Racked my Vibe

[chassan]

Racked, not wrecked. Hope no one was expecting gruesome pictures of CARnage Being a hang glider pilot I regularly carry a 17' package on top of my car. Since I bought a new car, I had to get it racked up for the up and coming flying season.As always the first issue is how to attach the rack to the car. Some people suction cup things to the hood, or spend big dollars on tow plates. Most just look for a place to place a clamp, or run bolts or screws. I opted for the screw idea, as I've seen plenty of other guys do the same. 2" angle iron with 5 tapcons into the bumper. my 210 lbs bounced on the finished rack and nothing budged. Another local pilot has 3 tapcons holding his on and no problemin 7 years. 5 may be overkill, but better safe than sorry right. A very small amount of fascia was cut to allow the 1 1/4" receivers to poke out. There is one on each side positioned so I didn't have to cut away any full vertical or horizontal structure. Just shaved a bit on top and bottom. It is a pretty basic rack as far as the normal "hangglider front rack" goes. Because of the standard rear slope of the factory racks, I had to raise the rear rack just over an inch to make sure the glider would ride fairly level. The glider on top always kills the MPG, but one that is nose up or down can really hurt. To do this I trimmed up a bit of an old suction cup rack. All I need to do now is get some foam to mold up some rack padding and I'll be ready to go. If anyone knows where to get a good deal on 2 part flexible polyurethane foam, let me know!

[jkm311]

Nice work. Limited modification, too. I like the ability you have to simply slip out the pins and remove the front portion. Very nice.You'll have to put up a pic of the whole deal tied down.

[journeyforce]

Are you going to add some nerf bars/foam to the part of the bar that is close to the front bumper so as to protect the bumper from scrapes or scuffs if the bar bangs into it due to the movement of the bar during driving?

[chassan]

There is probably a good inch between the bumper and the rack. With nothing loaded up the top of the rack doesn't move an inch in any direction. Once the glider is tied down, for all intent and purpose, the roof rack is connected to the front rack. Any movement of the front rack means I have more to worry about than a bit of bumper rash. I do like the idea for aesthetics.

[Water boy]

Reminds of those people who leave their tow bars attached to the front.Nice rack to hang Christmas lights.Mount to the top bar a sign printed in reverse lettering that reads ... GET OUTA DA WAY so that the SUVS and jackup 4x4s can get the message in their rearview mirror.

[chassan]

SO here is what it a Vibe looks like with a hangglider on top.

[tpollauf]

Very nice, and done professionally. That's definitely my kind of mod This is yet another fine example of how the Vibe is a versatile vehicle for just about anyone's lifestyle. Now if you can only get a picture of you doing a "fly over" on the hang glider just as you fly over your Vibe. That would be cool

[mac99d]

Thats cool man.

[SnowFish]

Very nice work! Now I need to come across some roof racks like yours. Hate to resort to the dealership.