Roof mount VW Bug??? - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

YakNutz · 02-11-2013, 11:02 AM

So I'm looking in to picking up a VW bug for my new DD and I'm curious as to how well roof mounts with a kayak sitting on top works out...which mounts, is it safe, ect. If you have any advice or experience with this please let me know.

Dannowar · 02-11-2013, 12:14 PM

Is your kayak crescent shaped? If so you should have no problem

YakNutz · 02-11-2013, 02:29 PM

I have an outback...I really want to use a Thule saddles or something similar. Just wondering what would work good with the roof of the car...it's a little odd shaped.

Iceman · 02-11-2013, 03:02 PM

Newer Bug or older?

bus kid · 02-11-2013, 03:11 PM

Old bug as a DD? Better keep it stock. I carried my revo on my 68 bug for a while socal imports for the roof rack don't get the basket type get the cross bars. For parts or if you need info on VW's check out www.thesamba.com.

YakNutz · 02-11-2013, 08:03 PM

Looking for something in 1960's so old...and my DD consists of driving back and forth to work and to the waters edge, we use the wife's jeep for everything else. With the cross bars and raingutter mounts would I be able to use saddles and mount the kayak right side up? I really just want to make sure I can make this work. Thanks for the advise guys.

bus kid · 02-11-2013, 09:02 PM

your biggest concern will be finding roof racks to fit the contour of the bug roof. From passenger side to drivers side to the middle is about 3 inches higher from the rain gutters so you will need racks with tall legs or mounts.
As for the daily driver if you keep it stock and maintain it, a bug will run forever but the moment you start upgrading it becomes more and more maintenance. I have had a few. if you see one you like be sure to look under the battery tray for rust and around all the windows. if there is rust that is through around the windows walk away unless you can weld, know someone or are willing to drop some cash to have it fixed.
001 137.jpg
2332 with a turbo I got about 10 mpg if I babied it. I took it to LJ once and had to stop for gas twice on the way down and twice on the way back.
001 154.jpg
way too much invested almost cost me a divorce.
drivers.jpg
notice the black stripe it was completely rusted to the point that my feet would get wet when it rained.
P8100041.JPG
all fixed about $15,000 was spent to bring this one back to life.
P8100042.jpg
P8100050.jpg
Photo_061409_001.jpg
1915 with a race transaxel last one I owned
I drive a full size truck now because its cheaper, way more comfortable, power windows, AC and heat are a sacrifice you will make to drive a VW, But you will look cool! if you ever have any questions feel free to PM me.

bus kid · 02-12-2013, 08:03 AM

These look like they would fit.

http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwevb/s...ad.php?t=16956

addicted2sp33d · 02-12-2013, 12:43 PM

I don't know about older Beetles, but here is our Tandem on my wife's Beetle.
No special mounting equipment, just the OEM Roof bars and some ratcheting straps.

It's completely steady up to 70mph. It's probably stable above 70mph but the kayak basically doubles the wind resistance so I haven't taken it above 70mph.

For reference, the yak is a Pelican 130T (13' length, 36" beam). The car is only 1' longer than the yak!

Redeyejedi · 02-13-2013, 07:37 PM

not a bug, jetta.
was using the foam pads.

hooked up some yakimas.

the whispbars are pretty damn quiet.

The Nothing · 02-14-2013, 10:04 AM

New to the site, but if you're talking VWs and Kayak Fishing then I'm definitely joining the conversation.

Looks like you guys have the Bugs and NBs figured out, but Cabby's can play too

Redeyejedi · 02-14-2013, 11:54 AM

very nice isaac!

tomahawk · 02-14-2013, 05:45 PM

Nice. I have been thinking about putting a stealth 14 on top of ,my mini cooper convertible... I hate borrowing my dads truck, getting it sandy, then detailing it out before giving it back.

The Nothing · 02-14-2013, 06:56 PM

I'd have to give that a little bit of thought, but the right Yakima Q-towers at the front, with a hi-rise kit would take care of your front point, similar to what i did. Then, at the back you'd need a Class II hidden hitch (removable receiver ideally) from which you can run a T-tower to make up the rest of the height to take the kayak off the canvas... something like this

02-11-2013, 11:02 AM	#1
YakNutz Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Oside Posts: 57	Roof mount VW Bug??? So I'm looking in to picking up a VW bug for my new DD and I'm curious as to how well roof mounts with a kayak sitting on top works out...which mounts, is it safe, ect. If you have any advice or experience with this please let me know.

