Low luggage rack for a TC?

[aking3080]

Does anyone know of a source for a luggage rack for a TC that is lower than the usual one above the spare tire, more like the ones for a TD or TF? I'm planning on driving to the GOF in Nova Scotia in July and would prefer not to have the extra height of luggage. If nothing is available commercially, does anyone know of plans/drawings to show how to fabricate one? I've searched the Yahoo archives and don't find any threads on this. Does anyone remember pre-Yahoo discussions? Thanks, Art King TC 3944

[AJChalmers@aol.com]

I use a TD luggage rack made for Amco a number of years ago. It was designed to be attached at the gas tank strap top bolts and using two vertical supports rising from the frame ends, going into round mounting points with lock nuts. My TC has antennae bumpers and the two mounting holes on the rack fit into the bumpers. I judiciously bent the rack so that it conforms to the spare tire. Strap on the luggage with bungees thru the spare spokes and you are all set! Alternatively, use soft luggage and just bungee them to the spare. Phil Marino in Riverside, CA used to make a very low riding wood slat carrier in the shape of an "L". Don't think he has done this for a while. Phone # 909 352 4419 Have fun in Nova Scotia. Went there last year to trace roots, my grandfather's ancestors settled the New Minas basin area after the Acadians were forced out and the town of Wolfville is named for the family (DeWolfe). Check out his brother at www.thepercy.com Grandpa and Percy went west in the 1890s, Percy for gold in the Klondike, becoming famous. Wonderful people, great roads and scenery and all at a discount!

[murray arundell]

I use a rack which fits direct to the rear chassis frame. As uch it sits nice and low. It was made by MG City here in Brisbane Aus. It is a copy of one that was available through the AUS MG Distributors of the tine. Its Chrome Plated and folds up when not in use. Very strong and keeps girl friends luggage low and secure....... (we all know that WE only need a spare good shirt and two clean pairs of jocks to keep us going on even the longest holiday.......) If any interest in the rack let me know and I'll find the MG City Website addy and post it. Cheers - Murray Arundell

----- Original Message ----- From: "aking3080" aek0@lehigh.edu> To: mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Friday, February 08, 2002 1:03 PM Subject: [mg-tabc] Low luggage rack for a TC? > Does anyone know of a source for a luggage rack for a TC that is lower > than the usual one above the spare tire, more like the ones for a TD > or TF? I'm planning on driving to the GOF in Nova Scotia in July and > would prefer not to have the extra height of luggage. If nothing is > available commercially, does anyone know of plans/drawings to show how > to fabricate one? > > I've searched the Yahoo archives and don't find any threads on this. > Does anyone remember pre-Yahoo discussions? > > Thanks, > Art King > TC 3944 > > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > >

[David and Joyce Edgar]

>(we all know that WE only need a spare good shirt and two clean >pairs of jocks to keep us going on even the longest holiday.......)

This reminded me of a when my wife and I packed up for a two week trip. She of course needed clothes for almost every occasion and extra of everything. That and the tools and spare parts I brought (we were traveling solo and not with a group) made quite a load on the low mounted rear rack. The weight seemed to cause a poor F/R weight ratio or maybe even lift the front end of the TC ever so slightly and caused a terrible wandering problem. It was nothing that could be observed visually but certainly could be felt in the steering. Fought the steering the whole trip. Once the weight was removed the TC behaved much, much better. At that time my steering was, shall we say, well worn in. I did do a steering and front end rebuild after that. I don't know if tight steering would have helped in that instance but it is always on my mind to watch how much goes on the rack now. David Edgar, TC 5108 El Cajon, California

[R. Zwart]

WHAT , NO SPARE FUEL PUMP?????? BOB David and Joyce Edgar wrote:

