--- Matthew Pollard <poll7356@UIDAHO.EDU> wrote:
> A fundamental flaw to this setup is the need to
> drill into the
> fiberglass poptop.  Thule sells a rack that will
> mount on the bus'
> gutters and is high enough to go OVER the pop-top.
> For those with yakima
> racks (myself included) the high-rise tower or
> insert is not high
> enough, but instead 11" spacers must me manufactured
> from appropriate
> material (i used 316 stainless steel seamless piping
> and welded and
> milled ends to account for the correct angle and
> 'footprint').  Of
> course, pop-ing my pop-top requires the removal of
> the rack first, but i
> don't think i could lift the pop-top with my canoe
> on it anyways.
> matthew
> 86 syncro westy
>
> Blake Heinlein wrote:
> > To the fellow Vanagoners who want the details on
> my rack system for my Westfalia.

Ive stood on top of my THULE racks that are bolted
into the fiber glass pop-top with no problems(i weigh
130lbs) They are "gutter mount" style Thule racks, and
latch onto these 6" long metal things(shaped like a
gutter) that bolt into the side of the pop top with
two nuts.

Also one time something VERY heavy, landed on top of
the front rack. It was so heavy that it made one of
the metal Thule rack posts fail, bending it over/down.
AMAZINGLY the gutter mounts did NOT fail and the
POP-TOP came out un-damaged without even a crack! I
dont know what this heavy object was, but what ever it
was, my Thule rack saved my pop top from damage.

Thanks

Phil***84' Westy Tiico "Millenium Falcon"
***60' Morris Mini 1340CC(Also for sale)

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