I want a shelf/cargo platform for my 7s hitch....

[Bster13]

The Super Stalker I am considering has a 1 1/4in hitch on the back.

Since this Stalker has no trunk space, I am considering ways to get additional luggage space while touring.

If someone could chime in with the width of the stalker at the rear (not including the fenders, just the rear trunk part) that'd be great.

I am also up for other people's solutions. Here is what I see out there on the Internet:

http://tinyurl.com/3a2k8v2 (http://tinyurl.com/3a2k8v2)
It's light (aluminum) but I'm not a fan of the basket design since I'd like to lay out stuff like camp chairs horizontally on the shelf.

http://tinyurl.com/37alzmr (http://tinyurl.com/37alzmr)
It's steel, so heavy, but compact....perhaps a little too small since it's meant to fit between the width of a Goldwing.

http://tinyurl.com/35ugcbv (http://tinyurl.com/35ugcbv)
Probably good sized (again, need to know the width of a stalker minus the fenders though) but again, heavy and steel.

http://tinyurl.com/34goj37 (http://tinyurl.com/34goj37)
Probably too wide, but cheap and strong.

I have a wiring hookup for the hitch, but it'd be nice if I could avoid obscuring the brake lights so I don't need to add lights to this shelf.

I'd love to find something in aluminum to keep the wight down and I don't think it'll ever see more than 100lbs on the back.

Thoughts? Has anyone else done this?

Thanks,

Bryce

[Bster13]

Here is a picture for reference. You can see a shelf may obstruct the brake lights:
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/bster13/26600017_2.jpg

[Bster13]

I also wonder about obscuring the license plate. :o

[jbanker]

Bryce,

It is easy to mount lights to the receiver mount cargo carriers and use the existing trailer light pigtail. I did that to a pickup truck bed extender.

Also consider adding a spare tire carrier to the back of the Stalker. A luggage rack can be affixed to the spare tire and is very common with those that tour with their Sevens.

Take some time looking at this link
http://mycaterham.com/

You can spend hours on this site.
Angus and Tessa have traveled all over Europe in their Caterham. This was one of my early inspirations to own a Se7en.

Jack

[Bster13]

Looks like I have some reading to do.

Hopefully they have a solution that is adaptable to the stalker.

Thanks!

[Croc]

Jack has a good idea. A spare tire mount can be used to carry a tire but it could also be used for luggage and you replace the tire with a can of tire fix-it. Caterham also has a luggage rack you can buy that mounts off the back of the spare tire rack. Here is a pic from our Sevens outing in Milford NJ just recently.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/mjohnson555/seats/Sevens%20Run%20June%202010/DSC_3220_edited-1.jpg


There are some bars that fold down to the horizontal (forming an L shape) that you can mount luggage on. Hopefully this helps you imagine what you could do.

[Bster13]

Found some more info on the Luggage rack:

http://caterham.wordpress.com/2009/08/21/wheel-or-no-wheel/

Not sure if that can be mounted on my Super Stalker though.

I'm quite used to string plugs, rubber cement, and a portable electric pump though. Hrmmmm.

[s2k7]

If its me?
None of that luggage extention. They are Ugly & it will take away the seven beautiful view!
I will travel with with just a wedgie http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:r_lH7XGzYsH6ZM:http://cdn.thefrisky.com/images/uploads/thong_suit_t.jpg (http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://cdn.thefrisky.com/images/uploads/thong_suit_t.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.thefrisky.com/tag/victorias%2Bsecret/P20/&usg=__UuvuET9UFOiCsbmekPqLkaEU-w8=&h=150&w=150&sz=21&hl=en&start=20&itbs=1&tbnid=r_lH7XGzYsH6ZM:&tbnh=96&tbnw=96&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dfat%2Bwoman%2Bsuit%2Bwedgie%26hl%3Den %26sa%3DG%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1)

and here is my wife...allowed for 1 wedgie also.

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:XryHlfcN9-3YyM:http://www.robswtfrant.com/wp-content/gallery/wtf-women-of-the-world/129047750082763846.jpg (http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.robswtfrant.com/wp-content/gallery/wtf-women-of-the-world/129047750082763846.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.robswtfrant.com/tag/super/&usg=__5S-WdOTD3eJ1cyIqhnEz3Ve-nw8=&h=375&w=500&sz=40&hl=en&start=28&itbs=1&tbnid=XryHlfcN9-3YyM:&tbnh=98&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dwoman%2Bwedgie%26start%3D20%26hl%3Den %26sa%3DN%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D20%26tbs%3Disch:1)

[Alaskossie]

Bstr13,

I have been designing (in my head) an aluminum luggage rack for my Caterham Seven S3, and am now putting it into the flesh (I hope in time for my long trip this summer).

