I'm buying a 99 Doge minivan and trying to decide whether to purchase the factory racks or not. I have Yakimas on my current minivan witch has rain gutters. What's the best option? cya Bob Denton Aqua-Gulf Transport bdenton_at_aquagulf.com www.aquagulf.com <http://www.aquagulf.com> *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
In my experience with station wagons and minivans from when I worked in car rentals, most factory-installed roof racks are more cosmetic than functional. They are suited to light luggage at best, and I would not risk my valuable kayak on them. (I've installed Terzo roofs over the bogus factory racks that came on my second-hand Escort wagon.) Any reputable brand sport rack should do, and most sell what they call "artificial rain gutters" (what's artificial rain anyway?) for cars that don't have gutters. Requires some drilling of your new minivan, but less grief-inducing than watching in the rearview mirror as your boat goes airborne. Cheers, Philip T. At 04:27 PM 11/23/98 -0500, you wrote: >I'm buying a 99 Doge minivan and trying to decide whether to purchase the >factory racks or not. I have Yakimas on my current minivan witch has rain >gutters. What's the best option? > >cya > >Bob Denton >Aqua-Gulf Transport >bdenton_at_aquagulf.com >www.aquagulf.com <http://www.aquagulf.com> > > >*************************************************************************** >PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List >Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net >Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net >Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ >*************************************************************************** > **************************************** Mountain Equipment Co-op 1655 West 3rd Avenue, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6J 1K1 Tel: 640-732-1989 Fax: 604-731-6483 email: pid_at_mec.ca Visit our website at: http://www.mec.ca ***************************************** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Original message from Bob Denton: I'm buying a 99 Doge minivan and trying to decide whether to purchase the factory racks or not. I have Yakimas on my current minivan witch has rain gutters. What's the best option? Bob, I just bought a new Dodge Caravan and was posed with the same question. I found that Yakima sells an adapter that mounts on the new Dodge Caravan racks so that you can use your existing Yakima bars and attachments. I think the adapters ran about $180. You can easily take the adapters off and go back to the original rack system as needed. I don't know what you'd do if you bought your van without any rack system, although I'm fairly sure something exists out there. Anybody? David Powdrell *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Another viewpoint from another pilot. Aircraft always have backups to equipment, dual magnetos, mechanical and electric fuel pumps, etc., anything that is important and can be backed up, is backed up. If carefull maintenance and preflight checking were so good at preventing mechanical failure, there would be no need for all of the backups. I was once in the right seat of a medium twin, in the soup (on instruments) when we ended up "needle, ball and airspeed" with ice because both vacuum pumps failed within 5 minutes. Tell me about how reliable mechanical devices are, and how I should trust my life and the lives of others to only one system. I tow a trailer, and it has a hitch that is very strong, plus safety chains in case the ball breaks or becomes disconnected. In addition there is a system to apply the trailer brakes if the trailer becomes completely disconnected from the tow vehicle. Even though this is a very rare occurance, all of these things are required by law for my 10,000 lb GVW trailer. The $50 dollars for the energency brake system is cheap insurance compared to the risk of a runaway trailer. There is also the time required to charge the battery and hook up the system each time I hitch the trailer. Still, cheap insurance. I consider two redundant systems adequate only when there is a way for me to know instantly when one system fails. I don't have anything that tells me the moment a strap, of rack tower breaks, so I want at least three ties on my boat. I generally use a rack system that is bolted to the vehicle (not clamped or strapped), two straps to hold the boat to the rack, and bow and stern straps or ropes. You are welcome to use as little or as much tiedown as you want, but please remember that you are responsible for any and all damage caused by things falling off of your vehicle. I support your right to risk your own life, but I believe in limits on your risking the lives of others on the road. If you insist on using only two straps then I hope you carry very good insurance. If your boat comes off and kills someone, you are going to need it. If you have never been involved in a lawsuit then let me tell you that one is much more expensive than two extra straps and a minute or so to connect them. michael jcmartin43_at_aol.com wrote: > > In a message dated 11/27/98 2:04:04 PM Eastern Standard Time, > BDenton_at_aquagulf.com writes: > > << > I guess many years of flying have made me careful on my "preflight" which > includes manually testing all the towers and straps for any sign of movement > and checking the straps prior to use. I also tie up the ends in the event of > a buckle failure. > >> > > As a pilot, I second Bob's sentiment. And as a pilot, I can state > definitively that I have never been killed in a plane crash; I cannot > attribute this enviable record to the fact that I always looked for stuff > nobody else would look for on a pre-flight, but I can't say it's <not> why I'm > still alive, either. