Miata Mailing List: September 1999, Message #3212

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i will be moving soon and am looking for a good way to increase the amount of 
hauling space.  i saw a post in the archives from way back and the author's 
email is no longer in service (see below).  there were a few reviews on 
miata.net, but i was wondering if anyone on the list had additional 
experience for this solution.  heres' a couple of interesting solutions:
http://www.miata.net/products/interior/rhode.html
http://www.wenet.net/~jaimev/M-bikerack/index.html
http://www.seriousauto.com/cargorack.html

please email me directly, as the miata list doesn't send email to me anymore 
(i'm still subscribed?).

thanks
-drew

***********from miata list way back when
Paul, et al, I have a Honda Civic for winter, and puzzled long over the lack 
of camping gear space in my Miata.  Commercially available trunk racks 
seemed a bit flimsy (the ones I saw up close).  Also, they put all the load 
on the trunk lid, which worried me a bit.  (Some people have mentioned 
 !RUST!, as well)

I decided to make one myself.  It has a polar fleece underside covering form 
fitted foam, with a ballistic nylon covered deck with wooden rails (looks 
sort of nautical, good for strapping down bungees.)  It stretches the full 
width of the back end, and is designed to let most of the load ride on the 
fenders just outside the edges of the trunk lid, where they are the 
strongest.  Also the weight is very evenly distributed so I don't worry 
about bending the trunk lid.  I have load tested it to over 150 lbs  (me 
sitting in the middle of it) with no problem to the car.  Also, it's 
removable, and weighs about 15 lbs.  (It straps to the hard top hold-down 
lugs).  I have wondered whether other owners might be interested in such a 
carrier.  If anyone is interested, drop a note here, or you can e-mail me at 
the below address.

It has allowed me to carry almost as much as the Civic with the seats folded 
down, and allows me to think of my baby as truly "practical".  Anybody have 
comments or suggestions?

malcolm.hathaway@lamrc.com