On Wed, 11 Sep 2013 15:37:43 -0400
"Jim Wilkins" wrote:

wrote in message
.. .
... I want the
opening window so that I can carry long items (over 8 feet long) and
so that I can have really good air flow on hot days.

I used to carry 12' lumber for theatre sets in a Civic hatchback. I
had to have all the front windows open and the fan on high to keep the
exhaust that the open hatch sucked in bearable. The car I have now
holds 10' pipe with the hatch closed, but for 12' and sheet material
the better mod is a roof rack and tiedowns under the bumper corners. I
bought the factory rack that screws to studs hidden in the roof
reinforcing channels. For imports with tiedown eyes a stainless screw
link in each is enough to protect the cargo rope from cutting.
http://www.rockclimbing.com/images/g...10030888_3.jpg
snip

I never got around to it but thought about bolting/welding two Reese
style hitch receivers sideways. One on the right side of the front
bumper and the other on the back bumper. Then I was going to make
two special slide-ins for them that could cradle long stuff. This way
the stuff would ride relatively low and you could use the full length
of your vehicle to keep it from sticking out front and rear. Just pop
the pins, slide the cradles out and store them when not needed.

--
Leon Fisk
Grand Rapids MI/Zone 5b
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