Power Kite Forum

Thule buggy rack

beachrights - 4-5-2008 at 02:58 PM

So I recently sold my beloved 1993 Volvo 850 that was my kite car. Scratches- who cares! sand in the trunk- who cares!

I bought a perfect 2002 Saab 9-5 Aero that does not have one scratch on it. There was no way that I was going to put my trunk mounted bike rack on this car for my buggy! It worked great on the Volvo but would scratch and rub the car.

I had a thule roof rack from a couple of years ago sitting in my basement. $60 later at Eastern Mountain Sports for a fit kit and I was in business. I used the "bike trays" to have the siderails of the buggy sit in. I can still use the original wheel straps to rachet the rails down tight! As for the front- this is where I am so proud- I found a box of old Thule parts at my local landfills swapshop and looked through it. I found a part that looks like a wheel holder and said " What are the chances it will fit?" well, look at the pictures! I took one of the original wheel locking things from one of the trays and ran it through the hole in the downtube of the buggy so it comes out the other side of the wheel holder. I can now "lock" the buggy in place securely with really no issues. i still need to buy a few washers to keep the bolt from slipping through the hole but I still can not believe it worked!






flyhigh142 - 5-5-2008 at 04:24 PM

That's a really clean set-up. I have a 2" receiver hitch, so went with an adjustable lumber rack that I use on my Murano to support the back end of hang gliders. I had already padded it, so I set the rear end of my wide axle flexi on the cross bar with the front wheel resting on the roof. (my car isn't as new as yours) A strap near each wheel and one stretched between the two parallel rails on the car and over the front end of the trike and I'm in business.

Todd - 8-5-2008 at 03:14 PM

My Thule rack has done well so far for the load that I put up on it. I wanted the ease of rolling it up on top so I added the center ramp. Add two mountain bikes and the rack is maxed out on weight. In the future I plan to build a receiver hitch mount so I can throw my boy's bug up top.






jellis - 8-5-2008 at 09:15 PM

Todd nice Libre Hardcore............

Sthrasher38 - 9-5-2008 at 08:33 AM

Jellis, Can you shoot a u2u with your E-mail address I would like to talk about some kites.