Reg Evans Posted November 30, 2007 Report Posted November 30, 2007 I've been saving this luggage rack for years. I removed it from a 57 Dodge panel truck before I sold it. I think the perfect home for it will be on Elbert, aka "Bert" the 49 Suburban. Now ......I'm not sure what the customary or proper location of one of these racks is. Here are 3 locations. I've racked my brain long enough. REAR MIDDLE FRONT Quote
1948Skip Posted November 30, 2007 Report Posted November 30, 2007 Reg, Keep in the rear, it looks better and you may need to stand on the rear bumper to get at any bags up there. Skip Quote
Heavy Flat Head Posted November 30, 2007 Report Posted November 30, 2007 Elbert looks mighty fine with the rack at the rear. Quote
Brendan D25 Posted November 30, 2007 Report Posted November 30, 2007 Rear, then you can acess it from three sides and it looks better there. Quote
blueskies Posted November 30, 2007 Report Posted November 30, 2007 I'm gonna go against the grain and vote middle... I think the proportions and balance are better. And I like the way the rack lines up with the rear edge of the door and is forward of the rear edge of the rear fender, making for nice lines... The exposed area of roof is more of a gracefull 1/3-2/3 proportion with the rack in the middle position, instead of a 50/50 like the forward version, and the rear version is about half the roof covered, and half the roof exposed, which makes it look a bit chubby to my eye. In the rear most postition, the C pillar is centered on the rack, sort of like a fulcrum, or teetertodder, and makes it look a bit unbalanced. Just my rambling 2c... Pete Quote
Norm's Coupe Posted November 30, 2007 Report Posted November 30, 2007 Well, I'm really going against the grain. I'd leave them off altogether. That said, if you must put them on, I'd put them on the rear. Quote
Normspeed Posted November 30, 2007 Report Posted November 30, 2007 Norm's got a point. I'd hate to drill holes in that nice roof if it were mine. For my wagon I made up some removeable racks using Thule uprights and oak crossbars. I can mount them towards the rear for smaller items, or way separated for carrying my boat, or take them off completely. Quote
RobertKB Posted November 30, 2007 Report Posted November 30, 2007 Blueskies said if perfectly. I vote middle as well. Never been a fan of roof racks though and like it best without the rack. Quote
blueskies Posted November 30, 2007 Report Posted November 30, 2007 The exposed area of roof is more of a gracefull 1/3-2/3 proportion Note also that the wheel openings in the fenders are also 1/3 - 2/3 proportions, and the windows are in thirds as well. Just the sorts of things that run through my head all day long designing houses... Pete Quote
49roadster Posted November 30, 2007 Report Posted November 30, 2007 I like it best without the rack. If you want a rack I like the middle best. Quote
1947PLEVY Posted November 30, 2007 Report Posted November 30, 2007 Middle does look better... John Quote
blueskies Posted November 30, 2007 Report Posted November 30, 2007 Norm's got a point. I'd hate to drill holes in that nice roof if it were mine. For my wagon I made up some removeable racks using Thule uprights and oak crossbars. I can mount them towards the rear for smaller items, or way separated for carrying my boat, or take them off completely. Norm- Do you know which Thule uprights you have? I tried to put a Thule rack on my car a couple of years ago to get a bicycle to the Salt Flats. The rack was at the local thift store, and the uprights weren't tall enough to clear the height of the roof on my '50 so I didn't buy it. I like the oak cross bars on your setup... Pete Quote
Normspeed Posted November 30, 2007 Report Posted November 30, 2007 Thanks Pete. Mine are the taller uprights, 8", #387 I think. I found the same problem with the shorter (#300) ones from my Bronco. I cut the oak bars on a table saw and used marine spar varnish for weatherproofing. They flex a bit but seem strong enough. The boat hull weighs 67 lbs. and I try to locate it near one side instead of mid span on the crossbars. You can find some good prices for the Thule stuff with a good web search. I even got free shipping last time. http://www.thuleracks.com/product.asp?dept_id=3&sku=387 Quote
Captain Neon Posted November 30, 2007 Report Posted November 30, 2007 If you simply must put a roof rack on that nice car, I vote for the rear. I suspect you wouldn't even be considering the roof rack if you didn't have a practical need for it. That being the case. It will be easier to load and unload items the further back the rack is. My Jeep came with a roof rack, and I've never used it myself. Quote
rearview Posted November 30, 2007 Report Posted November 30, 2007 Any way to make brackets to latch it to the drip rails? Boy, I had a tough time resisiting making big rack comments. Quote
Reg Evans Posted November 30, 2007 Author Report Posted November 30, 2007 If you simply must put a roof rack on that nice carGees Captain !!! You make it sound like I've proposed gluing baby doll heads, sea shells, and mirror shards all over the car. And yes rearview.......I've always found a big rack very irresistible Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted November 30, 2007 Report Posted November 30, 2007 rear looks best IMHO and is with the factory stepo bumper loading and unlaoding willbe much easier in this position...I'd hate to try and get Aunt Edna off the top middle.. Quote
YukonJack Posted November 30, 2007 Report Posted November 30, 2007 If you simply must put a roof rack on that nice carGees Captain !!! You make it sound like I've proposed gluing baby doll heads, sea shells, and mirror shards all over the car. And yes rearview.......I've always found a big rack very irresistible I've always been a fan of a nice rack too, just not on a car:eek: A rack on a wagon looks like it needs some kid with blond hair hanging his surf board on it. I like the idea of a removeable rack, something that doesn't require holes in the roof. Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted November 30, 2007 Report Posted November 30, 2007 Reg..I like the syle rack you have for your Bert...I have yet to find somthing suitable for my 51 Suburban..and yeah..it should have a surfboard attached to the rails...did that bumper have a dog leash attached??... Quote
woodscavenger Posted December 1, 2007 Report Posted December 1, 2007 The rear. It makes it look like you are driving faster! Quote
Reg Evans Posted December 1, 2007 Author Report Posted December 1, 2007 Yeah.....But what about Feng Shui ? Quote
BobT-47P15 Posted December 1, 2007 Report Posted December 1, 2007 This one seems to be toward the rear. This is to the rear. Quote
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