Manufacturers recommend supporting the glider at minimum three positions along it's length, with padding. So two roof bars and a front support is enough. Though most cars can have more than two roof bars, mine has 4. Using a ladder to support your glider is a popular overkill. Very kind to your glider but makes your rack suitable for one glider alone. I wish everyone padded their racks to carry at least three gliders. Then we can all help each other, leave cars at landings and take everyone in one car to launch and pick people up who landed out. Nobody should make their rack for one glider only, or even better for their glider than it is for any guest gliders! Not unless they really are "Billy No Mates"!
After 40 years of hang gliding and professional instruction. I believe in the 3 point rack. The ladder seems the best except for the fact that the glider itself has 5 tubes in some areas, 3 near the nose plate, and 2 tubes aft. This mostly puts a high concentrated load at a few places anyway. Let your precious glider ride zipper down on 3 points of 1X 4s covered with padding and carpet. Not round tube against round tubes of your glider. This usually results in wear holes on your sail, rack rash! Since long spans are more flexible, 3 points will provide even support and then broader 4 in surfaces eliminate concentrated load. No rack rash.
Build racks that can carry 3 or 4 gliders on larger vehicles, with lots of room for pilots and harness bags, and a ham radio licensed wife who is good with maps and driving. LOTS of pilot friendships result. Ask me how I know ;-)
This looks like over-kill to me but I appreciate you sharing it. I made something with three suction cups and pvc plumbing pipe for the hood which was less than $100 total. The most important thing is that it can stick on the hood in a few secs. You really want to make sure not to make it a chore every time you go flying - otherwise the motivation can wane, just my two cents!
I've never flown overseas. I know many pilots who fly internationally will rent gliders in whatever country they are going to visit, instead of bringing their own.
Thank you. Glad you found it useful. I believe a Subaru Forester can attach front tow hooks. Searching online for "Subaru Forester hang glider rack" it looks like some pilots have used that approach.
I and my buddies got subarus. On the newer foresters you can ask someone who works with metal tubing to weld a support from under the front bumper where there's metal and weld/bend a structure that goes around the bumper and up. Make it in two parts so you can remove it and only a small piece stays on the car. I got an older 98 outback bought just for flying so I made two holes on top of the bumper and welded a support that goes through the holes. There are two screwable cups so I can remove and the bumper looks the same, except for two 1,5" holes on it 😅 But.. suction cups work just fine up to 3 gliders. A pair of double suction cups, three 1 1/4 alloy tubes with shelf brackets drilled on the corners, and you have something sturdy. That will cost you probably under $30. Not sure the prices over there, here in brazil those materials are cheap, found in hardware stores.
Telescopic ladder is too flexible and bendy, basically the same as nothing since it's not supporting the middle of the glider at all. 3 contact points with a padded glider travel/rain bag is all you need. Use 3 EVA rubber rectangles of 8 inches x 3 feet under and wrapping around the glider, and combined with the travel bag you can tie as strong as you want, and travel any shitty roads. That's the setup everyone in brasil uses, including dealers travelling with 12 gliders on the roof. Suction cup at the front also works for up to 3 gliders if you build a strong rectangle. Your setup looks a bit too complicated... I'd slide the roof front rack forward to support the middle, and use only those 3. Also tie with something simpler and quicker. I use a wide cotton stripe that can be tied in under 10 seconds, works well with 3 gliders. The only people using ladders here are the ones who didn't want to install a front rack or use suction cups on the hood. In the beginning I used one with suction cup on the hood but soon realised it was pointless and cumbersome. Since then, just 3 points.
I'm looking into this for my FJ Cruiser. John Heiney had a front support for sale for $300, but I would have to get the front hitch mounted myself for about $300 more. Jeez, the vehicle has a big-ass, heavy-duty roof rack on it with four adjustable cross bars. I could spend about $150 for a 12 foot construction ladder on that with some pool noodles and some cinch straps and I should be good to go. Eric, your rack is really cool, like your jeep, ..and your motorcycle... (I'm totally jealous) , but the fact is, I'm old, I've gotten rid of my welder and a lot of my tools, and now I'm looking for a simpler solution. Heck, when I was a kid back in the 70s I used to throw my rogallo wing on my mom's station wagon and drove it all the way from Phoenix to fly at San Bernardino, toTorrey, even launched over Owens Vally near the current Walt's Point area. Sure I took some crazy chances, but at least the kite never fell off the car.
Sharing info like this is a step in the right direction to ensuring the longevity of our beloved sport. Thanks for this.
You're welcome. Yes, there is a lot of basic information which doesn't get taught. That's the whole impetus behind this project.
Thank you Eric.
For a newbie like me, this information is priceless!
Awesome. I'm glad you found it useful and informative.
Keep promoting hanggliding with informative videos
Thanks for the support. I have a very long list of additional video ideas to come over the years.
Manufacturers recommend supporting the glider at minimum three positions along it's length, with padding.
So two roof bars and a front support is enough. Though most cars can have more than two roof bars, mine has 4.
Using a ladder to support your glider is a popular overkill. Very kind to your glider but makes your rack suitable for one glider alone.
