Sorry, I forgot to add this picture...to my previous message

 Beethoven's Paulchen rack system                             [Return to the home page]

 [Image]This first image shows the rack in the folded position. When the
        rack is folded, it is held in place with a rubber strap and hook.
(You can see this in a photo below.)

Note the brackets clinging to the hatch at the top and bottom. There are
four brackets, each hooking around the edge of the hatch. Each bracket fits
the body curve beautifully and is padded with rubber. The rack clings very
tightly to your hatch. There isn't any play at all.

You can also see the bike holders in this photo. These 'trombone out' to fit
your bike, and are then tightened with an included allen wrench. When you're
not hauling bikes, these serve to give you a somewhat wider shelf area.

This photo was taken with the shelf in the 'down' position. Note    [Image]
that the rack completely clears the rear wiper, so that you can use
the wiper while the rack is mounted.

You may also be able to see the lock in this photo. It's the small brassy
thing clinging to the top of the right-bottom bracket. It keeps someone from
ripping off this clearly superior rack for their undeserving bus.

 [Image]
        These images show the rack from the side. The rack is very  [Image]
        non obtrusive when it is folded. You can see the 'spacer
bar' accessory near the top of the rack. This is designed to keep bikes from
scraping your paint when you're hauling them.

One of the many great things about this rack is the fold-down shelf. Why
don't more racks have shelfs? It's so useful! You can carry any of the
following things on a shelf:

   * Spare tire
   * Cooler
   * Suitcases
   * Camp furniture
   * ... even bikes!

Notice in the picture to the right that you can see the little rubber strap
and hook that holds the shelf in the folded position. It's hanging down
below the shelf.

Now I know you're saying

     Ok already -- I'm convinced. Where do you get one? How much do
     they cost?

Well, I got my rack from

     OWASCO Volkswagen, Inc.
     1425 Dundas St. E.
     Whitby, Ontario
     L1N 2K6

     1.905.668.9383
     1.905.668.9734 fax
     1.800.263.2676 (from Canada)

Unfortunately, they no longer import the style of rack that I purchased.
Mark McCulley ordered and received the newer-style rack, and he writes:

     I just received a Paulchen rack system that I ordered from Owasco
     VW in Ontario. They've changed the design a bit and Owasco is not
     importing the old design anymore. As far as I know, they are the
     only importer in North America of these German-made racks. The new
     rack lacks the two vertical and two horizontal cross members
     giving better visibility out the rear window (according to
     Owasco), but fewer places to support and tie down odd articles
     placed on the rack (according to me). So now the basic rack is
     U-shaped. It still has the fold-down shelf which is cool but no
     longer uses the telescoping trombone things to carry bicycles.
     Instead there are V-shaped aluminum channels like you see on
     Yakima and Thule racks. This seems like it may be an improvement
     for bicycles but offers no versatility for other uses. Another
     limitation is that the rack will carry only two bicycles -- there
     is no extension offered for an additional two bicycles. Four
     bicycles seems like a lot of weight to hang off the rear hatch,
     but their literature showed this with the old design.

     The price of the new rack is a bit cheaper, but still very steep.
     Owasco offers the basic rack with everything required to carry two
     bicycles for $429 CDN. Right now I'm overwhelmed with trying to
     assemble this thing. There are dozens of clamps, nuts and bolts,
     and funny-shaped pieces of metal spread out on my living room
     floor. When I get it together and on the van, maybe I'll post some
     photos.

If you're considering buying a used old-style Paulchen rack, here are some
prices that I paid for my rack (new):

          Part:            Price:     Comments:
                       (each, Cdn $)

     Paulchen rack           $249.00
     for Vanagon (&
     mounting kit)

     BMX telescoping          $65.00  These hold both normal and
     rail                             mountain bikes, and you'll want
                                      two.

     Spacing bar              $33.70

     Anti-theft               $32.50  You definitely want one of these
     device for rack                  lock sets if you can get one!

     Ski grippers             $27.30  Each pair of ski grippers holds
                                      one pair of skis. To use these,
                                      you need to move the bike
                                      holders to the vertical part of
                                      the rack and attach the
                                      grippers. This isn't that much
                                      of a hassle, and you'd probably
                                      only change over twice a year.

You can also get this rack from:

     Cowell Motors Ltd.     (Near Vancouver, BC)
     1.604.273.5208

Finally, the address of Paulchen in Germany is:

     Firma Paulchen
     Grandkohlenweg 18
     D-22549 Hamburg

     040 800.26.24
     040 802.93.6   fax

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                                                            coyote@chaco.com
                         Copyright � 1997, Ron Lussier. All rights reserved.