Anyone have a bike rack?

rdelica

rdelica

Active Member
Or any ideas on solutions that might work?

I've got Yakima roof bars (with 1A high rise spacers), but not a whole lot of space up there (with a large sky box) plus, I'm not sure I'd have a lot of fun hurling a bike up on my high roof.

Considering hitch mount, but of course, that means fabbing a hitch in the first place, so I'd love a workaround in the meantime.
 
I just searched for vw vanagon bike carrier...looking for the kind I used to have with the straps that hook on the edge of the rear hatch..https://www.etrailer.com/Best/Volkswagen/Vanagon/Bike_Rack

I would bet there is a used one on your local CL somewhere. Would be a cheap solution until you get the cabbage to have that swing-out rear tire carrier/trailer hitch with the integrated compressed air tank fabbed up :D
 
I have a Thule bike rack (I think it's the gateway X2 that's at the top of that link Morgonzo posted) that I fitted to my L300 high roof a couple of weekends ago. It definitely works, but I didn't feel like it was as secure as a more standard hatchback vehicle. Maybe because the straps have to extend so far. I can probably tighten it down a little better for a longer trip, but the swing away bike racks looks pretty convenient and nice, although a lot more money + a hitch.
 
Jessey Dearing said:
I have a Thule bike rack (I think it's the gateway X2 that's at the top of that link Morgonzo posted) that I fitted to my L300 high roof a couple of weekends ago. It definitely works, but I didn't feel like it was as secure as a more standard hatchback vehicle. Maybe because the straps have to extend so far. I can probably tighten it down a little better for a longer trip, but the swing away bike racks looks pretty convenient and nice, although a lot more money + a hitch.
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Nice - I'm thinking of picking this one up myself for a temporary fix. Any issue with the strap's clips rubbing the paint on the edges where they hook on?
 
rdelica - you are in Tacoma. If you make it up to Vancouver, everyone with a Delica around Vancouver (there are thousands now) goes to E&H Hitch in Burnaby. About $CAD 450 for a L300 or L400 hitch and they can do it up for you in a half day. Full Class 1 or 2 (I don't tow) or whatever hitch with a 2" receiver for bike rack. You can every get triple hitch solutions so you can tow , plus have a bike race. There are two E&H's unbelievably in the Lower Mainland but it is this one you want: http://www.eandhhitchshop.com/
 
dr_airtime said:
rdelica - you are in Tacoma. If you make it up to Vancouver, everyone with a Delica around Vancouver (there are thousands now) goes to E&H Hitch in Burnaby. About $CAD 450 for a L300 or L400 hitch and they can do it up for you in a half day. Full Class 1 or 2 (I don't tow) or whatever hitch with a 2" receiver for bike rack. You can every get triple hitch solutions so you can tow , plus have a bike race. There are two E&H's unbelievably in the Lower Mainland but it is this one you want: http://www.eandhhitchshop.com/
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Thanks! I need to get up there and explore a bit anyway. I know you can get something similar from Rising Sun, a three-hitcher that's bolt on, for roughly the same price.
 
rdelica, can you send along a close-up pic of your Yakima 1a with extenders? Im interested to see how much it clears the high roof. I've got the Crystal Lite.
 
Yeah no prob. I drove it to work today, so I'll snap one at lunch. Off the top of my head, I'd say there's ~4 inches from roof to bar.
 
Here you go.

Not as much clearance as I thought; prob closer to 2". Still plenty to allow attachments to the crossbar. I have a Yakima box and awning attached currently.

The bit circled in red in one of the photos is the 1A spacer.
 

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Great - the real reason i want the rack is for the awning. Maybe a box but dont want to block out skylights. Thanks again.
 
The Slim Shady is pretty nice. Ties down pretty well, too. Withstood a bitch of a windstorm at Descend on Bend in October when a few others were flying all over the place.

I think the ARBs look better though - and I think it's possible to mount those to the gutter, thereby eliminating the cost of the roof rack, if that's all you need it for!
 
Once you hitch rack you'll never go back. I've had them all or have seen them all or know people that have had them all. My favorite is the new Thule T2 Pro. It's just smart and easiest to use. Comes with everything, locks and such. However all the "cool" bike guys do the 1up bike rack. My Thule was just destroyed in a rear ender (on my wifes truck, not the Deli), so Ima try a 1up for a change.
 
Thanks!

And damn, that is one full Delica. Love that color, too.

My cheap strap-on rack is doing fine for now, but I'm in the process of having a swing-away tire carrier put together. Meaning I'll either be looking for a tire-mounted rack or a hitch mount that extends beyond the tire.
 
It was fun. 6 people, 3 hours each way, took the back roads, piece of cake. I have a decent sized spare still under the van, not the same size as my other tires, but close and it'll get me a few miles up the road in a pinch. Then I have the FTS hitch which you have to weld so it doesn't sag (designed as bolt together). I'm super happy with it. But yes a swing away that I can put a generator, diesel, gas, tire and 4 bikes would be ideal. Ha.
 
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