> >(we all know that WE only need a spare good shirt and two clean > >pairs of jocks to keep us going on even the longest holiday.......) > > This reminded me of a when my wife and I packed up for a two week > trip. She of course needed clothes for almost every occasion and > extra of everything. That and the tools and spare parts I brought > (we were traveling solo and not with a group) made quite a load on > the low mounted rear rack. The weight seemed to cause a poor F/R > weight ratio or maybe even lift the front end of the TC ever so > slightly and caused a terrible wandering problem. It was nothing > that could be observed visually but certainly could be felt in the > steering. Fought the steering the whole trip. Once the weight was > removed the TC behaved much, much better. > > At that time my steering was, shall we say, well worn in. I did do a > steering and front end rebuild after that. I don't know if tight > steering would have helped in that instance but it is always on my > mind to watch how much goes on the rack now. > > David Edgar, TC 5108 > El Cajon, California > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

[David and Joyce Edgar]

Gene Wescott sent me this reply and am passing it on as it didn't go to the whole group. David ------------- Dear Dave: I used my Phil Marino luggage rack on the trip to GoF West Napa. All was fine until I picked up my lady friend in Berkeley. She had a couple of large heavy bags. When we got on the freeway at speed the steering was frightning. I stopped and checked the front wheels and the steering slop--both normal. The weight on that low pivot point really lightens the front end, and the lift added by the wind on the front wings adds. I drove as slowly as possible in freeway traffic but it took all my concentration to get there. I think the answer is: discourage women from taking so much stuff. If one can do with side mirrors and not use the dash rear mirror, a high rack positioned over the gastank, or perhaps strapping stuff over the rear tonneau area would be better. Gene

> >(we all know that WE only need a spare good shirt and two clean > >pairs of jocks to keep us going on even the longest holiday.......) > > This reminded me of a when my wife and I packed up for a two week > trip. She of course needed clothes for almost every occasion and > extra of everything. That and the tools and spare parts I brought > (we were traveling solo and not with a group) made quite a load on > the low mounted rear rack. The weight seemed to cause a poor F/R > weight ratio or maybe even lift the front end of the TC ever so > slightly and caused a terrible wandering problem. It was nothing > that could be observed visually but certainly could be felt in the > steering. Fought the steering the whole trip. Once the weight was > removed the TC behaved much, much better. > > At that time my steering was, shall we say, well worn in. I did do a > steering and front end rebuild after that. I don't know if tight > steering would have helped in that instance but it is always on my > mind to watch how much goes on the rack now. > > David Edgar, TC 5108 > El Cajon, California

[Ray]

I think you are fighting a loosing battle there compadre......... Best Regards, Ray "Remember- It's the collision with the planet that counts!"

----- Original Message ----- From: "David and Joyce Edgar" djedgar@pacbell.net> To: "T-ABC list" mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Friday, February 08, 2002 3:28 PM Subject: Re: [mg-tabc] Low luggage rack for a TC? > Gene Wescott sent me this reply and am passing it on as it didn't go > to the whole group. > David > ------------- > Dear Dave: > I used my Phil Marino luggage rack on the trip to GoF West Napa. > All was fine until I picked up my lady friend in Berkeley. She had > a couple of large heavy bags. When we got on the freeway at speed > the steering was frightning. I stopped and checked the front wheels > and the steering slop--both normal. The weight on that low pivot point > really lightens the front end, and the lift added by the wind on the front > wings adds. I drove as slowly as possible in freeway traffic but it took > all my concentration to get there. I think the answer is: discourage > women from taking so much stuff. If one can do with side mirrors and > not use the dash rear mirror, a high rack positioned over the gastank, > or perhaps strapping stuff over the rear tonneau area would be better. > Gene > > > >(we all know that WE only need a spare good shirt and two clean > > >pairs of jocks to keep us going on even the longest holiday.......) > > > > This reminded me of a when my wife and I packed up for a two week > > trip. She of course needed clothes for almost every occasion and > > extra of everything. That and the tools and spare parts I brought > > (we were traveling solo and not with a group) made quite a load on > > the low mounted rear rack. The weight seemed to cause a poor F/R > > weight ratio or maybe even lift the front end of the TC ever so > > slightly and caused a terrible wandering problem. It was nothing > > that could be observed visually but certainly could be felt in the > > steering. Fought the steering the whole trip. Once the weight was > > removed the TC behaved much, much better. > > > > At that time my steering was, shall we say, well worn in. I did do a > > steering and front end rebuild after that. I don't know if tight > > steering would have helped in that instance but it is always on my > > mind to watch how much goes on the rack now. > > > > David Edgar, TC 5108 > > El Cajon, California > > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > >

