Speedster Rack Capacity???

I've ordered a rack from Kirk at Vintage Speedsters and I'll be ordering straps from Dusty, but I have a few questions.

My girlfrind and I would like to take the Speedster on a trip up the coast on Highway 1 and plan to spend up to 7 days on the road. As you all know, there is a bit of room behind the seats and almost nothing in the trunk and we will need to get as much useability out of the rack as possible.

1. What do think the max weight capacity and the max dimensions are?
2. The largest suitcase I have is 30" X 20" X 10" is that too large for the rack?
3. Could I use my large suitcase and a smaller one on top of it?

What have the rest of you done to deal with this limited space problem on extended trips?
Troy http://speedster.hopto.org/

"Caution, load until just before it breaks"

......i just couldn't resist.

You could reinforce where it mounts to the fiberglass with aluminum strips on either side or the mounting points -- this would dissipate some of the pressure (firber glassing them in would be even better on the back side). IMHO - By the sounds of it you are overdoing it - I'd say 20 # max - when you hit a bump the down force will be 2-3x that weight. At first it will fracture just where the mounting poits are - but could sent spider fracks thru the firberglass gel coat too. The more you can spread out the mouting point pressure - the better you are. Wear many layers!

Having come (in my dim, dark past) from the world of real 356's in the 60's, let me tell you that putting a rear rack on a fiberglass replica is just not the same.

The steel engine cover (especially on the "B" series) had gussets pressed into the metal to give it adequate strength to hold up both the rack and what was put on it. Even then, the limit was supposed to be a little over 50 pounds - that's it (40 kilos keeps coming to mind, but I can't remember if it's right). I've seen cars with racks really loaded up, but a lot of it might be bulk and not that much weight. Most I would estimate on an overloaded rack was about 100 lbs. distributed evenly over the width of the Leitz (you quickly learned to put light stuff back there, and heavy stuff in the rear "seat" area). And remember, bulky things catch the wind causing a whole 'nuther set of stresses to consider.

There are no strength gussets to be had on the fiberglass engine covers. In fact, there isn't a whole lot of top-load strength in a fiberglass engine cover at all, especially the lower surface where the rack would mount. Once you put the Leitz rack on there with mounting posts in the corners of the grill opening, you have four very small point load locations which, as Wolfgang suggests, could be reinforced above and below the fiberglass sheet beneath the grill such that you'll get a bit more strength by spreading the load out over a larger area. I would use 1/8"-3/16" stainless strap (the thicker the better) on both sides of the fiberglass sheet, bolting through the top strap, then through the fiberglass and through the bottom strap on both sides.

Do all that, and you could "probably" put 30-35 lbs. back there, but I honestly wouldn't do any more than that on 'glass. It simply isn't thick enough back there to provide a lot of strength.

Just my 2 cents....others may disagree, but my take is that a rack on a replica is more-or-less decorative.

On space behind the seats, Chris and I stash a pretty big cooler back there for Carlisle, so, without that I would expect to fit a couple of larger, 4-day, soft bags back there alone, with lots of room for camera bags and snacks (although we eat light...)

gn

Saw these pictures of Vince's Speedster (I believe its a fiberglass Vintage) and he has a foot locker on the rack!!! So Vince, how much did that thing weigh? Did you do anything special to reinforce the engine cover? Did you end up with any "spidering" in your gel coat?
Troy http://speedster.hopto.org

Dang Vince, you could put LOTS of shoes in that suitcase!

angela

Troy,
Gordon brings up a very valid point about wind factors. Keep this in mind. As I told you earlier, there is beaucoupe room in the back seat for two nice travel suitcases, a makeup bag for M'Lady and a small suitbag in the front "trunk". A warm coat, a plastic poncho and an umbrella stuffed on the floor behind the seat and you can travel comfortably for 10 days. We have done it with no complaints!

Happy Trails,
Dusty and the Well Packed Miss Sharon (not a word out of you, Vince)

I haven't seen anyone with a bigger trunk then mine and it almost took two to get it up on the back of my speedy. It is suprizingly sturdy...
Your wife can't pack more than mine....her motto is " you can't have enough shoes" or Diamonds....

