mk1turboestate

iTrader: (2)

As a family we have been in a few trips away in the car and with the roof down we are seriously lacking space for our suitcases. I looked around for options and came across a suction mounted one at around £250, that seemed a touch expensive so I searched online for the suction cups. Loads of companies now make suction bike mounts so I ordered 3 cups for £69 and waited for them to arrive





One they hey we’re here I stripped them to just the cup and set about making a light weight frame, since I had some 22mm copper in the garage I decided to make it out of that.

I started out mounting the the cups on the car so I would miss the fin on the boot.





I then started with the frame















I now just need to spray it black and get some stainless bolts the correct size to mount the rack to the frame.

You our can pull the car by the frame, each cup will hold around 25kg, the rack inc mounts comes in at 4.6kg

fuzzy

are soldered copper pipe joints going to be up to the job of holding luggage as the car travels at 70? id be worried that when you get there all you have left bis 3 suction cups and 3 short bits of copper pipe....

mk1turboestate

iTrader: (2)

You could tow a car on a soldered joint if it’s done properly... the joint is as strong as the pipe and I used to just tape bundles of pipe to the roof of my van years ago

Martin-Hadland

iTrader: (2)

Sorry but there is no way I would have that on the back of my car

cossynut2

So good to see up-cycling of the old copper pipe to make the framework! I agree with you on the strength of the 22 mm copper pipe which will easily cope with the weight of the luggage. Good Job!!

jonfoc

Coated black I guess it would look ok. Very neat work. However I'd be going nowhere without some kind of ratchet strap holding it and my luggage to the car.

mattman1234

i like the copper pipe idea,but not sure i would trust the suction cups,any twisting of the boot lid would surely de-suck them,and don't call me surely

fuzzy

its not the strength of the pipe I question but the longevity of the soldered joints cracking and shaking apart at 70mph, the stresses put on them will be far more than what theyre designed to do !
plumbers moan like bitches about soldered joints cracking when you move their pipes a little bit to fit a kitchen

mk1turboestate

iTrader: (2)

Soldered joints only have issues when they are not done properly, when I used to fit unvented hot water that’s under massive pressure, this isn’t really going to be under any..

i once built a copper water manifold for a mates nova turbo, that was on the car years and attached to the engine, it didn’t even use fittings on that just sweated the joints old school style,

the rack ace will only be used there and back so it’s not really for the looks more functional

i wouldn’t drive around with a bike rack on but if I needed to get a bike somewhere I would use one

iv read loads of reviews on the suction cups they are pump action with a line to let you know if they need another pump but I will probably put a strap on as well just in case,

gcfcos

Awesome work I like that a lot.

Caddyshack

Love it, well done. Will you paint it?

I guess you could very easily add a safety teather to whatever you put on there and secure it in the boot...most modern cars have some sort of lashing point in the boot...I would want that on any luggage carrier OEM or DIY. Nice write up.


I am thinking about fitting an unvented mega flow to my house...some parts are very new and others are over 100 yrs old but I do not think much of the old plumbing is left...would you think it will be ok?

stevieturbo

Depending on weight of luggage...that copper could be a poor choice. The soldered joints will be fine though.

And the sucker cups....would need to be re-checking them very often, as they dont hold vac as long as you think they should ! Especially if paintwork is anything less than perfect.

You could ratchet strap or secure via the bootlid itself...but doubt the copper would ever be strong enough to allow a good pulldown on a ratchet strap

Caddyshack

If you lubricated the sucker cups with something like vaseline would that damage the paint work?

mk1turboestate

iTrader: (2)

its getting painted gloss black


Unvented water is great, the reality is it just matches your hot water pressure to that of the cold so it will normally be ok

mk1turboestate

iTrader: (2)

I put a board on the frame to put an even weight across the frame and stood on it and it takes my 95kg frame, a case will never weigh more than 25kg,

the cups ups will hold at full suction for at least 12 hours when I have tested them, I will use a strap and it will be positioned in the middle near the cups, since the cups are on the edges strapping down won’t be an issue. I also added extra support bars for this reason

the

mk1turboestate

iTrader: (2)

No idea, they stick perfectly to clean paint... just ordered my da polisher so mine will hopefully be perfect

people have bikes hanging from the back of vans with the cups. Before I properly read up I was sceptical

mk1turboestate

iTrader: (2)

Not sure I would do this.

Caddyshack

Wow, that bike on the back is amazing, expensive bike too.

fuzzy

do the sucker cups on their own count as a secure load or would copper pull you over to check it has mechanical fixings?

mk1turboestate

iTrader: (2)

Fully tested as as a mount on their own, I will use a strap because I’m soft!

mk1turboestate

iTrader: (2)

I then set about how to properly mount the frame to the cup, the way I did it to mock up was fixing to a riv nut type thing in the plastic. Although in solid I don’t trust it on it’s own



So I shaped some steel plate around the mount to secure to the existing mount holes on the side

mk1turboestate

iTrader: (2)

Well it’s finished, cost me about £80 inc paint,

it it will have a strap around the loot lid and any luggage

I know others wouldn’t drive with it on but I don’t think it looks that bad and will help out on weekend trips, removes in seconds it’s ideal

and I quite enjoyed making it

cossynut2

I think it looks fine and let us know how it goes when you use it.

Caddyshack

Rack looks good in black but the home made wooden spoiler in this shot is way over the top and probably won’t produce any down force.

Caddyshack

I think it is really good and bet it will be perfect.

Adam-M

Tbh my old work used to lift 6m x 3m sheets of glass using a crane with a suction cup frame and could lift glass 20mm thick