Luggage Rack & Straps

Ron, I am usually traveling solo so I put everything in the passenger side footwell.  The spare and gas tank take up most of the space under the hood/trunk/thing in the front, but you can fit some tools, oil, and other detailing supplies behind the wheel.  I pack a bag for about a week of casual dress, with our formal ware being Hawaiian shirts on Saturday night.  It's a tradition.  You will probably fill up the area behind the seats since you will have a passenger.  That shouldn't be a problem as you really will want your top up for those long interstate slogs.  Be sure to bring some general maintenance tools and maybe a fan belt along just in case.  I may be bringing some local microbrews as well.

There's actually quite a bit of space between the seat-backs and the rear deck-lid in the "back seat" area. A big-'ol soft duffle bag (and a bunch of other stuff) will fit back there.

 

I've packed enough stuff for a 3000 mi 2 week trip, for both Mrs. Galat and me. You've got to get creative, but it can be done.

Agreed.  Plenty of space to store stuff with the top up.  I would recommend holding off on installing the rack until you're sure you really want it. Adding it later is easy.  Removing it is difficult & expensive.

I take that back.  If it's only fixed to the grill, probably not a big deal to take off.  Ignore my previous comment & listen to someone who knows what they're talking about.

Most seem to mount thru the grill into the fiberglass rain deflector.  I'm sure Carey mounts with large washers to spread the stress on the fiberglass.  Remember it is mounted to fiberglass so you need to be careful of weight plus it cuts down on rear vision with top up or down.  Someone years ago posted how to make the olde tyme travels stickers like "Carlisle or Bust".  Dusty Johnson (a prior SOCer and expert saddle maker) does the leather straps for SE.  I like the look!  Wish I had kept my old wood snow skis - I'd get real looks in FL!

"quite a bit" and "plenty of space" is debatable in my humble opinion. Learning to pack light is the clue.

Rather than cutting down on rear vision, it pretty much eliminates it altogether.  Still, it does look cool.

As Tom said, there is plenty of space with the top up. However, on my trip I did not have the top up. Ever. If you are willing to forgo the quarter tonneau, there is still plenty of space available.

Obviously, packing carefully and conservatively is the order of the day. But it's not nearly as bad as you would think it would be. One just has to get a bit creative with where to put things.

Space saving tip #47:  Sharing a tooth brush.

Sounds like there should be plenty of room. I am generally a light packer anyway. I think a soft duffle and a case on the rack should really do it.

 

I am trying to put together a road kit for emergency maintenance. The fan belt is an awesome idea. I need some common wrench/sockets, pliers, elec/duct tape, nylon ties, qt of oil, etc.

You should see Jack Crosby pack or unpack his car.  It's a Vintage, which has a bit less room that a Beck, but I swear it's like the Tardis or one of those Harry Potter tents  I've watched Jack, his passenger, and enough luggage to completely fill a hotel luggage cart come out of his car - and that doesn't include the trunk.  It's amazing.  People come from far and wide to see it.

 

Que MUSBJIM and his packing video.

As opposed to Lane who brings a very small bag with a pair of underwear, an Hawaiian shirt and a toothbrush - and a bottle of Oban.....

 

Ahhhh, it's that time of the year when Speedster folk start thinking about cross-country trips (or at least to the West or East coast meets) and that means talking (again) about what spares to bring.

 

I just put my old spares list up under the Knowledge section:

 

https://www.speedsterowners.com...-spares-for-the-road

and I know Jack Crosby has a pretty good one, too, so reading those should help you a lot.

 

gn

Nah.  A double ended tooth brush works just as well...

 

Gordon,

 

Got it! Thanks for inventing the wheel!

Your spares list is great, Gordon!

Ron - for your visual reference, I submit our '95 Vintage Speedster...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wow didnt know all that fit in our cars , great video.

Ron, 

 

You might think about asking Carey to give you a third-brake light you can hang on the luggage when you're traveling loaded.  Then unplug and remove it when not carrying the bags.  

Bruce,

 

Sounds like a good idea!

 

I bought a some stickers today for my suitcase. I was able to find my old Navy squadron patches in sticker form. Of course I needed my two favorite towns as well, Flagstaff, AZ. and Pensacola, FL.

 

Grill badges and bag stickers. Welcome To the Madness Indeed!