Luggage Rack Wanted

[scubasteve]

I have been trying to find a luggage rack that would fit my LR, but striking out.
I check MossMotors, but not sure if it would fit or not.
Also checked MGMagic but theirs is only for the Gazelle.
Even checked eBay, but only saw motorcycle racks.
Anyone know where I can find one?
Thanks, Again!

Amor Conquista Todo

[Bill Gould]

Go to the forum page, click on Search and type “luggage rack” in the box. That should bring up a whole bunch of past posts, with photos.

1981 Lafer TI
1600 cc Type 1 engine

[William J Collins]

How about building one from one inch PVC tubing .. if its mainly for the look.. I did that when I found out the price of one when I still had my TD…/Google :build Auto luggage rack”  thats where I got the measurements to cut the PVC  Then you paint it after a sanding to make the paint stick

[secretagentcat]

West Marine also sells tubing stock and the angle peices used on boat rails and such. You could use those to build your own custom rack.

[Dale Schumacher]

Steve 

You can also build your own out of Oak/Mahogany/cherry etc. to match your dash. I think I have pictures on here someplace of my folding luggage rack that mounts to the rear spare tire lug bolts and is removable in 3 minutes or less. I can send you pictures if you PM me your email or cell number.

[Paul Mossberg]

I looked in your photo gallery Dale (schu). Folder 68.

No pictures of your luggage rack. So if you posted them, you did it via a link to some other on-line storage.

Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica Roadster

If you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)

[Paul Mossberg]

Scroll through this thread. The link lands on the newest post which is good for a smile.
 Scroll to the top and then start reading.

https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/luggage-rack-alternative/#post-264395

Among other things, it includes Dale’s removable luggage rack. And it turns out I’m the one that posted Dale’s pictures for him. 😉

PMOSSBERG2015-10-29 17:39:57

Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica Roadster

If you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)

[Paul Mossberg]

Copying from an old post of mine:

Here is an entire thread on luggage rack options:

 

https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/luggage-rack-3/luggage–rack#18047

 

From that thread, here is one of of Moss Motors reproduction racks (the type that folds down and sits even with the ground, just above the bumper):

 

http://www.mossmotors.com/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexID=34807

 

This one, also from Moss, permanently attaches above the tank:

 

http://www.mossmotors.com/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexID=29639

 

Mike (screen name Mike N Scarlett) has plans for a rack you can build yourself. Send him a private message and I’m sure he’ll send you a copy.

 

Here’s another “build it yourself” rack, pretty nice looking:

 

http://www.gblandco.com/gb/rack/rack.html

 

And here are plans for a luggage rack fabricated out of PVC pipe. This one is definitely NOT for looks, you would not leave it on your car. It is purely functional.

 

http://www.omgtr.ca/technical/td_ted_pvcluggagerack/TD_Rack.htm

Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica Roadster

If you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)

[William J Collins]

yes that last link Paul is the rack I built and used a few times   was very functional  carried some boxes back and forth from the shore house we had

[scubasteve]

Thanks EVERYONE for your input and pics.
I had some criteria for my rack:
1)It had to be CHEAP!
2)I didn’t want to drill any new holes in the body
3)It had to be able to open with the engine cover.
4)It had to have enough room to remove the spare tire if needed
5)It HAD TO BE cheap!

I looked at as many racks as I could find, and settled on something like this one I found on Mossmotors.com

Then I thought, measured and engineered and came up with this:
After a visit to my local DIY home improvement store I came home with this:
After cutting this was the rough layout:
Mocked up before soldering:

Amor Conquista Todo

[scubasteve]

More of “The Rack”
Mocked up before soldering:
After soldering, before painting:

I tried pop rivets but it was a little too wobblie for my liking, so I tried my hand at soldering.
(I took electronics instead of metal shop. Soldering resistors is NOTHING like soldering tubing!)

After priming and painting then mounting on The Little Red Car:

Made from 1/2″ copper tube.
Total cost was $39
All my criteria were met!

