Would drilling some mounts into the windshield frame be an option?
The beetle doesn't have the basket handle like the old cabrio does but you could drop legs to the floor behind the seats or something.
Would drilling some mounts into the windshield frame be an option?
The beetle doesn't have the basket handle like the old cabrio does but you could drop legs to the floor behind the seats or something.
I think for light loads like a single 2x4 or small kayak, a hitch mounted extension that brings the load level up to the height of the windshield would be fine. I'd just use a pool noodle or pipe insulation cut in half to protect the paint on the top of the windshield frame and secure the front of the load to the front fender lips.
For the front portion:
Go to junkyard, hack off the front end of the roof of another convertible. Take that (steel? aluminum?) beam with its mounting hardware and weld on a little rack thingie that will sit above the top of the roof.
It will only work when the weather is nice because it would require the roof being down, but hell, it would mount properly and not put undue stress on anything.
Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) said:Sidenote: I had to double check, but the mirror mount is not an option because the mirrors are on the door, not the A-pillar. So unless she wants to go all Dukes of Hazzard
I like the cowl idea. I'll pop off the plastic and look. I think I recall not much space there because of wiper mechanism, but worth a look.
Another thought that might help. Although the hood goes further back than the plastic in the cowl in this picture, take a look at where the strut towers are.
Doh! Didn't think about having to actually open the doors.......
Yeah, looking at the top of the strut mounts, you could maybe fab up a plate that bolts on top of those and then extends out to the actual cowl area and not affect the hood closing. Then weld a 1x1 box onto that where she could mount or unmount the crossbar in to.
If drilling the a-pillar is an option, though, that's probably the easiest route and then a crossbar she could just attach when she wants to put the kayak on it. Maybe even a small foam piece in the middle of the crossbar to rest on the top of the windshield frame to help stabilize it.
-Rob
Mr_Asa said:For the front portion:
Go to junkyard, hack off the front end of the roof of another convertible. Take that (steel? aluminum?) beam with its mounting hardware and weld on a little rack thingie that will sit above the top of the roof.
It will only work when the weather is nice because it would require the roof being down, but hell, it would mount properly and not put undue stress on anything.
This is what I was going to say. Hack the latch assembly from a JY car and make a bracket to be the front support. It won't hold a pallet of cinderblocks but a kayak or somet 2x4s and you're golden.
iansane said:Mr_Asa said:For the front portion:
Go to junkyard, hack off the front end of the roof of another convertible. Take that (steel? aluminum?) beam with its mounting hardware and weld on a little rack thingie that will sit above the top of the roof.
It will only work when the weather is nice because it would require the roof being down, but hell, it would mount properly and not put undue stress on anything.
This is what I was going to say. Hack the latch assembly from a JY car and make a bracket to be the front support. It won't hold a pallet of cinderblocks but a kayak or somet 2x4s and you're golden.
If you tie it off properly, it won't even need to hold the weight of the kayak, it just needs to prevent the kayak from lifting.
See this? B is the support Curtis is making, enough tension on C will make the kayak want to rotate around the point at B. That will mean that the tension in the rope at A is going upwards. The windshield support doesn't need to support any weight.
I'll ask about drilling the A-pillar, but I doubt she'll be down for that.
I can also look into a JY front-top that could maybe latch into the factory windshield, but I anticipate all kinds of electronics issues. It's one of those that comes with all the sensors. When the top reaches limit switch A, then circuit B opens latch 12-R and 12-L and awaits checksum string from the ECM to verify NSS and/or below 30 mph, then limit switch J continues pump operation, yadda yadda.
I think I'm going to order a cross-bar roof rack for a non-convertible and see if one of the bars will latch in on top of the A-pillar instead of just behind like the hatchback. If it does, that might be the huckleberry.
What size kayak are we talking here?
In reply to Mr_Asa :
Very logical physics and I agree. My concern I think wouldn't really be from the weight of the plastic kayak, more like what's going on with aero at 70mph? At 70 if you stick your hand out the window it can be hard to hold your hand in place. Not knowing what the kayak slicing the air looks like, I have no idea if it's trying to lift off with 100 lbs of force or pushing down with 100 lbs of force.
mtn said:What size kayak are we talking here?
Kayak-sized. 
Honestly not sure. She doesn't remember. She's had it for years but hasn't touched it since about 2019 when she divorced and lost the use of the Husband's Suburban.
She's not like competition or whitewater, so it won't be something short. Probably also not something super skinny. Probably your run-of-the-mill recreational kayak. 10'? 12'?
