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MG MGA - Luggage rack options

In 2015 a mob of Australians are heading to the UK and Europe for the 60th Anniversary celebrations - about 15 MGAs - so we are looking at boot rack options for the tour - cars being shipped from Australia to UK then about 4,500 km tour, then shipped back.
As some of the navigators need several changes of clothes and accessories boot racks have been deemed essential - whether we use for carrying the spare wheel or a portmanteau is yet to be decided.
Looking at the Moss USA product
http://www.mossmotors.com/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexID=29642
and the Moss Europe products
http://www.moss-europe.co.uk/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexID=626
there are some differences e.g. chrome v stainless steel as well as clamp on units from Moss Europe
http://www.moss-europe.co.uk/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexID=15640
and even a loose luggage bag (not sure this would work with an MGA even thought it is advertised as such)
http://www.moss-europe.co.uk/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexID=22830
So much choice - what are the experiences? Several of us have procured second boot lids so a little damage wont be the end of the world - the metal strap units in stainless steel seem the strongest.
Has anyone used the spare wheel carrier described on Barney's site?
http://www.mgaguru.com/mgtech/accessories/at102b.htm
Mike

Mike Ellsmore

Mike

I too got hold of a spare boot lid with the idea of fitting a luggage rack onto it to save my original boot lid from having a set of holes drilled into it.

I wanted the boot rack for a 10 day trip around the Mont Blanc region of the Alps in 2012.
For various reasons I didnt get to finish the boot lid and we went on the trip with just the space in the boot.

It was a bit tight for space as we carried the sidescreens in the boot instead of behind the seats. (I am 6ft 1" and this gives me more legroom)
But we managed to fit a small soft bag each for my brother in law and myself as well as lots of spare parts.
It is just a case of being careful to take the minimum amount of clothes and ideally, ones that are easy to wash and are crease resistant.

Four out of the six MGAs that went on the Mont Blanc tour had boot racks fitted but everyone complained that, with them fitted, they couldn't see anything at all through their rear view mirror.
As it was a circular tour, they all opted to take the luggage off the racks for the tour and only use the boot rack for the run back home.

A friend of mine, Vin Rafter, has made a spare wheel carrier to mount the wheel vertically behind the boot when required.
It looked pretty good and freed up loads of space in the boot. I think there should be some pictures in the archives somewhere.

Our next trip is in July when my wife and I take the MGA to traverse the Pyrenees. Im expecting her to want to take a lot more clothes than my brother in law needed but Im certain that we will fit it all in the boot without having to use a luggage rack. (Maybe! :-)

c firth

Just a slight correction to my last post, when I said
"Everyone complained that, with them fitted, they couldn't see anything at all through the rear view mirror"
I should have been a bit clearer, the luggage is what obscured the view through the mirror, not the rack itself.
Colyn
c firth

Colyn, the view is easily fixed by hanging a standard MGA rear view mirror from the top of the windscreen frame. When I purchased a frame at one stage, it already had two holes with recesses for screws that matched the mirror base exactly...I guess that a PO had done the same at some stage. The resulting view completely clears a normal suitcase on the rack.
Gary Lock

I used a suction mirror on my Coupe when I had the spare wheel permanently mounted on the boot lid. (Yes I bolted the wheel on the boot lid frame, but that was the 1960s/70s and I was doing around 30k miles a year so it had to have a practical boot!)

Paul
P M Dean

We don't see rear view mirrors as a problem - cheap suction type rear view mirror are available here.
http://www.supercheapauto.com.au/online-store/products/SCA-Mirror-Interior-Suction-Base.aspx?pid=225789#Cross
Mike
Mike Ellsmore

The alternative of course is to go my route and remove the hood! This opens up acres of space behind the seats!

Steve
Steve Gyles

I would love to fit a sports windscreen like yours Steve, but my wife is strangely averse to becoming drenched whilst traveling in my MGA. (I must admit that it does happen quite often!)

So until someone invents an MGA size umbrella that is resistant to 70mph speeds, I will have to keep with the soft top.

I wonder if the inventor of the "Martin-Baker" ejector seat, like the ones in Steves Lightning jet fighter, got the idea after accidentally opening an umbrella in an MGA at high speed!

Colyn
c firth

Colyn

I presume you have the MGCC rectangular umbrella that is the exact size of the MGA cockpit? I was pressurised into buying one at the MGA gathering at Bletchley Park in 2012. I guess you were also approached? I have not tested it moving though, just at traffic lights!

Steve
Steve Gyles

"I wonder if the inventor of the "Martin-Baker" ejector seat, like the ones in Steves Lightning jet fighter, got the idea after accidentally opening an umbrella in an MGA at high speed!"

More likely got the idea from sitting next to a complaining wife!
Neil McG

Say no more.


Steve Gyles

I carry an umbrella but that's mainly for traffic jams. I get some interesting looks on the M25 when it has stopped. I've never tried to drive at more than about 5 mph with it up.
Dan Smithers

Back to the thread, when I bought my rack 14 years ago I was offered the option of one with a wheel shaped retaining bar at the base insteadof the straight bar. Wish I had selected that option. I have seen one recently and it holds the wheel lower down, lessening the loss of rear view vision.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Mike

If you're all touring together, couldn't you take just two spare wheels between you? One wire and one steel?
Dave O'Neill2

Dave,
Sharing a spare wheel is certainly an option - in 2012 I toured Tasmania (site of Aust MG National Meeting) without a spare wheel relying only on the generosity of other members to lend me a wheel if needed. One issue with our UK Europe tour in 2015 is that wont always be in group - we have a couple of weeks where we might go our own ways.

Steve,
Can you post a photo of your rectangular MG umbrella - I want one!

Another option has surfaced here in Oz for people who want to take the kitchen sink as well. An external tyre carrier and luggage rack combined (see photo) - you might need a periscope to look out the rear when fully loaded!

Interestingly there is a significant difference in price from Moss Europe ($A337) and Moss US ($A403) when comparing $Aust for the original spec chrome units.
Mike




Mike Ellsmore

Mike,
For the Umbrella, have a look at this link.

http://www.mgcc.co.uk/mga-register/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2014/02/Non-clothing-merchandise1.pdf
this shows all the regalia, including the umbrella, available from the MGA Register in the UK. The contact is Christine Clark mgachris@talktalk.net. It may be cost effective for shipping if a number were purchased at the same time and shipped to one address or indeed thay were shipped to a UK address for you and collected when you arrive?

regards
Colin
Colin Manley

Mike,
on our trip to the Alps in 2012 I made use of the space inside the spare wheel for storing spares, spare distributor, brake cylinders and other stuff that you don't expect to need in a hurry. I found a small stuff-bag that fitted perfectly, it's surprising how much you can fit in there.
I also created some space in the boot by letting most of the air out of the spare tyre, the soft tyre allowed me to squash quite a lot more stuff in there. I took a small 12v air compressor with me to re-inflate it.
I first tried fitting the spare wheel face downwards to open up the interior space but the wheel fits higher up in the boot like that which makes it more difficult to fit bags in.
Colyn
c firth

Mike, -- That tire carrier is cute, but something has to be disassembled to get the tire out of the rack.
Barney Gaylord

> Interestingly there is a significant difference in
> price from Moss Europe ($A337) and Moss US ($A403)
> when comparing $Aust for the original spec chrome
> units.

It may not be the same unit. Moss has carried different versions of the "original spec" luggage rack, at different times.
Del Rawlins

This thread was discussed between 05/04/2014 and 12/04/2014

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