: Re: Hatch-mounted carrying rack?

  speaking of racks... 

  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.

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

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

                     N i l s   R a i n 

               ( 4 2 5 ) 7 0 3 - 1 3 4 6 
        n i l s h @ m i c r o s o f t . c o m 

  -----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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