Its basic ladder-frame will mount between the spare tire and the body, and will move the tire out one inch. The finished rack will carry a bag on each side of the spare tire, against the rear panel, and a third bag against the spare tire. The rack will be supported at the bottom by the spare tire bracket tubes, and at the top by straps to the rear roll bar mount.

The three bags are identical waterproof nylon ski-boot bags, which seem to be close to the right size, and are cheap.

The rack will eventually be powder-coated in semi-gloss black.

When the rack is not in use, the bag brackets will be removable, leaving only the ladder- frame behind the spare tire visible.

If it works, I'll post photos. (If it doesn't work, you'll never hear of it again....)

Alaskossie

[Bster13]

Very cool.

Can you link to an example of the waterproof ski bags? I might incorporate something like that too.

Bstr13,

I have been designing (in my head) an aluminum luggage rack for my Caterham Seven S3, and am now putting it into the flesh (I hope in time for my long trip this summer).

Its basic ladder-frame will mount between the spare tire and the body, and will move the tire out one inch. The finished rack will carry a bag on each side of the spare tire, against the rear panel, and a third bag against the spare tire. The rack will be supported at the bottom by the spare tire bracket tubes, and at the top by straps to the rear roll bar mount.

The three bags are identical waterproof nylon ski-boot bags, which seem to be close to the right size, and are cheap.

The rack will eventually be powder-coated in semi-gloss black.

When the rack is not in use, the bag brackets will be removable, leaving only the ladder- frame behind the spare tire visible.

If it works, I'll post photos. (If it doesn't work, you'll never hear of it again....)

Alaskossie

[rnr]

Not sure if that can be mounted on my Super Stalker though.


Anything can be mounted to any seven as long as you are willing to drill holes, bend metal and/or weld.

My introduction to this was at a trackday when I was wondering what to do about a rubbing tire when a fellow Seven owner told me to just grab the fender and bend it out of the way - worked like a charm :)

[Bster13]

Doh! Well I'm sure my Stalker won't be mint for long, but I think I'll start out with a small shelf off the hitch and some waterproof soft bags. The rear lid (provided I don't scuff it to all heck) will be a nice platform:

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/bster13/Fred5_2.png


Anything can be mounted to any seven as long as you are willing to drill holes, bend metal and/or weld.

My introduction to this was at a trackday when I was wondering what to do about a rubbing tire when a fellow Seven owner told me to just grab the fender and bend it out of the way - worked like a charm :)

[Alaskossie]

Bstr13,

The bags are High Sierra brand ski boot bags, obtained from Sierra Trading Post (http://www.sierratradingpost.com/). They are a seasonal item, so they are not in their summer catalog. They were about $25 each, I think.

Even though the bags are made of coated nylon, the zippers are exposed, so, I had additional lightweight nylon covers made for extra water protection.

I bought several extra bags, and when my project is finished, I am sure I
will have extras. (My Seven is in Colorado right now, and I won't have have access for three weeks).

I'll keep you posted.

[JohnCh]

Also check out space saver travel bags (http://www.spacesavers.com/travgenbag.html). They enable you to pack a lot more clothing in a small space and they are water proof.

-John

[KiwiBirkin]

I made a rack for my Birkin, I take the wheel carrier off and then replace it with a mount that I made that bolts to the same holes the rack then sits on 2 pins and bolts to the back panel where the wheel bracket mounts. this means I can then remove it when I have arrived where we are going.

http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu326/Hotdognz/bits%20and%20pieces/Rack1.jpg

http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu326/Hotdognz/bits%20and%20pieces/Rack2.jpg

http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu326/Hotdognz/Tranz%20Alpine/20091029_084340.jpg

[11Budlite]

Very nice Kiwi!! Put a couple small wheels on it and you could roll it through an airport terminal! :D

[Alaskossie]

Kiwi,

What material did you make your luggage carrier out of?

Very tidy idea, and workmanship!

