Hi everyone-
I have all of the parts to put a Yakima rack on my Westy pop-top...and I might even have some time to install it pretty soon!
I've got my Wide Body brackets, 1a hi-rise towers, and 78" load bars...I want get this sucker on so I can take my 17' canoe on family camping trips.
Before I get the drill out, I was wondering if anyone had any advice/tips on drilling the pop top fiberglass to mount the Wide Body brackets...special drill bits, special techniques, unexpected problems, etc.?
I am interested to hear everyone's experiences with this process!
Thanks-
the miz
Planned install of Yakima Roof Rack on Westfalia Pop Top
- the miz
- Addicted!
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Planned install of Yakima Roof Rack on Westfalia Pop Top
1982 Westy- Vana White
- airkooledchris
- IAC Addict!
- Location: Eureka, California
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Re: Planned install of Yakima Roof Rack on Westfalia Pop Top
when we took our big canoe camping with the westy I just put it on those foam blocks on the roof and then tied it down.
no need to drill brackets/etc
but - you have to take it down to pop the top this way. I didn't mind, but I could see where someone might want to just mount it on and pop up the top without taking down the canoe first.
no need to drill brackets/etc
but - you have to take it down to pop the top this way. I didn't mind, but I could see where someone might want to just mount it on and pop up the top without taking down the canoe first.
1979 California Transporter
- sped372
- IAC Addict!
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Re: Planned install of Yakima Roof Rack on Westfalia Pop Top
Yikes, seems like an awful lot of extra weight on the hinges/hardware. Maybe the late bays have sturdier fixings but I wouldn't feel comfortable putting additional stress on our hinges.airkooledchris wrote:I could see where someone might want to just mount it on and pop up the top without taking down the canoe first.
1971 Karmann Ghia - 1600 DP
1984 Westfalia - 1.9 WBX
1984 Westfalia - 1.9 WBX
- bretski
- Ellipsis-Meister
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Re: Planned install of Yakima Roof Rack on Westfalia Pop Top
+1. That would be way too much weight.sped372 wrote:Yikes, seems like an awful lot of extra weight on the hinges/hardware. Maybe the late bays have sturdier fixings but I wouldn't feel comfortable putting additional stress on our hinges.airkooledchris wrote:I could see where someone might want to just mount it on and pop up the top without taking down the canoe first.
Back to the OP's question, the one thing I would suggest would be to use metal backing-plates with the most surface area you can get to fit. I've seen too many Westies with cracked tops from where the owner installed a rack...
1978 Deluxe Westfalia - "Klaus"
"transcripts are overrated. hardware store receipts: those are useful." --skin daddio
"transcripts are overrated. hardware store receipts: those are useful." --skin daddio
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Re: Planned install of Yakima Roof Rack on Westfalia Pop Top
i have a picture in my head. bucking a headwind, oncoming semi, sudden, strong pressure wave of oncoming semi overcomes already stressed pop top latches, pop top does what pop tops do and it does it with a canoe too!
1/20/2013 end of an error
never owned a gun. have fired a few.
never owned a gun. have fired a few.