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Michael Neverdosky wrote: --snip-- "I tow a trailer, and it has a hitch that is very strong, plus safety chains in case the ball breaks or becomes disconnected." --snip-- I have had a disconnect in which both chains snapped but the 3/4" cable held -- dug a trench in the Trans-Canada, but avoided damage to the vehicle or trailer. Richard Culpeper *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
johnlebl_at_aol.com wrote: > > In a message dated 11/28/1998 9:22:45 AM EST, MichaelN_at_cycat.com writes: > > << Another viewpoint from another pilot. > > Aircraft always have backups to equipment, dual magnetos, > mechanical and electric fuel pumps, etc., anything that is > important and can be backed up, is backed up. >> > > Not to mention the reason for magnetos in the first place so the engine is not > dependent on a battery, alternator/generator electrical system for ignition. > > Thanks you very much for the post. I was beginning to fel like the lone > stranger on that subject. > > Just because one has teh most expensive roof rack is no gaurantee it won't > come off. > > Thanks you very much for your profound logic. > > I used to have a 5 X 8 utility trailer. I prided myself in using a solid > stainless steel trailer ball drilled adn tapped to accept a 3/4" cap screw. > One day coming back from my deer lease on a country road, the vibrations had > loosened the bolt, it fell out leaving teh ball sitting on top of the hitch. > > I approached a wooden one lane bridge across a small creek on a dirt country > road. When I hit teh bump to get onto the bridge at about 10-15 MPH (really > slow) it came of adn the tongue hit the bridge surface. The momentum along > with the tongue heavy trailer plowed up about 20 3" X 10" oak boards before > stopping. It took my dad and me about two hours to put that bridge back > together. > > Thank goodness it did not go over the side of the bridge or come off about 5 > minutes sooner when I passed another pickup truck. > > I had two 5/16" safety chains attached and it snapped them like kite string. > A lesson learned the hard way. > > I now use a pair of 1/2" hardened steel safety chains and got rid of all my > "neat" trailer balls and bought those with a 1" through bolt. I use a hammer > wrench to attack them with a lock washer adn another nut "jammed" against the > first one. > > Back to rof racks. Nylon straps are strong, but are not nearly as abrasion > resistant as other material. The least little thing will wear right through > them. A point well made in another post. > > Again, thanks for sharing. > > John *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Another good choice is spectra. You can go to any boating store, West Marine and Boat US come to mind and get line made for sailboats that is very strong, does not stretch to any noticible amount and is very UV resistant. In the small amounts needed, the cost is not bad. michael lbowles_at_bmts.com wrote: > > Scott Ives wrote: > > > > Also, whenever I stop during my highway trip I check the lines. > > Invariably, the nylon lines have loosened a bit at highway speeds. It > > takes less than a minute to re-tighten each trucker's hitch. > > Nylon stretches badly when wet and will becvome quite slack in rain. > I'd suggest polypro or polyester. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Erik Sprenne wrote: > > > I purchased a pair of ethafoam rack pads that > > clip onto the bars and have a v-shaped top to carry my wife's boat. > > If these are a commercial product, I'd be interested in finding out where > you bought them > I bought them at coastal Expeditions in Charleston, SC (843-884-7684). I think they were ~$16 for the pair. REI sells a similar product, but theirs are narrower and don't support quite as well. My current setup is one pair of each, but I keep meaning to add some foam to the REI pads to match the hull contour a little better. Steve -- Test Scoring & Reporting Services Sometimes, you never can University of Georgia always tell what you Athens, GA 30602-5593 least expect the most. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
REI usually has a sale, I think around late March or early April, on both Yakima and Thule. About 25%, I think. If you call them, they would probably tell you when the sale will be. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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