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Roofracks on car with no roofrack option
coyoteboy - 2/6/22 at 11:51 AM

So I'm trying to solve a practicality problem. My only car here in NL is my Nissan 370Z. It's fine for general use, but I need to pack kiteboards into it, and it gets full of sandy seawater and I can't fit a passenger in when I do (boards have to go in the passenger seat). So I'm planning to make a rack for it, and mount the boards across the back in a spoiler type configuration - they're the same length as the car is wide, or just less.

As the roof edges are plastic trims, and the doors are glass-topped, I have no desire to try to mount the rack to the roof. Similarly, suction cup or inflateable paint scrapers are not my idea of a solution. So instead I'm going to strap a rack to the rear hatch - it's fairly chunky and if I'm careful shouldn't cause any damage.

However I need to either manufacture something completely from scratch, or try to modify a universal system.

None of the Thule foot packs seem to work, and most universal bars are too narrow, or come with integrated feet that won't work.

Does anyone know of a source of rack parts that could be bought separately and have good shape descriptions/drawings? Or should I give up and just buy a 3D scanner and get some machined?

Image of rear hatc for consideration

[Edited on 2/6/22 by coyoteboy]

obfripper - 2/6/22 at 12:17 PM

What about a towbar bracket and a removeable rack to attach to it like some of the mtb racks available?


Dave

Something like this?

https://www.myg37.com/g/picture/4478744

[Edited on 2/6/22 by obfripper]

gremlin1234 - 2/6/22 at 12:54 PM

you can get roof racks that use suction cup mounting.
for example
https://www.amazon.co.uk/ROCKBROS-Suction-Carriers-Mounted-Aluminium/dp/B08PJZ5NTH?th=1
https://treefrogracks.co.uk/
https://www.seasucker.com/

edit, just re-read your post and you say you don't think its a suitable solution for you.

[Edited on 2/6/22 by gremlin1234]

coyoteboy - 2/6/22 at 12:54 PM

No towbar option on this car, the chassis isn't designed for it. There's a few aftermarket kludges made up that replace the rear crash member, but you have to work around the exhaust and remove the fog light.

coyoteboy - 2/6/22 at 12:56 PM

quote:
Originally posted by gremlin1234
you can get roof racks that use suction cup mounting.
for example
https://www.amazon.co.uk/ROCKBROS-Suction-Carriers-Mounted-Aluminium/dp/B08PJZ5NTH?th=1
https://treefrogracks.co.uk/
https://www.seasucker.com/


Yeah I mentioned them in the first post - they're awful, scratchy (especially in a salt/sand environment) and unstable. And sodding expensive.

Having dropped sheet glass from a height due to a sucker setup not working properly due to a minor smudge of dirt, no part of me will use a sucker to mount things to a moving vehicle.

[Edited on 2/6/22 by coyoteboy]

gremlin1234 - 2/6/22 at 01:10 PM

might this work?
https://www.dacianmag.com/menabo-logic-2-bike-rack-for-2-tailgate-bikes.html

gremlin1234 - 2/6/22 at 01:29 PM

a quick bit of further searching found
http://www.the370z.com/exterior-interior/51754-thule-roof-rack-works-370z.html

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y251/mecinoid/370Z/370Zrocketlauncher.jpg

obfripper - 2/6/22 at 02:35 PM

Something like this is easily reversible, i wouldn't consider it for anything more than a lightweight carrier though.
You could make the fog lamp plug into the receiver when not in use.

https://imgur.io/gallery/PvnjbOz

Using a rack on the tailgate is a possiblity, but i would check out how the aluminium skin/frame will hold up with this load, i have damaged a steel tailgate with 2 bikes on a rack due to leverage that i didn't consider an issue.

Dave

coyoteboy - 2/6/22 at 02:40 PM

quote:
Originally posted by gremlin1234
a quick bit of further searching found
http://www.the370z.com/exterior-interior/51754-thule-roof-rack-works-370z.html

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y251/mecinoid/370Z/370Zrocketlauncher.jpg


Yes, that's what I'm trying to replicate, however if you go to the Thule site and put in a 2006 Mini, it lists 7 options and all of them say they don't fit the mini (and seem to be roof bar fitment). Also the images show a fairly high profile foot, but that's just me nit picking. Boofsquire don't seem to exist anymore either, I spent a while hunting for them.


quote:

https://www.dacianmag.com/menabo-logic-2-bike-rack-for-2-tailgate-bikes.html


Wouldn't fit under the spoiler I don't *think*.

coyoteboy - 2/6/22 at 02:44 PM

quote:
Originally posted by obfripper
Something like this is easily reversible, i wouldn't consider it for anything more than a lightweight carrier though.
You could make the fog lamp plug into the receiver when not in use.

https://imgur.io/gallery/PvnjbOz

Using a rack on the tailgate is a possiblity, but i would check out how the aluminium skin/frame will hold up with this load, i have damaged a steel tailgate with 2 bikes on a rack due to leverage that i didn't consider an issue.

Dave


Hmm involves drilling holes through the peak stress location of the rear crash bar and removing the fog light in order to not decrease rear clearance (which is already low lol). I wonder if I could do something similar without bumper mods, and make it slot in from below - the only real loading this is going to take is wind loading.

Mr Whippy - 3/6/22 at 02:25 PM

TrunkHunk boot strap down kit only £6.99

cliftyhanger - 4/6/22 at 08:08 AM

Is the roof steel?
You can get magnetic ski and possibly snowboard racks.

Otherwise, a rack similar to the old bootracks used on classic cars with flat S hooks to pull on the hatch edges, and sucker type supports on the glass.
idea here https://www.boot-racks.co.uk/ but make one with dimensions to suit your car/requirements.

nick205 - 7/6/22 at 03:07 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Mr Whippy
TrunkHunk boot strap down kit only £6.99






This tie down strap wouldn't work on the past few cars of ours (or current one). The boot catch is electronic and only latches shut when the boot is actually closed. I know this only too well as one failed on our 2007 VW Touran and I had to tie the boot shut using a long USB cable round the rear wiper spindle and a tow bar fixing hole. Then had to replace the electric catch (£8.99) to resolve the problem.