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MG MGA - luggage rack for spare wheel

In my search for more space in the booth I wonder if there exists some kind of luggage rack specially made just to hold the spare wheel ?
Kind regards,
Guido
gva guido

Yes, they are around. They have a wheel-shaped rear cross bar. This allows the wheel to be carried slightly lower, giving marginally improved rear vision. I know Bob West stocked them once, not sure if he still does. When I spoke to Metal Mickey a year or 2 ago, he said he could make me one (with curved bar) to order. http://www.sportscarmetalworks.com/

I have also seen a standard luggage rack to which has been bolted an MGA hub, giving secure carriage.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Guido, I designed an octagonal-styled spare wheel rack for a similar reason - to give more boot space when touring. It is made of laser cut mild steel to which I welded an old hub which is secured onto a standard luggage rack frame with stainless steel nuts and bolts via spacers turned out of aluminium stock. The wheel is held in place with a spare spinner. I attach a picture and will send another under separate cover for your interest. I have filed the design (of a Heath Robinson variety!) somewhere I think, so I may be able to find it and send it on to you if you like. Joe

Joe Gates

Herewith attached is the second picture. A cautionary note though - I am not sure that the boot hinges are suffuciently robust to withstand long-term wear and tear! Joe

Joe Gates

Joe, I agree. I installed one of Metal Mickeys racks a couple of years ago, and with the weight of the spare wheel, it gave the boot lid quite a bit of sideways movement, resulting in boot contact with the body at the side, and paint chipping off. The boot hinges are definitely not up to the extra weight.....although after saying that, I have also had a normal boot rack on there, and with carrying a small suitcase, there wasn't any movement to note.
Gary Lock

I carried a heavy suitcase on my rack one time and after that the bootlid wouldn't pop up when I opened it! I had to lift at the same time as pulling the lever (just possible with a boot rack on). Took a lot of adjusting and fiddling to fix.

I regularly carry lighter loads with no problem.

I think it would be fine to use occasionally when you need extra boot space, but if the wheel is on there permanently it would dramatically accelerate wear on the hinges/seal/latch.

Neil
Neil McGurk

I have my bootrack modified to take the spare wheel. Not sure how we would cope touring without the extra space in the boot. The hinges however are not good enough to take the weight so I always remove the wheel before we open the boot.
Robert (Bob) Midget Turbo

This thread was discussed between 24/03/2009 and 25/03/2009

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