Boot Racks for a B
Discussion
Hi all,
I've recently inherited a '77 MGB roadster. It'd been garaged for 7 years or so, so needed a bit of fettling to get up and running. A new set of shocks, replacement of various fuel hoses, belts, filters etc, a set of tyres and a full service, and she's going fine. So fine in fact that we're planning to take it for a week's touring at the end of the month.
So I'll be needing a boot rack. I'm leaning towards a stainless bolt on type, just not entirely sure that I wan't it there all the time. I've heard tell of ones where there's a pair of strips which bolt to the boot, and the rack part can be removed...can't find one though.
Anyway, I'd be pleased to hear of any experiences or suggestions.
I've recently inherited a '77 MGB roadster. It'd been garaged for 7 years or so, so needed a bit of fettling to get up and running. A new set of shocks, replacement of various fuel hoses, belts, filters etc, a set of tyres and a full service, and she's going fine. So fine in fact that we're planning to take it for a week's touring at the end of the month.
So I'll be needing a boot rack. I'm leaning towards a stainless bolt on type, just not entirely sure that I wan't it there all the time. I've heard tell of ones where there's a pair of strips which bolt to the boot, and the rack part can be removed...can't find one though.
Anyway, I'd be pleased to hear of any experiences or suggestions.
not certain about these things for the mg. but
if you fit one, the saftey bar bit on it that comes upwards is meant to be towards the front of the car and not the back. i see a lot of cars with it the other way round as it seems correct, but what iv heard is that its to prevent luggage hitting the driver not falling off.
if you fit one, the saftey bar bit on it that comes upwards is meant to be towards the front of the car and not the back. i see a lot of cars with it the other way round as it seems correct, but what iv heard is that its to prevent luggage hitting the driver not falling off.
James is correct some say the raised bar is to stop luggage coming forward when braking but you'll probably have the luggage firmly strapped so it's a mute point
I should say I've had classics as dailies for over 20 years and also used these cars for tours and holidays
we bought a s/s boot rack for our B roadster it rusted the first time it rained, I should have just asked for my money back but instead I got a replacement, I found the boot rack inconvenient and a waste of time and money
with the rack you have to protect your luggage from the elements and thieves, it makes the boot lid very heavy to lift, when you stop anywhere you're thinking of the exposed luggage rather than relaxing knowing everything is in a locked boot
we only used the rack boot once after that I threw out the spare wheel (may be not a good idea if it's an impractical wire) and instead carried a foot pump and a reliable gauge and have never carried a spare since, bought a few cans of Tyre-Weld but have never used them just let them go with the cars
some friends had a B and went away for 2 weeks with full camping gear so I that helped me persuaded my wife that she didn't need the kitchen sink and both taps and could fit everything in the car, now we have a Midget and have a little room left for more in the boot when we go away
you also don't need all those spares some insist you carry, pay £38 join Auto-Aid, get the car reliable by full and proper servicing, maintenance and repair and regular use and then it's just another set of journeys
you've serviced the car which is great so if you use it regularly before you go on holiday you'll pick up further niggles before you go away
personally I suggest you do a full 36,000-mile service on a car that's new to you let alone one that's stood for 7 years - brake fluid and possibly seals would be first thing on my mind, you’ve replaced the tyres, suspension bushes could be looked at for at some stage
if you’re interested I could post my usual advice
have a copy of the owners Handbook and you know about your car (Ref: 0053 – http://www.mgocshop.co.uk/catalog/Online_Catalogue...
workshops manuals for repair, owners Handbook for prevention
as for the boot rack I would guess a lot of places will have what you want – here’s one – http://www.mgocspares.co.uk/acatalog/mgb_touring.h...
enjoy your car the more you use it the better it will be in the end and you’ll learn to drive it as it should be driven
I should say I've had classics as dailies for over 20 years and also used these cars for tours and holidays
we bought a s/s boot rack for our B roadster it rusted the first time it rained, I should have just asked for my money back but instead I got a replacement, I found the boot rack inconvenient and a waste of time and money
with the rack you have to protect your luggage from the elements and thieves, it makes the boot lid very heavy to lift, when you stop anywhere you're thinking of the exposed luggage rather than relaxing knowing everything is in a locked boot
we only used the rack boot once after that I threw out the spare wheel (may be not a good idea if it's an impractical wire) and instead carried a foot pump and a reliable gauge and have never carried a spare since, bought a few cans of Tyre-Weld but have never used them just let them go with the cars
some friends had a B and went away for 2 weeks with full camping gear so I that helped me persuaded my wife that she didn't need the kitchen sink and both taps and could fit everything in the car, now we have a Midget and have a little room left for more in the boot when we go away
you also don't need all those spares some insist you carry, pay £38 join Auto-Aid, get the car reliable by full and proper servicing, maintenance and repair and regular use and then it's just another set of journeys
you've serviced the car which is great so if you use it regularly before you go on holiday you'll pick up further niggles before you go away
personally I suggest you do a full 36,000-mile service on a car that's new to you let alone one that's stood for 7 years - brake fluid and possibly seals would be first thing on my mind, you’ve replaced the tyres, suspension bushes could be looked at for at some stage
if you’re interested I could post my usual advice
have a copy of the owners Handbook and you know about your car (Ref: 0053 – http://www.mgocshop.co.uk/catalog/Online_Catalogue...
