Rack Systems for inside minivans

[7176]

Hello,

Calling to all whom have developed a rack/storage system for their minivans. I am interested in how you solved the multiple board, three in my case, sails, booms etc while retaining flexiblity for passengers and everyday needs. My van is a Dodge Grand Caravan. Thanks in advance !

[outcast]

I don't use a minivan, but best systems i've seen seem to be a PVC tube cage/rack, that is removable as a unit. Like 1 1/2 or 2" pipe 4' long.

Then you rack 2-3 boards on this in the middle , sails and junk on the sides.
I think there were threads on this in the past......or you could just slop it all in like i've been doing lately...

[pmd1]

I have a Grand Caravan too. I found that modular wire shelving and gear bags allowed me to fit an amazing amount of windsurfing gear inside and convert it back for passenger use pretty quickly.

The setup that worked for me: All rear seats removed. 3 4'x6' rubber floor mats to help protect the carpet. 24"x48" wire shelving (3 shelves on ~24" legs) along the passengers side.

I put a DaKine quiver bag with the integrated mast compartment (4 to 5 sails - 3 masts up to 460 cm.) on the bottom shelf. The end of the quiver bag just fits under the passengers front seat. Longer masts can slide between the front seats.

The second shelf contained fin and other gear bags. (wet suits, tools, extensions, etc.) Top shelf, about the same height as the bottom of the rear windows, was used to stack booms.

I stacked my 3 boards (Go 200, Exocet 117 & Mistral 103) on edge, largest against the rack, behind the drivers seat. This works well with modern (short & wide) boards. Having the two smaller boards in board bags makes it easier to pull out only the board needed without having to move the others.

This arrangement still allows for good rear and side mirror visiblity as well as a comfortable front seat passenger ride.

Hope this helps give you some ideas.

[paulsail]

Dodge Caravan windsurf rack set up. If i remove the dog crate, I can fit a few more boards. Take a look at the photos.

[kevinkan]

Here's some old pictures of my setup. It's nice b/c the new boards are so much shorter, they go behind the passenger seat. I'm using 1" PVC, and all joints are glued. The boom holder on the side of the rack is removable, and I can fit a captain's chair behind the driver seat if need be. Can stack a fourth board on top of the rack and/or more boards on the side of the rack behind the driver's seat. The rack just sits on the carpet and does not move, although it may be a good idea to tie it down some how. Masts fit in the space below the rack. It's pretty perfect! Removes easily and serves as a storage rack/board repair station. If I had one thing to do over, I would have used a different fitting for the top corners so I could stack one more level if I wanted to.

[scargo]

The problem with PVC is that the diameter is so large that it eats up valuable storage space. That's why I welded up a steel tube frame (using 3/4" square tube) for my 2005 Sienna. Don't have pictures, but I've talked about it before on another forum. Because I was able to conserve space, the van still holds four adults: two in front, one in the second-row captain chair on the passenger's side; and one in the third-row 60/40 split (that, by the way, is why the Sienna is ideal -- the 60/40 rear split allows you to put your gear on the 60 side, and haul a fourth passenger on the 40 side). I carry two boards on their side in the center next to the booms, then have plenty of sail and mast storage on the shelves on the left. Whole contraption is fastened to the frame with removable U-bolts so (i) rack wouldn't move in a crash; and (ii) I can take it out if I have to carry other stuff. I primed and painted the steel frame, but used wood for the sail shelves because the wood absorbes extra moisture from the sails. I also lined the floor with rubber-backed outdoor runners so that water won't get into the carpet and mold it and/or rust the floor panels.
Anyway, I recommend a steel frame -- it's much better than wood or PVC.

[isobars]

I used Unistrut (Google 'em or go to Home Depot or Lowe's) to make the simple, strong, very easily adjustable rack in the bottom picture at
http://tinyurl.com/36lcxh .
Fine-tuning its spacing (a wrench and a couple of minutes) lets you modify crossbar position to adapt to new boards.

Mike \m/

[spyder]

how about Speed Rail ?

http://www.hollaender.com/?page=speedrail

[U2U2U2]

Chrylsler Town & Country , similar to Kevins Plymouth

holds 4 boards has drivers & passenger seat other rows removed. The floor has flakeboard covered with indoor outdoor carpet for protection.