the disadvantage of my setup is that it is fixed- i can't space out the bars for a kayak or whatever.  i could add another set of fake rain gutters, i imagine.  for me, though, the only things that go up there are skis, and the bars are spaced just right from snowboards to long nordic skis.  bikes go on the back hatch, using a custom welded contraption that can't be beat, also courtesy of the p.o.

Subject: RE: Roof Rack width survey
Date: Fri, 18 Jan 2008 14:04:53 -0800
From: robyn@trainwire.com
To: aarondpearson@hotmail.com; vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com

Cool, thanks. Yeah, Gary�s
are great looking, but won�t fit Thule
accessories, being a round bar. So I�d need new bits. 

 

  I�ve seen rain-gutter installs
before that require the rack to be removed before popping anything. Not the
most� convenient arrangement, but they�re around.

 

I�m still undecided :)

 

Thanks,

 

Robyn

 

From: Aaron Pearson
[mailto:aarondpearson@hotmail.com] 

Sent: Friday, January 18, 2008
2:00 PM

To: Robyn Lundstrom;
vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com

Subject: RE: Roof Rack width
survey

 

it was installed by the p.o., using
the fake rain gutter bits attached directly to the fiberglass.  it was
done using the rubber patch and some silicon glue, i've never had a problem
with them.  i don't see how attaching to the real rain gutter would work,
unless you never pop the top.  garry lee has a pretty cool setup, too.

> Subject: RE: Re: Roof Rack width survey

> Date: Fri, 18 Jan 2008 13:47:10 -0800

> From: robyn@trainwire.com

> To: aarondpearson@HOTMAIL.COM; vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM

> 

> Hi Aaron,

> 

> Which Thule
rack feet did you end up using with your Westy, and are they attached to the
pop-top or the roof gutters? I'm sort of in the market for a rack, and many
look good, except I already have a bunch of Thule accessories which won't really fit anything
else, AFAIK. So, I'm leaning strongly towards a Thule solution.

> 

> Robyn

> 

> -----Original Message-----

> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Aaron Pearson

> Sent: Friday, January 18, 2008 1:04 PM

> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM

> Subject: Re: Roof Rack width survey

> 

> d.o.t. regulations state that the bars can't go past the side-view
mirrors. 78" is okay, i measured it. I had 78" yakima bars on my syncro 7-pass. i thought
they looked cool, with the short towers. I never utilized that extra length for
any roof-rack purposes, but you can do pull-ups off them- a useful trailhead
parking-lot diversion. my westy has thule
square 66" bars, i wish it had the big ones.

> 

> aaron

> '87 syncro westy ej22

> 2009 4wd pop-top routan

> 

> > Date: Fri, 18 Jan 2008 14:48:52 -0600

> > From: aquasheck@HOTMAIL.COM

> > Subject: Roof Rack width survey

> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM

> > 

> > Hi All,

> > 

> > I'm putting together a Yakima Roof rack for my 88 vanagon and was wondering
if people are favoring the 66" or 78" bar lengths - looks like both
are acceptable since the towers curve in a touch.

> > 

> > the overall width of a vanagon is 73 inches right? - sort of leaning
towards the 78", for aesthetics if nothing else.

> > 

> > -Ben

> > 

> > _________________________________________________________________

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