I'd really try to teach her to tow - not much to teach here - and do a trailer. You're saying it is impossible, but if she has room to store a kayak, and is capable of launching and landing a kayak, I'm not buying that from the guy that has procreates with fruit trees. Registration and title are easy and cheap. May take a tiny bit of grunt work the first year.
Ok, that out of the way: Try to fab up something similar to the Boxster RTS (Roof-Top Storage). Here are the install directions for that, and a picture: https://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/box_roof_transport/box_roof_transport_page1.htm
Another idea (may have already been pitched, pictures aren't working for me right now - vpn issue):
One of these hitch extenders: 
Combined with a luggage rack:
Modification to the luggage rack would likely be required, but seems like it'd easily be doable. Just need to be cognizant of the car being 3-12 feet longer. Not a big deal with a Beetle.
mtn said:I'd really try to teach her to tow - not much to teach here - and do a trailer. You're saying it is impossible, but if she has room to store a kayak, and is capable of launching and landing a kayak, I'm not buying that from the guy that has procreates with fruit trees. Registration and title are easy and cheap. May take a tiny bit of grunt work the first year.
Ok, that out of the way: Try to fab up something similar to the Boxster RTS (Roof-Top Storage). Here are the install directions for that, and a picture: https://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/box_roof_transport/box_roof_transport_page1.htm
I like the transport rack.
If you would like to come try to convince her to buy a trailer, I encourage it. Wear a jock strap with a kevlar cup. She's a Taurus, so approach carefully from upwind so she knows you're coming, and be prepared to leave quickly, crying. Her awesome tenacity is one of the things I love about her.
Seriously. She is NOT going to buy a trailer, register it every year, check and re-pack bearings, fix lights and wiring, and then pay a monthly storage fee somewhere that costs more per year than buying the trailer in the first place.
She feels non-self-sufficient calling me to haul a 2x4. She's not going feel great calling me mansplain how to hitch and tow, every time she needs to repack bearings or figure out why one trailer light doesn't work. She's trying to be MORE self sufficient, and a trailer is absolutely not what she wants. Period.
I love you, but I thought I was crystal clear on this. Suggesting a trailer is about as applicable as suggesting a helicopter.
ABSOLUTELY NO TRAILERS. Great for us. Impossible for her.
johndej said:
I love how you just drop the picture of the simplest solution and drop the mic.
Great idea, but she needs to do top-up. We get our share of rain and cold weather in PA.
Hey, how about a helicopter?
Maybe she needs a Branger 4000 in her life (which makes this a What Car thread).
Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) said:
She's a Taurus
I thought we were trying to do this for a VW Beetle? Taurus would be easy, tons of off the rack options.
Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) said:Suggesting a trailer is about as applicable as suggesting a helicopter.
I left the trail of bait and you all didn't disappoint
John Welsh said:Hey, how about a helicopter?
Maybe she needs a Branger 4000 in her life (which makes this a What Car thread).
I'm tempted to just toss her the keys and be done with that truck.
Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) said:In reply to Mr_Asa :
Very logical physics and I agree. My concern I think wouldn't really be from the weight of the plastic kayak, more like what's going on with aero at 70mph? At 70 if you stick your hand out the window it can be hard to hold your hand in place. Not knowing what the kayak slicing the air looks like, I have no idea if it's trying to lift off with 100 lbs of force or pushing down with 100 lbs of force.
Seat belt limiter straps. Pick the old seat belts up from a junkyard.
In reply to Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) :
My concern with it would be the A pillars more than the windshield. Although, the windshield and A pillars are probably plenty strong enough for a kayak or a couple 2x4s.
Just consider what the forces on the A pillars and glass would be at 100+ mph with out adding anything to the car. Additionally the curve of the windshield puts the glass into compression so it is less susceptible to cracking under the load.
For any of any of the ideas mounting something to the windshield frame you could use a telescoping pole (think boat cover center support) to act as a support between the floor and the windshield frame.
RX Reven' said:
You just won the thread.
Circling back, Google images shows pics of Miata, Sebring, Saabs, Mustang, PT cruiser, E36 and z3/4s convertibles all running exactly the set up as you're initial suggestion or off a roll bar.
Supporting the weight of the load is only a factor until the car starts moving. Holding the load down and centered is the biggest problem.
I've had a (I thought) well secured surfboard fly off on the highway. A gust of wind from the right front, and off it went.
Managing vertical lift and lateral movement will be the challenge. The combination of these two forces is what popped my surfboard loose.
If she's able to limit her speed to about 35 MPH that isn't as big of a factor. As I've said, car topping is always sketchy.
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