I wish everyone padded their racks to carry at least three gliders. Then we can all help each other, leave cars at landings and take everyone in one car to launch and pick people up who landed out.
Nobody should make their rack for one glider only, or even better for their glider than it is for any guest gliders! Not unless they really are "Billy No Mates"!
Pretty much everything you wrote is stuff I say in the video. Thanks for your support and confirmation!
Awesome content!! Very educational and thorough. Thank you🙏
You are very welcome. I'm glad you found it useful.
After 40 years of hang gliding and professional instruction. I believe in the 3 point rack. The ladder seems the best except for the fact that the glider itself has 5 tubes in some areas, 3 near the nose plate, and 2 tubes aft. This mostly puts a high concentrated load at a few places anyway. Let your precious glider ride zipper down on 3 points of 1X 4s covered with padding and carpet. Not round tube against round tubes of your glider. This usually results in wear holes on your sail, rack rash! Since long spans are more flexible, 3 points will provide even support and then broader 4 in surfaces eliminate concentrated load. No rack rash.
Yes, there are many different approaches.
Great Information
I agree. Thank you.
Build racks that can carry 3 or 4 gliders on larger vehicles, with lots of room for pilots and harness bags, and a ham radio licensed wife who is good with maps and driving. LOTS of pilot friendships result. Ask me how I know ;-)
Good advice.
Great video--thank you for sharing this!
You're welcome. Thank you for taking the time to comment. I'm glad you appreciated it.
This looks like over-kill to me but I appreciate you sharing it. I made something with three suction cups and pvc plumbing pipe for the hood which was less than $100 total. The most important thing is that it can stick on the hood in a few secs. You really want to make sure not to make it a chore every time you go flying - otherwise the motivation can wane, just my two cents!
It's great you built a rack which works for you. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks 👍
You're welcome.
Glad I watched! I’m still wondering how to transport overseas. Noob here.
I've never flown overseas. I know many pilots who fly internationally will rent gliders in whatever country they are going to visit, instead of bringing their own.
very nice rack ! I have to build one for my Subaru Forester, but cannot find front hitch receivers...
Thank you. Glad you found it useful.
I believe a Subaru Forester can attach front tow hooks. Searching online for "Subaru Forester hang glider rack" it looks like some pilots have used that approach.
I and my buddies got subarus. On the newer foresters you can ask someone who works with metal tubing to weld a support from under the front bumper where there's metal and weld/bend a structure that goes around the bumper and up. Make it in two parts so you can remove it and only a small piece stays on the car.
I got an older 98 outback bought just for flying so I made two holes on top of the bumper and welded a support that goes through the holes. There are two screwable cups so I can remove and the bumper looks the same, except for two 1,5" holes on it 😅
But.. suction cups work just fine up to 3 gliders. A pair of double suction cups, three 1 1/4 alloy tubes with shelf brackets drilled on the corners, and you have something sturdy. That will cost you probably under $30. Not sure the prices over there, here in brazil those materials are cheap, found in hardware stores.
Good stuff!
Thank you. Glad you appreciated it.
PVC tube weights like 100lbs. Maybe not that much, but I owned one and it’s so heavy that I just abandoned it.
Another good reason to not put it on a roof.
👍
👍
Telescopic ladder is too flexible and bendy, basically the same as nothing since it's not supporting the middle of the glider at all.
3 contact points with a padded glider travel/rain bag is all you need. Use 3 EVA rubber rectangles of 8 inches x 3 feet under and wrapping around the glider, and combined with the travel bag you can tie as strong as you want, and travel any shitty roads. That's the setup everyone in brasil uses, including dealers travelling with 12 gliders on the roof. Suction cup at the front also works for up to 3 gliders if you build a strong rectangle.
Your setup looks a bit too complicated... I'd slide the roof front rack forward to support the middle, and use only those 3. Also tie with something simpler and quicker. I use a wide cotton stripe that can be tied in under 10 seconds, works well with 3 gliders.
The only people using ladders here are the ones who didn't want to install a front rack or use suction cups on the hood. In the beginning I used one with suction cup on the hood but soon realised it was pointless and cumbersome. Since then, just 3 points.
It's great you built a rack which works for you. Thanks for sharing.
I'm looking into this for my FJ Cruiser. John Heiney had a front support for sale for $300, but I would have to get the front hitch mounted myself for about $300 more. Jeez, the vehicle has a big-ass, heavy-duty roof rack on it with four adjustable cross bars. I could spend about $150 for a 12 foot construction ladder on that with some pool noodles and some cinch straps and I should be good to go.
Eric, your rack is really cool, like your jeep, ..and your motorcycle... (I'm totally jealous) , but the fact is, I'm old, I've gotten rid of my welder and a lot of my tools, and now I'm looking for a simpler solution. Heck, when I was a kid back in the 70s I used to throw my rogallo wing on my mom's station wagon and drove it all the way from Phoenix to fly at San Bernardino, toTorrey, even launched over Owens Vally near the current Walt's Point area. Sure I took some crazy chances, but at least the kite never fell off the car.