Carrying Track Tires

[mshriner]

$35 for used Thule Rack
$20 for bolts, angle iron and thread locker
Eliminating chance to throw track tires all over the highway.....priceless

What do you guys think? It worked to get me to Searspoint llast week. I use a rachet to tighten the tires down between the rack and the wood blocks. When it's off the car I can stand on it.

[PorscheGuy79]

I approve!

[mshriner]

Thanks. I love your signature line...

"Racing makes heroin addiction look like a vague wish for something salty"

Matt

[earlyapex]

Matt,

Sent you a PM.

[Emission]

Looks like a great solution. How's your MPG affected? Do you get a ton of wind noise?

[mshriner]

With everything stripped out of the car it is pretty loud even without the rack I did not notice much difference. Not sure about MPG because the ride was only 45 minutes. Probably will know better in the spring when I head to thunderhill or laguna. Does feel really secure. I was following my wife's 993 home and hit 90 before I remembered I was carrying the tires. Significant wind noise at that speed and I can feel the wind resistanct but 70-75 feels the same.

[Jack Olsen]

Wind noise isn't an issue. But in my experience, it reduces mileage, and also raises engine temps slightly.

[spinner]

I've been interested in doing the same thing. Can you post a picture of your rack w/o the tires? I would like to see how you tied the two rails together.
Thanks

Paul

[JonT]

If you really wanted to get crazy you could fab some type of deflector that runs from the windshield back to the tires to decrease wind noise and improve mpg. Would provide more downforce--not that you'd need it.

[bkreigsr]

yes, what Jack said.
especially with the duck tail. there will now be zero air flow into the dead space in front of the tail for the fan to pull in and cool down what it is supposed to cool down.
oil temps will definately rise.

[safe]

When are you making one that fits a Targa?

[mshriner]

There is a guy with a dark red SWB targa removable rear window who autocrosses with Golden Gate Region that has created a tire carrier for the targo. I am sure someone around here remembers his name. He has had the car since it was new and is an awesomely smooth driver. I just can't remember his name.

Seeing his rack in person and searching Jack's posts was the inspiration for me trying it. So far I did not see any raise in oil temperatures but I have a pretty strong front oil cooler and amazingly enough for the Bay Area did not get caught in much traffic. I may try to fashion a wind screen.



I used 48" barstock angle iron barstock, notched cut out to fit over thule rack and bolted 36" apart (overhang helps support tires)

24" between barstock angle iron pieces. Also, cut a 36" threaded bolt into 4 pieces and used a nut below and one above to attach to the bar stock. (liberal application of loctite)

I tried flat barstock but it flexed too much. I used a metal cutting blade in my circular saw and a dremel tool to hack out a space for it to go over the thule bars.

Matt

[mshriner]

on the left of this picture you can kind of see where I cut the notch in the barstock. Probably a cleaner way to do this...but heck my car is brown, not a beautiful black magazine centerfold like Jack's. Let me know if anyone needs more pictures.

Matt

[JonT]

Is there a weight capacity for that rack? 4 tires with wheels has got to be close to 120lbs. Much more than any ski rack was meant to handle.

[Jim Richards]

Great thread.

[mshriner]

I don't know why I think this...but I thought I remember something like 150 lbs. for capacity??? Probably should check that!? I can stand on the thing while it's on the ground....plus everybody else is doin' it!

[86 911]

I like the whole tire rack idea. Looks good on the early 911s! By the way, mshriner I just sent you a PM.

[Jack Olsen]

When I put mine together, there were a couple of things I wanted to avoid. One was any possibility of harder-than-aluminum metal rubbing against the hubs. Over time, with the vibration from driving, I worried that it would leave some ugly marks. Also, I wanted to isolate the weight of the wheels as much as possible to avoid metal fatigue and failure -- considering how ugly that would be if wheels, steel and aluminum come undone at 80 mph.



So with mine, I have a steel L-shaped bracket that goes up through the center of each hub. But then there's a layer of padding (thick pipe insulation) around that, with an exterior of PVC pipe that actually comes in contact with the wheel.

Then, I have more padding anywhere the wheels or tires come in direct contact with the rack. You can see some of it in this picture:



I think yours will work just fine. But I'd watch what happens over time to the point where your threaded stock connects to the steel. I'd also keep an eye on where you drilled holes in the rack's crossmembers. My worry would be that you might be compromising its strength with those holes. I used U-bolts to attach my frame to the rack so that I wouldn't have to drill it.

Oh, and if you got a look up close, you'd see my car is more of a scuffed-up streetwalker than a magazine centerfold.

[mshriner]

Your car is gorgeous AND you actually use it! Kind of like a supermodel that has a brain and likes sports. I hope to see your car up close one of these days.

So far the point of contact is the wood blocks on the hub but on longer trips I will get an idea if its going to move any. I might add some cross bracing like you have done. Yours looks like a great set up. Thanks.

Matt

[Jack Olsen]

Thanks. Like I said, I think your setup will work fine. In my case, I put a lot of highway miles with the rack on (2000 next week), so I probably over-worried some of the pieces.

You live closer to a lot of the great tracks.