Hello all. I am thinking of building a surfboard rack inside my Vanagon. I hate stacking boards, wrapping them in towels, hearing them slide around, worrying about dings etc, so I think it might be time to build a racking system to carry 3 boards: Longboard, hull and fish. I was thinking of using PVC and sliding the longboard in sideways while stacking the shorter boards…all pretty much behind the driver side seat (the longboard will go into the forward cab a bit). Any comments of help before I begin construction would be appreciated. Thanks, Tim.
I am thinking of doing this too. I’m planing on using a wood dowel inside the PVC. The dowel would be connected to the passenger ceiling handels or something similar. The PVC, with foam padding, could rotate around the dowel. This would make the first board glide on better. Or just drill holes in the PVC and simply tie it on. The attachment should be adjustable. Any other ideas? Rob Olliges
excellent idea! will it be hanging from the ceiling? i was thinking just having them go from the back engine to the “step” just behind the drivers seat.
Based on my past experience with surfboards loaded inside my van make darn sure that whatever rack configuration you come up with that if you have to slam on the brakes or your accidentally rear-end someone that the surfboards will stay put and NOT come flying forward into the driver/passenger seat area or thru the windshield. This could be deadly
Here in Ventura I saw a guy with internal racks in his vanagon. Basically two crossmembers mounted about 6" below the headliner. Open the rear gate and slide them in, the fin keeps the boards from flying forward. My 87 has the (dead) AC unit in the back so these racks won’t work well for me. Some earlier vanagons have the AC behind the front seats and would be better for this setup. Good luck. Dan
how dis it look like they were mounted? thanks
I didn’t get a close look at the setup, just saw it walking by, but I think the rear rod stubbed right into the rear pillar/bulkhead. Maybe with a short cup/cylinder with screws around a flange? Shaped like a flagpole base that sits on the ground, for lack of a better desc. (Like the mount for a chin-up bar in a doorway). The front one was probably suspended somehow because you can’t anchor to the sliding door and probably want it to be removable anyway. Maybe you could angle a rod from behind the driver seat to the rear of the slider, perfect for the decreasing length of the LB hull and fish. First I thought the air might be hotter up there, but the roof in mine is well insulated and they won’t be in the sun like they sometimes are down on the bed.
If you have a large interior space to work with and don’t plan on removing the racks very often a floor mounted PVC surfboard rack with lower level shelves or mounts for plastic bins could be sturdier and perhaps safer. PVC is easy to work with and the possibilities are endless. Rob Olliges
You might look into “cargo bars” - designed for expanding across pickup truck beds to hold stuff in place. I’m sure they would support boards, be removeable and leave no damage when removed. Typically available in 42"-72" widths.
Once upon a time i had a truck with a camper shell and used walmart shower rods that expanded and tightened by turning. I had to make sure that the ends were pearced by bolts (that surounded the window frame) and went into the the rod ends on either side, the deeper the better. This was just in case they rattled loose you’d have a saftey factor and the board would not drop. The truck bed things are probably safer and sturdier. cant wait till i get a van to haul my shapes to and from the glassers… someday. good luck 808shapes http://home.hawaii.rr.com/makani808shapes/
Here’s my question: What about heat? I mean, say you paddle out on your 10 foot noserider at San Onofre and you have a couple other boards stacked in the van, won’t the heat be a major problem? Won’t the wax melt? Wont the glass delam? Can’t it cause a breakdown in the morality of society? These are the questions many of us have.
That`s truth. Delaminated boards and melted wax. These are things which must be avoided, no? Why do you wish to place your surfboards on the inside of a van where heat buildup will serve to destroy them?
so that when i get to the beach i can decide which board suits the particular waves/mood of the day