Whispbar on WV Sportwagen

[Cat3roadracer]

Would someone please confirm that the pano roof will open on a Jetta Sportwagen with the Whispbar S53 installed.

Thanks.

[Cat3roadracer]

I just called The Rack Warehouse, from which I placed the order. The guy I spoke with was a complete AH. Said the roof would most likely not open, also stated that many with this rack don't care if the roof opens or not.

Order cancelled. Hitch mount investigation next.

[ergott]

I have them on mine. It is a real close fit and actually depends on the tolerances. Some have reported they clear. When I installed, it just grazed the glass when opening, but then was clear of it in the open position.

I put a couple of pieces of rubber between the clamp and the top of the rails. It's the rubber that comes with a typical bike computer mount for the handlebars. Only about 1-2mm. In place I have no problems and you can't see anything. Looks great.

If you find the bars somewhere you feel comfortable purchasing them from you should be good to go. Just experiment with the placement of the front bar until everything clears.

[PoppaWheelie]

I have a TDI SW with a Curt hitch adapter. Just FYI, as the rear of that car hangs way out over the rear axle, the increased drop from the hitch can cause clearance issues at slope transitions. I can't get my car in the (sloped) driveway from the street without going through the transition at a 45* angle. If you have a bike rack back there (I have a Kuat) it's even worse...the rack will drag over even mild ramps (like in/out of gas stations, etc). No way I could get up my driveway with the rack on my car...this was a surprise and bummer for me....

Works great on the highway though. I can still get mid-40's mpg with two bikes on the back of the car at 80mph.

[tumbler]

Ahh, the 'ole West Virginia Sportwagen. The Appalachian Autocar... the Mountaineering Motorcoach...

[staggerwing]

Been running the Thule Raceway triple on our TDI sportwagen. Expensive, stiff, stable, and easy on/off. Pain of purchase was lessened with a 20% REI coupon. The carrier arms easily fold flat to the rest of the rack, which makes it easy to hang on hooks in the garage when not in use. The ratcheting stabilizer mechanism is also genius and painless in operation.

The overhang issue, and VW's "no towing for DSG transmission cars" rule kept me away from a hitch mount. To be certain, carrying a bike rack on a hitch should not violate any VW edict, but didn't want to give them any ammunition should something go awry.

Either a back carrier or hitch mount will cause less of a mileage hit too.

[CheshireCat]

the s53 should fit, but when they tried installing on mine they said it was too close for comfort (particularly if you ride heavy MTB, which I do)

There is a MUCH BETTER trunk rack solution.

this is made here:
http://torkliftcentral.com/2010-volkswagen-jetta-sportwagen-ecohitch
http://torkliftcentral.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/650x/040ec09b1e35df139433887a97daa66f/s/p/sportwagen-angle-rear.jpg

I just purchased one, it looks to fit my needs significantly better than the curt. I have a curt, and living in the bay area I, also, cannot get out of my damn driveway.


This is also an option, but it only comes with a ball mount so you have to buy a euro trunk rack:

PF Jones in the UK is a common source, but you will have to eat the shipping. the westfalia is preferred since it's basically factory equipment
www.pfjones.co.uk .



I have a roof rack with whispbar but not the model you mentioned.
https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xpa1/t51.2885-15/e15/10945259_403918893115779_1939920845_n.jpg
here's the only other pic I have of it, sorry for the total cheesin'
https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-ash/t51.2885-15/e15/929013_692491880802403_1390410075_n.jpg

[thirdgenbird]

I don't have a sunroof, but I love the whispbar/euro pitch fork combo on my JSW.

[Cat3roadracer]

I don't have a sunroof, but I love the whispbar/euro pitch fork combo on my JSW.

This is my whole point, nice product, why not build the rubber up 3MM and be able to accommodate all of the models instead of just those without a moving roof.

[Cat3roadracer]

the s53 should fit, but when they tried installing on mine they said it was too close for comfort (particularly if you ride heavy MTB, which I do)

There is a MUCH BETTER trunk rack solution.

this is made here:
http://torkliftcentral.com/2010-volkswagen-jetta-sportwagen-ecohitch
http://torkliftcentral.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/650x/040ec09b1e35df139433887a97daa66f/s/p/sportwagen-angle-rear.jpg

I just purchased one, it looks to fit my needs significantly better than the curt. I have a curt, and living in the bay area I, also, cannot get out of my damn driveway.









This is also an option, but it only comes with a ball mount so you have to buy a euro trunk rack:

PF Jones in the UK is a common source, but you will have to eat the shipping. the westfalia is preferred since it's basically factory equipment
www.pfjones.co.uk .



I have a roof rack with whispbar but not the model you mentioned.
https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xpa1/t51.2885-15/e15/10945259_403918893115779_1939920845_n.jpg
here's the only other pic I have of it, sorry for the total cheesin'
https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-ash/t51.2885-15/e15/929013_692491880802403_1390410075_n.jpg

What model Whispbar do you have installed?

[thirdgenbird]

This is my whole point, nice product, why not build the rubber up 3MM and be able to accommodate all of the models instead of just those without a moving roof.

Because it isn't a product specific to the JSW. Adding height to account for any sunroof design would be contradictory to the intent of the product. They fit and look remarkably well on cars without a sunroof and probably those with more standard size openings. They were intended to be as low profile as possible. It is the pano roof that is the issue, not the cross bar.

They make the option pictured above for cars requiring more clearance. It's not as low profile, but that's the point. Still nicer looking than the OEM cross bars. If they designed a crossbar specific to the JSW pano roof, it would drive the cost up.

[gavingould]

i have them on my pano-roofed sportwagen.
exactly where you place the the feet is fiddly, and i needed to put some little rubber pads at the feet to get it to clear, maybe 1/8" or so (>$5 at a hardware store)
it's a tight fit, but most of the time i only vent the roof instead of pulling it back.

see here: http://forums.thepaceline.net/showpost.php?p=1228908&postcount=106

[thirdgenbird]

One thing to note:

The s53 bars also don't have as much usable space as the more standard raised version. I havent tried it, but two modern mountain bikes with wide bars might have issues with the bars touching. I've only got one flat bar bike so it's a non issue for me.

[sweet_johnny]

I have a 2013 Sportwagen and could not get the s53 whispbars to fit without the pano hitting them. It did not matter where I put them on the rails, the pano still hit them when I opened it. It didn't touch them by much, but any was more than I was comfortable with.