Date:         Mon, 26 Apr 1999 14:24:19 -0700
Reply-To:     Nathaniel Merrill <nmerrill@PARAMETRIX.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Nathaniel Merrill <nmerrill@PARAMETRIX.COM>
Subject:      Re: Paulchen racks and bikes
Comments: To: bchristensen@ROCK-SYSTEMS.COM
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII

>>> Brent Christensen <bchristensen@ROCK-SYSTEMS.COM> 04/26 9:49 AM >>>
Does anyone with a Paulchen rack (new style) use it to carry bikes?  
Yes
In
looking at the pictures on the Eurocampers web site, it looks like they
mount with both tires on the bike.  I HATE this method of mounting bikes,
and much prefer the fork-mount (e.g. Yakima Steelhead) method.
Why?  You need to remove/replace the wheel every time AND you need another rack or space to put the now loose wheel.
Has anyone tried mounting the Yakima Steelhead type carriers onto a Paulchen
rack?  Can an owner of a Paulchen tell me if they think this would work?
I have considered this very thing.  I was considering the Yakima tracks so I could have those nice wheel clamp/strap thingys and maybe the frame clamp set ups.   I wanted to do this because of the primitive way the paulchen carries bikes attached with several individual straps.   Thats not to say the paulchen doesn't hold them solidly and safely!  (safety in numbers you know)   I have not /won't due to the $100 price of each of these units (on top of the already $$$ paulchen).
However,  I do think that mounting a steelhead to the Paulchen would be easily done for a slightly inclined person.   The paulchen has a solid "bed" frame which just about anything could be mounted to.  The tracks that come with it just have holes though the bottom which bolts go though to these half moon style clamps which hold to the tube of the rack.  I will likely modify the paulchen to my own specs in the future if only to rid myself of all those straps and the funky (but effective) bike frame spacer thing.
Nat 
Seattle