Alaskossie

[slomove]

This removable rack/tray has been very useful for several long distance tours with 2 people (made it first for the USA2005 trip). It is attached to the Birkin tire rack threads on the bottom and the roll bar stays on top. It holds 2 sizable duffels, spare fuel, a gallon of water if needed and other junk. The license place can be moved to the tray.
http://home.earthlink.net/%7Eslomove/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/boxstrapped.jpg

Nowadays we are using these CampInn sturdy watertight duffels (about 40 bucks):
http://a1472.g.akamaitech.net/f/1472/124/36h/img.ebags.com/is/image/im4/111364_1_1?&op_sharpen=1&op_usm=1,1,1&qlt=80&hei=280&wid=280

For shorter weekend trips we don't bother with the luggage tray and just strap such a duffel to the roll bar:

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_242PlvPtVpE/SxHSR75CNeI/AAAAAAAAAz0/xkQQY1pBSvo/s720/MilPotrero1.JPG

[Dave W]

I just added a couple small brackets under the roll-bar mounting bolts, so I could attach a cargo net on the rear deck. But you are limited to how high you can stack bags without messing up your rear mirror slight line.
Dave W

[eVox]

What'd you say about obscuring the license plate?

[Boxologist]

I made a rack for my Birkin, I take the wheel carrier off and then replace it with a mount that I made that bolts to the same holes the rack then sits on 2 pins and bolts to the back panel where the wheel bracket mounts. this means I can then remove it when I have arrived where we are going.

http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu326/Hotdognz/bits%20and%20pieces/Rack1.jpg

http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu326/Hotdognz/bits%20and%20pieces/Rack2.jpg

http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu326/Hotdognz/Tranz%20Alpine/20091029_084340.jpg


what would be cool if v2 was fabbed so it could be used as a luggage cart and had small wheels on the bottom. just unhook from the car and roll into the hotel.

[KiwiBirkin]

Kiwi,

What material did you make your luggage carrier out of?

Very tidy idea, and workmanship!

Alaskossie

12mm (1/2") S/S tube and tig welded it, i was going to polish it but decided in the end to paint it the same colour as my wheel carrier and wheels.

[KiwiBirkin]

what would be cool if v2 was fabbed so it could be used as a luggage cart and had small wheels on the bottom. just unhook from the car and roll into the hotel.

We don't do hotels in sevens in NZ we use tents

http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy162/Kiwibirkin/WanakaLotusTrip20.jpg

Backpacking sevens style
http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy162/Kiwibirkin/WanakaLotusTrip22.jpg

http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy162/Kiwibirkin/WanakaLotusTrip4.jpg

[MHKflyer52]

http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy162/Kiwibirkin/WanakaLotusTrip4.jpg
Now that is one cool photo.

[KiwiBirkin]

Cheers Martin I have some other good photos from that trip that I had thought I had put up on the forums.

I should get some up if I haven't, we really need a photos section on the forums like other seven forums have.

[MHKflyer52]

Cheers Martin I have some other good photos from that trip that I had thought I had put up on the forums.

I and a lot of others would like to see those photos if you can post them up or if you have a link to them.

I should get some up if I haven't, we really need a photos section on the forums like other seven forums have.

One of the reasons that I think the forum dose not have a real photo section as it requires a large storage area for the photos.
May I suggest that you sign up for something like http://Picasaweb.google.com (http://Picasaweb.google.com) as it is free and you can control who has the access and what photos are avaiable for people to view.
I have a an account with them and it has always worked and has never been a problem for me and it is free. Here is that link if you have never seen it. http://picasaweb.google.com/MHKflyer52/ALotus7Replica (http://picasaweb.google.com/MHKflyer52/ALotus7Replica)#

[KiwiBirkin]

Photo forums are easy to control just set the rules that no photos are to be uploaded to the host and must all be linked from a photo hosting site like you suggest, I use photbucket for mine and link all my photos on USA7s from there.

I have these rules set up for my NZ lotus forum and they work pretty well, anyway Matin you can see more pics here from that trip.

http://www.lotus7.co.nz/forum/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=481

[Mondo]

Impressed

[MHKflyer52]

KiwiBirkin,

I just looked at the link and you have some nice shots their. The one with I suspect your wife driving is very cool as the expression on her face says it all.

[Croc]

Great photos as always Kiwi! Makes me really want to go there again.

[lancylad]

Hi Kiwi, great pics and good to see you and the Missus out and about and having a blast in the 7. Great looking Rack( on the car I mean) will be building one for my 7, plan to do a trip thru the Canadian rockies shortly. Will post pics when we do. Let her Rip Mate..Steve