You're going to put a rack on the top of your Z for carrying things??!!!! God bless ya buddy are you ever in for some fun responses. Good luck and you might check with U-haul.

Best to you,

John JML77280Z



Post Edited (Sep 13, 10:07am)

 

Well as John forwarned you. YOU WANNA PUT A WHAT ON TOP OF YOUR Z. OMG freaking god you have to be kidding. If you want a luggage rack buy a minivan. These are toys not haulers. OK I'm done for now.... (he wants a luggage rack on top of a Z his mom musta dropped him on his head).

 

Seriously,

Tjrower, I used Yakima racks for my '81 2+2 code-named "Hoopty"...

If yu can get a setup that connects to the T-tops and just behind the B-Pillar, you should be good. Just make sure that the bars that go across the mounts isn't too wide.

You can mount snowboard mounts or a cage rack? Anywqy, It's been done before and even by me...

L8R,

Z!!!

-hughdogZ

 

Yeah I prbably should have put a little more background to the reason for this question. I am thinking of buying another Z for a daily driver. I also am training for rowing. I need to be able to get my boat to different places. The boat in question is 27 ft long and wieghs only 30 pounds. It is basically nothing. Maybe its just me being weird, but I think it would look cool. So I'm ready for the responses. But any help would be appreciated. If you really want to see what the boats look like go here: www.tjrower.com

 

Okay...

27 ft and Z usually dont sound good together in the same sentence. Maybe you could find a way to spit the vessel in two, meaning that instead of 27 ft you coud have it 13.5'. I am thinking of getting a snowboard-splitboard that kind of does the same thing...well...just dont go speeding around without a Long load sign or...whatever..hehe

-hughdogZ

 

Okay in all seriousness have you considered a trailer hitch? I made one for my 73MGB and towed an 18 foot Hobie Catamaran. Just about as cool as you could get. Any small utility trailer with a long trailer tongue would work. If you insist on a roof rack I would suggest checking into a cycle shop as someone mentioned above. They have some pretty nice ones. However, give the trailer hitch some thought. Good luck.

John JML77270Z

 

Forget hood racks, forget trailer hitches. Them stuff don't look right on a Z. Some people only get trail hitches because they say it "protects" their rear from damage if someone hits them. They don't seem to understand that all that will do is put a whole in the person's bumper who rearended you and you'll still get damage to your car. On the other hand, other people put hitches on the back so they can haul slicks and other racing equipment when they go to a track. Just don't put anything on the Z is my opinion.

 

This is one of those boats that is too fragile to load on a trailer. they don't even make trailers for them. Like I said, it only weighs thirty pounds. I can't help that I love Z's and want to use one for a daily driver. I just need it to multitask.

 

You could always go get a couple of 2x4's, some plywood and a couple of bolts, a can of red paint and mount it like this...A RICER WING...hehe

Just kidding...but I couldn't resist.

Warren (with too much time on my hands).

 

They make roof bike racks that fit a Z but that won't give much support given the length of the boat. If there is one that works, contact your local bike club. They usually have a member email list & will likely send out a post (but not give access to the list). Usually 1 person sends all the mail. I still like the trailer idea. I remember seeing one with several boats on it. 2 wheels, short (narrow) axel with several supports. How does the school transport them to meets?

 

Sounds like a bad idea to me...if its too fragle to load onto a trailer, what makes you think it will be better off on the roof with only about 3 foot long section supported in the middle. Sounds like you'll end up with 2 13 foot boats if you hit a hard bump to me, but I could be wrong. Good luck though, and put it over the passenger side so if it does break and hit the wind shield it won't blind you and cause even more chaos. lol

 

I need to find a way to car top my own boat because I am not with a school anymore. I am now currently training in hopes for the Olympics and the trailer here only goes to certain places at certain times. The load would be supported on more than three feet. There are slings that are mad for car topping, you just need to find a rack to attachit to. You can also do things like run a line from the front of the car to the front of the boat. That will add the stability for the wind issues.

Oh yeah, like the picture. But I'm not a big fan of wings on cars.

 

You could always hang it on hooks that go in spaces between the hood and fender and the hatch and rear quarter, or make bumper extensions that slide off when they're not it use and have it on the passenger side of the car, NOT on top, but on the SIDE. You'd have to forget about passengers and make awefully WIDE right turns though.

Here are a couple of other ideas.

1. Use an inflatable one, like a tire inner tube or a kiddie pool, secured to the roof and slip the boat through it. Use straps or PVC pipes from the front and rear bumpers to the ends of the boat to keep it steady.

2. Home depot and other building supply stores carry a wide variety of commercial grade Velcro type stuff. You could always put velcro on the across the top of the boat, and on the top of the car, turn it upside down and just stick it to the top of the car.

3. If your boat has oar riggers (I don't know the proper terminology, but you know what I'm talking about.) Turn it upside down and tie a rope from one to the other going around the rear hatch at the hinges and use nylon straps fore and aft attached to the towing hooks in the front and back under the bumpers. (So that's what those **** hook loops are for...)

4. Check with your local U-Haul dealer and see if they still have any car top racks with suction cups on the feet that stick to the roof. Years ago, they used to carry them. They had straps that held them on by clampling to the rain gutters of the car.

5. Fabricate one from PVC or aluminum pipe or "handicapped shower chairs". The handicapped shower chairs have the suction cups mention above on the bottom of the legs.

Keep in mind, I'm not trying to make light of your dilema, just trying to figure out a feasible solution to it. I used to fly quarter scale radio controlled airplanes and had a similar problem with how to transport the "one pieced" wings. They weren't 27 feet long though.

Use the noodle, not the ones you use in a swimming pool (although those and some rope going through them will tie it to the roof) , and you'll come up with something you can problably market eventually. Once you make your million in sales, you can have someone else transport the boat for ya.

And remember, you'll have Zcar.com forums to thank for the ideas. (Royalties...Hint, Hint)

Warren

 

took a lot of time on that picture huh??

 

get a cheap truck. you should be able to find one for less than 2 grand anywhere.
its a little innane to move something that is twice the lenght of the vehicle that is moving it.
Youd have better results putting the passenger seat forward and have it hanging out the hatch.