Steve,

I have carried up to three bicycles attached to a Thule rack attached to
bolt-on rain gutter sections mounted on forward part the pop top.  This
worked well for me HOWEVER be advised that securing a load on the pop top
in this position greatly increasing the effort required to raise the pop
top.  Even the unloaded rack w/bike mounts caused a great increase in the
force needed to raise the roof.  With one bike attached it turned into a
two person job most times and with two bikes mounted I definitely needed
an assistant to raise/lower the roof.  Never tried it with three bikes up
there.  In fact I am not sure whether the weight of the racks and three
bikes (100-110lbs???) is such a good idea although I never noticed any
damage from doing so in the couple of times I had three up there.  Others
have mounted their bolt-on rain gutter sections and racks/attachments
towards the rear of the pop top and this should be much easier to lift
due to the increased leverage of having the weight located closer to the
fulcrum (pop top hinge.)  I would probably seriously investigate a
rearward mounting location should I choose to do this on my current Westy.

Best wishes,

Tony

Anthony L. Mourkas
Hampden, Maine, USA
1984 Vanagon Westfalia...putting away for the Winter today :-(
1990 Passat GL
1991 Jetta Eco Diesel