02-11-2013, 12:14 PM	#2
Dannowar Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 1,823	Is your kayak crescent shaped? If so you should have no problem __________________ "Beware the lollipop of mediocrity; lick it once and you’ll suck forever." — Brian Wilson

02-11-2013, 03:02 PM	#4
Iceman Administrator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: 1-2 miles off the point Posts: 6,948	Newer Bug or older? __________________

02-11-2013, 03:11 PM	#5
bus kid Team Keine Zugehörigkeit Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Way out there Posts: 2,854	Old bug as a DD? Better keep it stock. I carried my revo on my 68 bug for a while socal imports for the roof rack don't get the basket type get the cross bars. For parts or if you need info on VW's check out www.thesamba.com. __________________ Não alimente os trolls------------Don't feed the trolls---------------インタネット荒らしを無視しろ

02-11-2013, 09:02 PM	#7
bus kid Team Keine Zugehörigkeit Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Way out there Posts: 2,854	your biggest concern will be finding roof racks to fit the contour of the bug roof. From passenger side to drivers side to the middle is about 3 inches higher from the rain gutters so you will need racks with tall legs or mounts. As for the daily driver if you keep it stock and maintain it, a bug will run forever but the moment you start upgrading it becomes more and more maintenance. I have had a few. if you see one you like be sure to look under the battery tray for rust and around all the windows. if there is rust that is through around the windows walk away unless you can weld, know someone or are willing to drop some cash to have it fixed. 001 137.jpg 2332 with a turbo I got about 10 mpg if I babied it. I took it to LJ once and had to stop for gas twice on the way down and twice on the way back. 001 154.jpg way too much invested almost cost me a divorce. drivers.jpg notice the black stripe it was completely rusted to the point that my feet would get wet when it rained. P8100041.JPG all fixed about $15,000 was spent to bring this one back to life. P8100042.jpg P8100050.jpg Photo_061409_001.jpg 1915 with a race transaxel last one I owned I drive a full size truck now because its cheaper, way more comfortable, power windows, AC and heat are a sacrifice you will make to drive a VW, But you will look cool! if you ever have any questions feel free to PM me. __________________ Não alimente os trolls------------Don't feed the trolls---------------インタネット荒らしを無視しろ Last edited by bus kid; 02-11-2013 at 09:15 PM.

02-11-2013, 02:29 PM	#3
YakNutz Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Oside Posts: 57	I have an outback...I really want to use a Thule saddles or something similar. Just wondering what would work good with the roof of the car...it's a little odd shaped.

02-11-2013, 08:03 PM	#6
YakNutz Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Oside Posts: 57	Looking for something in 1960's so old...and my DD consists of driving back and forth to work and to the waters edge, we use the wife's jeep for everything else. With the cross bars and raingutter mounts would I be able to use saddles and mount the kayak right side up? I really just want to make sure I can make this work. Thanks for the advise guys.

02-12-2013, 08:03 AM	#8
bus kid Team Keine Zugehörigkeit Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Way out there Posts: 2,854	These look like they would fit. http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwevb/s...ad.php?t=16956 __________________ Não alimente os trolls------------Don't feed the trolls---------------インタネット荒らしを無視しろ

02-12-2013, 12:43 PM	#9
addicted2sp33d Here fishy fishy fishy... Join Date: May 2011 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 774	I don't know about older Beetles, but here is our Tandem on my wife's Beetle. No special mounting equipment, just the OEM Roof bars and some ratcheting straps. It's completely steady up to 70mph. It's probably stable above 70mph but the kayak basically doubles the wind resistance so I haven't taken it above 70mph. For reference, the yak is a Pelican 130T (13' length, 36" beam). The car is only 1' longer than the yak! Last edited by addicted2sp33d; 02-12-2013 at 12:48 PM.

02-13-2013, 07:37 PM	#10
Redeyejedi Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Westside Posts: 141	not a bug, jetta. was using the foam pads. hooked up some yakimas. the whispbars are pretty damn quiet.

02-14-2013, 10:04 AM	#11
The Nothing Junior Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 11	New to the site, but if you're talking VWs and Kayak Fishing then I'm definitely joining the conversation. Looks like you guys have the Bugs and NBs figured out, but Cabby's can play too __________________ ~Isaac

02-14-2013, 11:54 AM	#12
Redeyejedi Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Westside Posts: 141	very nice isaac!

02-14-2013, 05:45 PM	#13
tomahawk Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 109	Nice. I have been thinking about putting a stealth 14 on top of ,my mini cooper convertible... I hate borrowing my dads truck, getting it sandy, then detailing it out before giving it back.