Vlad

I got an idea how to carry two wheels outside the car. (Race wheels) I guess it's possible to utilize the tow hook hole in front bumper. It's all really simple idea and clear from the picture. The rack piece itself can be prodused from steel or aluminum. I put some approximate draw, it's just the rough sketch of course.

There will be about 3 inch clearance from the road on stock car. The question is can bumper hold 100 pounds of weight? Any qulified structural engeneers here on the board? Can somebody produce a test piece. It seem quite simple to produce, and I'm sure a lot of people will be interested if the idea works.

After taking care of two wheels, other two wheels go in the trunk (one in front of strut bar), and there still be ample space for jack and tools and luggage!

Yes, it looks ridiculous. But if we can care wheels without a trailer, who cares!

sanf

take off the bumper and mount 5 wheels all around.. you can use them as the bumper and really hit anything you like

afr0puff

iTrader: (1)

I think you are better off trying to modify a rear bike/snowboard rack for this purpose.

http://www.birdautomotive.com/Bike%2...san%20350Z.htm

mdacko

iTrader: (3)

that thing looks like it would scratch the ***** out of your rear bumper

Vlad

Most rear hitch solutions are bolted on to the rear aluminum bumper. So no much differense, except you don't have to modify front bumper in my idea

DmanG281

iTrader: (3)

The amount of force that rig will see at speed will be rather large. I can see really no safe way of mounting anything to the front bumper withot exponentially large amounts of bracing. Not to metion you are blocking almost all of your radiator. The tires will create large airpockets that leave a void around the front of the car. All in all it just looks dangerous.

My 2cents

kjh176

I have the bird bike rig and it doesn't scratch at all if installed properly. If you absolutely need a rack, the bird is the word.

del105

iTrader: (4)

If you made the the part of the bar that passed through the wheel hub centric so the wheels had no room to wiggle it would work out fine I'm just wondering how much weight the front bumper can hold. Obviously enough to pull the car out of the mud or something but I wish I knew the actual #.

Vlad

UnfortunatellyDesigned to be strong enogh to pull the car doesn't say anything about how much weight it can hold... But just by looking at it - it's so friking tough looking part! I would guess, that if it's designed to pull 3000+lbs, it can hold 100 lbs.

I wish some engeneer who looked at front bumper assembly can give us some input.

AS for the air, yes amount of air will obviously be reduced, but at least with my RPF1s - there will be a lot of spase for the air to pass through. And since, driving with this rack will require more attention and care, I wouldn't really be warrying about overheating. Some decorative grills people using decrease airflow by 30 to 50% with no problems

Vlad

After some thinking... The piece of aluminum for a tow hook is welded UNDER the aluminum bumper. When car is towed, forces are trying to shift it from the bumper (A). With this nose tire rack, force will be trying to pull it from the bumper (B)

So with some common sence applied (my kind), connection should be stronger in B direction than in A. Think of two strong magnets, and how to separte them.

Now, the question is, how bumper is attached to the frame, and how those connections will hold?

350zroadster

iTrader: (1)

<- engineer

First of all, when the car is towed, it's not going to be 3000 lb of tension on the bumper. it will be the friction of the axles, tires, transmission which will be a small fraction compared to the weight of the car.

Second, the assembly is designed for pulling an not holding weight at a right angle. It's not designed for that purpose.

2003z

iTrader: (7)

how about a yakima roof rack and the wheels on it?

zmespeed

get bolt extentions and just add all four wheel s to the other wheel like a dually. i started laughing out loud when i read this post but it realy was a good thought

engiNERD350Z

iTrader: (2)

<---- engineer #2

I agree with engineer #1.

engiNERD350Z

iTrader: (2)

<---- engineer #2

I agree with engineer #1.

BoostTed

<--------Not an engineer

I agree with engineer #1.

Da Gimp

Why would you even need to do this? I can't find the thread, but its possible to carry 4 wheels/tires inside the car. (2 in passenger seat, 1 in the far back, and 1 on top of the thing behind the seats)

Netko350Z

iTrader: (8)

Hmmm... maybe just get a Roadster and stack them in the front seat...

Vlad

I'd gladly do it. But how do I put a roof rack? Sides of our roof are frikin plastic!

Vlad

The point is not to use race wheels on the way to the track! Coming on 8 wheels you'll use all 8