THANKS AGAIN TO ALL WHO HELPED!

Amor Conquista Todo

[john barry]

[Bill Hartwick]

Looks good, I’ll have to keep this in mind.

[Paul Mossberg]

That’s awesome Steve.

Your TDr is VW based, correct?

How to the upper brackets attach to the car? Or maybe to the engine cover? Hard to tell from your pics.

How do the upright legs attach at the bottom?

Are you still able to open the engine cover?

Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica Roadster

If you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)

[Royal]

Steve, great idea. If you wanted to make the rack look a bit more professional, some plumbing supply and tool rental places have a pipe bending tool that you could use to radius the top and the bottom piece so it would look almost exactly like some of the expensive aftermarket racks.

[edward ericson]

Awesome job, Steve. And now you know how to sweat fittings! These cars make a man of everyone who owns them.

[John Simion]

Smart design and cool workmanship. The only question I would wonder is whether it is just for looks or would it actually hold stuff? Copper pipe is pretty soft.

[scubasteve]

PMOSSBERG wrote:

That’s awesome Steve.

Your TDr is VW based, correct?

How to the upper brackets attach to the car? Or maybe to the engine cover? Hard to tell from your pics.

How do the upright legs attach at the bottom?

Are you still able to open the engine cover?

 My car is a London Roadster.
Here are some pics to answer your questions:
This is how the front bracket mounts to the car. I replaced one of the rivets on the engine cover.

This is the leg mounting. The London Roadster has a steel reenforcement inside the engine cover.
With the engine cover open.

Amor Conquista Todo

[scubasteve]

Royal wrote:

Steve, great idea. If you wanted to make the rack look a bit more professional, some plumbing supply and tool rental places have a pipe bending tool that you could use to radius the top and the bottom piece so it would look almost exactly like some of the expensive aftermarket racks.

I had thought about bending the tube, but couldn’t figure the math I needed to make the bends and get everything to work out. So I went for the easier option.
I agree, it would have been super.

Amor Conquista Todo

[scubasteve]

johnsimion wrote:

Smart design and cool workmanship. The only question I would wonder is whether it is just for looks or would it actually hold stuff? Copper pipe is pretty soft.

I agree, copper is pretty soft, but it can hold about 20lbs(at least that’s as much as I was willing to try!)Since I have the measurements I can make another one in steel tubing if needed in less than half the time it took to make this one. 
It’s more to have a place to put light weight stuff as the trunk is full already.

Amor Conquista Todo

[Paul Mossberg]

Now you’ve got me thinking Steve. Thanks!

 

The lower attachments would have to be a little different; the engine cover is shaped different on a  Duchess and the engine cover is hinged at the bottom, not the top.

 

But the overall concept could work on a Duchess.

PMOSSBERG2015-11-13 15:42:44

Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica Roadster

If you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)

[davearoy]

Steve what a creative, thoughtful, and functional home made Luggage Rack. I hope you did not patenet your idea, as I plan on using your plans, and modifying them to fit my VW powered Classic Roadster. My engine cover folds back, with the tire still attached. My wife says it is to late to go to Home Depot this Friday night, but man oh man, you got me thinking big time. Gongrats and job well done, thanks for sharing your ideas.

Dave

Dave
Lakeland, Florida, where we drive Topless every day

[greg press]

Just saw it . How cool is that ? Maybe you could fill the tubes to firm them up . I have tried to use chrome paint never could get it to shine .     

[Paul Mossberg]

Ah…Dave is working on modifying this for a Duchess!
I can stop thinking and wait for his answer! 🙂

Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica Roadster

If you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)

[edward ericson]

http://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-stainless-steel-structural-tubing/=zt4gzp

+

http://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-weld-tube-fittings/=zt4jp6

or–cheaper & maybe easier to work:

http://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-aluminum-hollow-tubing/=zt4hrw

[Author]

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