[joecurto@aol.com]

From the description it sounds like the driving impressions of a MG PA 4 Seater, which added a rear seat behind the rear axle, and the stories were that when 4 passengers got in the steering went out to lunch, and given the fact that it was 803 cc I suppose the power went too. Joe curto

[Ron Simon]

We too have a Phil Marino Luggage Rack. We used it in '92 on the first GRAB trip in England approx. 2,000 miles, In New England during the '92 GRANE trip and then back to England for GRAB'98. We carried 75-80 lbs of luggage as these trips were always several weeks long at at time. Never had any problems with the front end lifting or the steering becoming lighter than normal. Of course my front end was in good condition before these trips.Always carried 32lbs air in the tires. We drove at times in the rain and sometimes on the motorways at speeds of 55 mph +. I don't feel that low mounted luggage is the real problem. The gas tank is mounted on the back and a full tank of approx 13 gallons weighs 78 lbs, yet the TC doesn't seem to handle any better when almost empty.On the other hand wouldn't it be great if we still took less with us. Ron Simon --- David and Joyce Edgar djedgar@pacbell.net> wrote:

> Gene Wescott sent me this reply and am passing it on > as it didn't go > to the whole group. > David > ------------- > Dear Dave: > I used my Phil Marino luggage rack on the trip to > GoF West Napa. > All was fine until I picked up my lady friend in > Berkeley. She had > a couple of large heavy bags. When we got on the > freeway at speed > the steering was frightning. I stopped and checked > the front wheels > and the steering slop--both normal. The weight on > that low pivot point > really lightens the front end, and the lift added by > the wind on the front > wings adds. I drove as slowly as possible in > freeway traffic but it took > all my concentration to get there. I think the > answer is: discourage > women from taking so much stuff. If one can do with > side mirrors and > not use the dash rear mirror, a high rack positioned > over the gastank, > or perhaps strapping stuff over the rear tonneau > area would be better. > Gene > > > >(we all know that WE only need a spare good > shirt and two clean > > >pairs of jocks to keep us going on even the > longest holiday.......) > > > > This reminded me of a when my wife and I packed > up for a two week > > trip. She of course needed clothes for almost > every occasion and > > extra of everything. That and the tools and > spare parts I brought > > (we were traveling solo and not with a group) > made quite a load on > > the low mounted rear rack. The weight seemed to > cause a poor F/R > > weight ratio or maybe even lift the front end of > the TC ever so > > slightly and caused a terrible wandering problem. > It was nothing > > that could be observed visually but certainly > could be felt in the > > steering. Fought the steering the whole trip. > Once the weight was > > removed the TC behaved much, much better. > > > > At that time my steering was, shall we say, well > worn in. I did do a > > steering and front end rebuild after that. I > don't know if tight > > steering would have helped in that instance but > it is always on my > > mind to watch how much goes on the rack now. > > > > David Edgar, TC 5108 > > El Cajon, California > > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > >

__________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Send FREE Valentine eCards with Yahoo! Greetings! http://greetings.yahoo.com

[tonygoodall]

Art If you can get hold of a copy of the Octagon Car Club Bulletin for August 2001, there are a couple of designs illustrated there. The one made by Ron Reeks is very impressive. Tony TC9825

> From: "aking3080" aek0@lehigh.edu> > Date: Fri, 08 Feb 2002 03:03:09 -0000 > To: mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com > Subject: [mg-tabc] Low luggage rack for a TC? > > Does anyone know of a source for a luggage rack for a TC that is lower > than the usual one above the spare tire, more like the ones for a TD > or TF? I'm planning on driving to the GOF in Nova Scotia in July and > would prefer not to have the extra height of luggage. If nothing is > available commercially, does anyone know of plans/drawings to show how > to fabricate one? > > I've searched the Yahoo archives and don't find any threads on this. > Does anyone remember pre-Yahoo discussions? > > Thanks, > Art King > TC 3944 > > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > >