The Go Rack

So the hunt continues. I’m looking for what needs to be on top of the Vanagon.

And I’ve found it. The go-rack (www.gorack.com). Let’s say I was searching aggressively for something that would let me pile it on.

It being anything from 4x8 sheets of plywood to say an office desk or cubicle panels. (I was thinking of useful at work) Or perhaps my yard cart wagon or camping gear if I’m going to a fly-in. (Yes, Powered Paraglider gang drives to fly-in’s… and sometimes camp when they get there.) On the top end of the spectrum they camp in the motorhome they drove in, on the realist version there are a fair number who still set up tents. Me, I set up a tent. Being able to pile the gear off and on would be a real plus. The Go-Rack has that covered. There is a modular approach to the system and in it, there’s a tote container (heck it looks like a small pick-up truck bed box) that can go right on top and lock in. Off the rack, wheels can be added, but in a camp site it looks like it’d be a great locker to keep everything from wild animals to nosey neighbors out of whatever you’ve put in it. For the rack on the vehicle, there are uprights that can be added to secure everything from bicycles to whatever you might push the envelope to…

I had a chance to talk with the creator of the rack, Mike McMillan. He’s a smoke jumper and photographer. Sounds like the kind of guy that knows what he wants in his equipment. It seems Mike was looking for the ultimate rack and nobody made quite what he wanted, so he made it himself. In email on the rack I had mentioned that I saw the ‘deck’ appearance of the system to be a real plus, whether intended to have a person or not on it, the ability to support the load of a person would rate to me as a real benefit. (I could stand on it to trim those oak trees branches for one thing.) One might sleep out under the stars on it, see things at a sporting event (say the local rugby tournament or soccer fields), or have a high perch at air shows or tailgate parties. Mike assured me he’d had a fair number of guys on his go-rack and he was looking at strengthening the production model a bit to make the potential use as a deck (if not for more than loading) a reality. I like very much the sound of that. I can’t ever see more than 2 people being on the top of the Vanagon, but I really like the ability. Heck, I’d even have to consider a ladder because I know I’d look for excuses to use it.

The Go Rack & Cargo Box

Mike says he’s looking at offering different sizes. The original is eight feet long. Nice. I could easily see a 4 foot model being useful too. I’d want the eight though. Even if I have to pony up for more Thule racks to support it (okay, I’m keeping my eyes open for more anyway) I’d want the eight.

Thinking even further on this, I’d bet that a deck like device placed 4 inches or so higher than the roof of a van or car might actually help prevent heat buildup on that vehicle’s roof. That might help keep temperatures down inside that vehicle. Might is a pretty big word here, But I bet I’m right. Spacing between the rood & deck would be the key, if there’s enough room to reduce heat transfer, the roof would be cooler. But I digress. Go take a look at www.gorack.com and see what Mike’s going to be offering. I think you’ll like it, I know I sure do.



The rack’s currently pre-production. I’m willing to say that if more people are able to express interest, it’d more than likely assist in getting the manufacturing process rolling. To that end I say, “Let’s roll.”






go rack

How to get your car/vehicle in gear

Well the long and short of it is pretty simple, have an idea of what you want. When I found ‘Friday’ my idea was pretty simple. I wanted a vehicle that could haul my flying gear. Since I was replacing the old Dodge van (hereafter to be referred to as the BA14-mobile as I painted a giant BA14 on the roof while repairing rust with POR-15), a van made perfect sense. Never mind the fact that the previous owner already had removed and/or lost the middle bench seat and it was already configured like the BA14-mobile. Never mind that it was once orange and had been painted white, like my VW THING or any number of other little things that make me certain that this Vanagon was meant to be mine. Friday was what I wanted. But then when I started looking on E-Bay I found someone selling roof bars that would fit her. Thule roof bars. At a great price, they came and are now on her. I can haul a 4x8 sheet of plywood in style now (or a couple). I’m set. Or am I? A set of Thule roof bars begs the question; What can I add now? Now that I brush the low hanging oak limbs in my yard that is. Two things; Cut the oak, then add something to make it better the rack better. A roof basket, well that’s logical. A Safari basket, even cooler. Speaking of cooler, I’ll be able to add one with the camp chairs if I have a basket on top. Height? Pretty darn high. Solution, mount it all forward so the natural shape of the VW’s door/seat arrangement makes a natural step. You’re basically sitting over the front wheels, they sell steps that hook on vehicle wheels for loading and unloading… no need for a step or ladder. I like. I like. So where do you find a basket reasonable? E-bay right? Well, yes and no. Waiting might pay off, but I’m hedging my bets looking in the junkyards. Problem is this. Here in my town we have probably only one junk yard that still lets you walk around looking for what you want/need. All the others pretty much computerized what they have and then list off parts from the junk vehicle. But what year and model is my Safari rack from a wrecked Jeep or Suburban sitting on? “Well we really don’t list accessory items,” the lady at one yard told me. But I can see the thing on that coppery crumpled SUV over there, how do I get to it? There really doesn’t seem to be an answer to that. Besides, do you want to pick something from 50yds away or do you want to put your grubby little paws on it when you’re thinking about throwing down some hard earned cash? I need to see it up close. The lady let me know it’s slower on the weekends; perhaps one of the yard guys could help me out then. Yes, I’m planning to try and take a look tomorrow. This thing looks big, perhaps I should take some binoculars.

So it's Sunday Morning now and I went out yesterday looking for that elusive rack. A few things. I took a spotting monocular and that rack might not be a rack. I went into the Junk yard place at something like ten 'till noon. Bad call, they close at noon. Something to keep in mind if a salesperson says 'noon' in a conversation, don't assume that they mean they open at noon. Also, never take 'not too busy' to mean that. Instead, 'not too busy' hereafter shall mean 'packed like a bordertown Texas greyhound station' and you know where it went from there. I didn't discuss rack, baskets, or gear with anyone. I left. This is a job for another day.
Well at least Moonlight bowling went well last night.

My Dad's Cooler Than Yours

I’d like to start by saving my Dad is a dreamer. He’s the type that if he can dream it, he can do it. I have been privy to a lot of dreams over the years. A lot of them never happened. But a lot of them did. My Dad flew. My dad dreamed of flying, and I dreamed of flying too. I fly now. My parents owned Volkswagens when I was very young. The last one went when I was in middle school. My sister crashed it and it was never the same. It was relegated to the yard of lost dreams. Eventually I took it apart and learned enough about cars to swap engines twice after high school (both times successfully).

But I was in my 30’s before I had myself a regular driving VW. I found a THING, the VW type 181. It’s a great little 4 door convertible that lets you take off doors and fold down windshields like they did in the war. For a kid that grew up with cars that were ‘that German staff car’ the 181 is the ultimate fun machine. It lets you think REALLY outside the box. Well within a month of me getting mine, my Dad got his. He drove his home almost twice as far as I did in secret and then let the cat out of the bag. I was thrilled to no end. I was being like Dad and Dad was being like me. How could it get any better? Well that was some 4 years ago. I still am trying to be like Dad, and now Dad’s being like Papa (his dad) was. When I was 17-18, Papa gave me his ’68 Chevy Nova. Last week, with Rebecca at 15, he passed the torch. He gave her is orange ’73 VW Thing. I hope someday I’m able to do something similar for my grandchild. The torch is being passed. Rebecca went with me to get my THING and she had a fair amount of input on ‘Friday’ our Vanagon. We ride and talk in the VW’s a fair bit. They’re a part of who we are. They’re in our blood and now My father’s VW is my daughter’s.

And right now, that’s why my Dad is cooler than yours.

Sunday PM

Well another week begins to the beat of a different drummer.
Another Sunday has snuck past with nary a peep. I think I slept the whole day away. And man was it great. Moonlight bowling was great but co-workers took the daisies off 'Friday' and put them on someone else's car. Man Rule: Don't mess with a man's car. I wasn't pleased about it as I don't mess with someone else's car, I expect mine is off limits too. Last time my car was messed with it was broken into. Before that it was keyed badly. I'm not sympathetic when someone's messing with a car. Okay, I'll tell the truth; I really get pissed at the idea. I better stop at that. I am looking forward to this week though. More soon.

1984 Vanagon!

1984 Vanagon!

So here's a Vanagon blog I found today while hunting pictures for a project idea I've come up with for 'Friday'. Funny enough, the blog is here on blogger too. Long story short These folks set about getting a Vanagon about 2 months ago. I like where they're going with it at the moment even if the direction they're rolling isn't the one for me. Have a look see. I think they're like minded folks.
-Rob "VW guy" D.