roof racks for cabbies

can anyone tell me , can you still buy roof racks for cabbies and where from

also does anyone have any pics of theirs with them, thanks

Hi they are out there.

There are 2 versions.

One made by Thule and the super rare Votex one.
The Votex is an OEM one that was available from the VW Dealers.

The Thule has to be removed when opening and closing the roof, the Votex is hinged so comes forward allowing you to use the roof really easy.

Problem is they are like hens teeth and if you can find one they are very expensive.
I have one brand new, but never fitted it.
I got it from a bloke in Germany, I just stumbled across it whilst looking at a cabby site in the Netherlands.




















not my car above…





Thule one fitted to one of the members on here Lennyhope.
It needs to be removed at the B pillar to close and open the roof.
The avantage is that it does not need 2 holes drilling in the B pillar to mount.

the thule rack above even though it needs to be removed its only the two big thumb wheels over the b pillar takes about 2 secs to do, the brackets stay ontop of the b pillars.
this is probably the coolest thing for a cab should see peoples faces when you drive past with surfboards on the rack and the roof down, they think somethings not right but cant work out what it is.

Personally I prefer the Votex rack, it looks better and is an OEM Supplier part.

They are fetching super silly money in the USA.
They do pop every now and then, depends on how badly you would want one and how much you would want to pay.

racer said

the thule rack above even though it needs to be removed its only the two big thumb wheels over the b pillar takes about 2 secs to do, the brackets stay ontop of the b pillars.
this is probably the coolest thing for a cab should see peoples faces when you drive past with surfboards on the rack and the roof down, they think somethings not right but cant work out what it is.

this is what i want it for - i plan to use the cabbie next year when going surfing - but i dont fancy strapping the boards to the roof direct -

do you have to drill into the car at all on either of these racks ,

chortle said

Personally I prefer the Votex rack, it looks better and is an OEM Supplier part.

They are fetching super silly money in the USA.
They do pop every now and then, depends on how badly you would want one and how much you would want to pay..

how much are we acts talking?!

so if the vortex is out due to being rare , where can i pick the other up to?!? just ebay or can you still buy them.

im in no rush as wont be using the car for a few months now - but i like to try to plan a bit ahead if possible!!!

they come up on German E bay.de or E bay.com

The thule doesn't need to have holes drilled in the b pillar.

It's a case of looking, they are out there but it would be a case of waiting there is a mk3 votex on ebay at the moment not sure how comparable that would be to the MK1 version.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/110790678133?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

looks very different at the front as the Mk1 ones attach to the A pillar trim.

the thule rack fits under the rubbers on the b pillars, you unclip the sill plates unscrew the little plastic trim holding the rubber on and pull the rubber out up to the top of the b pillar. underneth is a hole (all cabs have this) put the bracket in and tighten the screw. takes a bit to fit but once fitted the bars come off leaving the small brackets on. front bar just clamps to the a pillar, no holes need drilling.
we bought lennys (the one on the red car above)for the rivage and our long boards, if you cant find a rack we have tied them to the roof or used the rino roof pads failing that get good at surfing and ride a short board then put roof down and use back seat.

I think the thule sits quite high up from the car, whilst the votex is sleeker looking in my opinion.

GOOGLE: votex dachträger cabrio 1

Have a look through the web pages and use the google translate this page.
That way they will be in English.
That's how I got mine.
Mine was from this site a really nice bloke called Manfred.

http://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=http://www.golf1-ig.de/board/read.php%3F1,50617&ei=LbLnTvqoIYri8AOJqamUCg&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CF8Q7gEwBA&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dvotex%2Bdachtr%25C3%25A4ger%2Bcabrio%2B1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26hs%3DpnZ%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-GB:official%26prmd%3Dimvns

you will have to pay around 300.00 euros upwards for the Votex, I have seen the Thule change hands for well under £200.00 though.

I read on an American forum $1,000.00.
Not sure if someone would pay that, there was a thread on another and the guy offered him $2,000.00 but don't think he got it, not sure if the guy still has it though? The thread is a few months old now.

Just so you don't think I am full of BS.

http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?5275385-Fs-ft-mk1-cabby-votex-roof-rack-extremely-rare!!!&highlight=cabby+roof+rack+votex

personally i did not want to go drilling holes in a low milage  rivage, and you can make the thule sit lower down, all my cars have roof bars now so at least rack wont get used all that much, only in the summer (its not for sale by the way)

You can always buy another set of B pillar covers, if you wanted to take the rack fittings off permanently.

That way you wouldn't even know that the holes were there and they can be plugged with rubber gromets inside.

Not really a big job for the sake of the look.



Veedubjay, have you followed any links and have you got anywhere yet?
Try this one, although it's 8 months old Register and PM Magoo. He may still have it. Worth a shot if your serious.

http://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=http://www.autotreffen.at/forum/8-shown-shine/207829-dachtraeger-fuer-golf-1-cabrio.html&ei=IVXqTqrrNo6n8QPxmtH7CQ&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CGYQ7gEwBQ&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dvotex%2Bdachtr%25C3%25A4ger%2Bcabrio%2B1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26hs%3D9Pd%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-GB:official%26prmd%3Dimvns

thanks for the link - i have looked over a few things but seem to find they all end up at the same point with me getting no where - but that pic gives me motive, i can imagine its not for everyone - but i love that!!!

and as for the holes in the b post - its not so much an issue as the car will be used in the summer - for surfing etc, so it wil not be that often when i will be takling the rack off - but its good to know that you can change the trim if the rack is removed.

I will keep an eye out for you too and will PM you if I come across anything.

You can see yours set up like in the picture now, looks great, as you say not everyone's cuppa tea though.

I really need to think about getting mine on my Rivage this summmer, just got a few jobs to do to her first.

keep looking you will find something, just gonna take a while.

I could E Mail Manfred and ask him if he knows if there is anyone he knows who might have one. Bit of a long shot. But if you like I can send him one, let me know.

Cheers
chortle

yeh thanks for looking

i am in no major rush as car off the road for a few months.

and i also now think that i may have to put a lil bit more to a side for it - so it seem the wrong time with xmas .lol. but

obv i will still be looking and if one does come up as the right price, ill prob have to buy it!! i have taken a pic of the pic above on my phone - so to keep me looking!!

Will a mk3 cabby roof rack fit a mk1!?

dont think so mate, proportions will be all wrony, you maybe able to modify though ...

my biggest problem with these roof rack for the cabbys and tintops is that they sit far to high off the roofs

i need to have a thinks

veedubjay said

Will a mk3 cabby roof rack fit a mk1!?

No…looked at it and the mounts are different on the A Pillar.

im still looking with still little joy. plans keep getting pushed further and further back due to as ever other things coming up. so i cant see that the golf will be on the road this year :/ (am currently trying to get my 75 bug back on the road after an engine fire, but the golf is in dry storage!!) so i am still on the look out , have seen a few of these mk3 ones popping up but no mk1 ones.

have even considered making my own , with a bar that goes across the windscreen and one that goes across the roll bar? but that needs more though - and is a kinda last resort. - but this would also make the rack sit lower. which as mentioned above the hight of the rack is not to everyones taste.