Troy -

I used fender washers top & bottom to dissipate the load of a luggage rack w/suitcase on our VS. IMHO The dimensions of the case you described is too big for 3 reasons. 1st is asthetic; a case that big would LOOK out of proportion to your vehicle (sorta like 22" wheels on a Speedster). 2nd is weight. 3rd is obstruction of your rear vision.

The case I previously had was 25"x16"x9" (pics attached). I would not load anything bigger than that. I would carry only my car cover/polishing supplies/rags in the case and that would be at 22lbs (see Gordon's post).

BTW - to carry enough personal belongings for 2 people on an extended trip requires you to have the top UP to utilize rear seat storage (see Vince's & Dusty's post)!

I have found a smaller case that better suits the asthetics I wanted (pic attached for visual reference). Still carry only my car cover/polishing supplies/rags in it at 20lbs.

Hi Jim.
That's a very good point about the obstructed rear view. Also, this will be a top down trip, so I will not have as much space in the rear. I really do over pack anyway, so I guess I will just have to learn to pack lightly and lay down the law with Thuan, my girlfriend. I love the retro look of Dustys and your suitcases. Guess I'll start combing the Goodwill and second hand shops for a couple of them. Now, where can I get those cool decals?
Troy http://speedster.hopto.org

do a search on here for decals or stickers. TC found a source a while back on the web that was excellent and mentioned it on here.

Troy,
Here's an idea! Search eBay for one of those antique TearDrop trailers. Very period looking. That will let you pack a wide screen TV and enough clothes for a walk-in closet. Make a great looking package going down the road and travel stickers all over it would look super!!

(Now you should walk with a limp having you leg pulled that far! )

Happy Trails,
Dusty ;>)

Troy -

I got my lables from a site called 'Laughing Elephant'. A very cool source for vintage stickers. Here's a link...

http://www.laughingelephant.com/showproducts.cfm?FullCat=52

Hint - once I've attached the labels to my case, I apply a couple of coats of decoupage (varnish or some other waterproofing agent) to keep the labels from water damage or peeling off.

Dang - those things remind me of the aero brake on the '55 Mercedes 300SLR. Remember that big panel behind the drivers head that deployed up at the end of the Mulsanne Straight to help the brakes get the car down from 200 MPH to about 60 MPH? Maybe you could fit an automatic suitcase opener and deploy it for freeway exit ramps?

"Maybe you could fit an automatic suitcase opener and deploy it for freeway exit ramps?"

BWAAAAAAMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!

Suitcase flies open to act as a "Speed Brake", while driver's and passenger's clothes and undies are spewed out, in rainbow hues, behind the rapidly-slowing Speedster. Traffic following closely behind drops waaaaaayyyyyy back there, trying to figure out what the heck is goin' on.


"Mabel! Did you see what's-a goin on up in that, there, little bitty car?"

"No, Heathcliff......but look! They shore got some nice undies they b-a-throwin out!!"

Gordon, you have GOT to stop mixing vodka and South Carolina moonshine with your 10/40w. It is starting to soak into your skin and affect your thinking. . . that redneck's name was "Cletus" and he WEARS those little G-strings he picks up.

Dusty, that's...

just...

wrong!

We ain't got no rednecks hyar in Souf Carolina.

...it might freak-out the traffic behind me if my 'poo-poo undies' came flying out of my suitcase. That'd be pert near a haz-mat sitchy-ayshin!

Hmmmmm? So I post an innocent question about luggage racks and the thread goes steadily down hill until we get to Jim's "poo-poo" undies! Ya gotta love this group!!!
Troy

Troy - you've seen only the tip of the iceberg!

On the 'Anything Goes' forum, Angela's post about P'ing off an irate Lexus owner evolves to Chicharones and Cuban parties!

Like Angela said a while back, participating on this site is like sitting on the back porch BS'ing with a bunch of your buddies. I'm entertained and learn something new everytime I visit this site.

BTW - plan on making it to SOC Paso Robles this year and you'll see several variations on luggage rack/suitcase applications. Also, thrift-shops/swap-meets are your best bet for a deal on antique luggage. Good luck!

BSing on the back porch? BSing on the back porch?

We don' need no steeenking BSing! (us'ns gots MUSBJIM !)

When I had a rack on my Vintage it seemed to hold quite a bit of 'weight' relative to the bulk of a suitcase...Whatcha got to ask yourself is how many 'G's am I going to be pulling in the cornerzzz?