workshops manuals for repair, owners Handbook for prevention
as for the boot rack I would guess a lot of places will have what you want – here’s one – http://www.mgocspares.co.uk/acatalog/mgb_touring.h...
enjoy your car the more you use it the better it will be in the end and you’ll learn to drive it as it should be driven
Cheers - hadn't considered getting rid of the spare, but I guess that's an option. Interesting that you found the rack inconvenient.
I've read the advice posts by NA, and very useful they are, but no need to post again. I've been using the thing quite a lot over the last weeks, probably done over a thousand miles in it so far. All fluids were changed, I've stripped, cleaned and rebuilt all of the brakes. Fixed a number of leaks (although I get the impression that fully watertight is an unobtainable dream
). It's certainly the case that using it regularly shows up all of the little niggles.
Suspension I'm intending to replace with a lowering kit in a year or so, when the kit car's finished, so for now I've just done the shocks (one was leaking and it sagged hilariously in LH corners ), which made a big difference.
I've read the advice posts by NA, and very useful they are, but no need to post again. I've been using the thing quite a lot over the last weeks, probably done over a thousand miles in it so far. All fluids were changed, I've stripped, cleaned and rebuilt all of the brakes. Fixed a number of leaks (although I get the impression that fully watertight is an unobtainable dream
). It's certainly the case that using it regularly shows up all of the little niggles.Suspension I'm intending to replace with a lowering kit in a year or so, when the kit car's finished, so for now I've just done the shocks (one was leaking and it sagged hilariously in LH corners ), which made a big difference.
BF sounds like you know a lot more than me anyway but I've been able to play the experience and not too original ideas card 
I've had 3 puntures in 20 years all have only required one lot of pumping up and have got me home from 40 and 60 miles away - I do keep my tyres in good condition and change old or worn tyres
some keep a spare boot lid with rack as you ones you strap on tend to scratch I believe
ETA: my previous Spridget hood and cabin was watertight so it is possibly if unusual
as you suffered my 'advice' here's something - you might already know all or some of it but you might not all:
Keeping exterior glass clean
Rain-X (or equivalent) rain repellent:
· if you use Rain-X (or equivalent) rain repellent on your windscreen and all other exterior glass including (glass) headlights and mirrors it also makes them all easier to keep clean
· adding Rain-X rejuvenator (or equivalent) in the windscreen washer mixture helps further still
· initially clean windscreen and all exterior glass sparingly with glass polish before applying Rain-X (or equivalent)
To help keep exterior glass clean:
· get cheap paper kitchen rolls (doesn’t work so well with the dearer ones) and a used spray bottle that’s been thoroughly clean out, in the spray bottle put a mixture of almost all water, a very little ordinary screen wash (and if using, a splash of Rain-X rejuvenator or equivalent) – just spray on liberally, wiper off whilst rubbing off splatters, dampen again if required, wipe off, buff with dry paper towel
· you can also use it to clean all the other exterior glass and reflective number plates
· keep a spray bottle with mixture and cheap paper kitchen roll in your car and use them to clean your windscreen particularly when you’ve just stopped and the screen is a killing field of bugs that will bake on to the screen if left, or use it clear the screen before a journey
· if you’re on a tour make sure you have plenty of roll and mixture as others will want to borrow your “very expensive magic formula screen cleaner”, well that’s what you tell them it is otherwise they use it all and you’ll be left without, you can pass on the ‘secrets’ at the end of the tour
Tip – always keep your all windows, all the lights and your reflective number plates clear and clean – to see and be seen (even with lights off parked up by reflected light off number plates and lights and rear reflectors)
Tip – clean the wiper blades rubbers with glass polish after washing the car and between if washes are not that frequent
I've had 3 puntures in 20 years all have only required one lot of pumping up and have got me home from 40 and 60 miles away - I do keep my tyres in good condition and change old or worn tyres
some keep a spare boot lid with rack as you ones you strap on tend to scratch I believe
ETA: my previous Spridget hood and cabin was watertight so it is possibly if unusual
as you suffered my 'advice' here's something - you might already know all or some of it but you might not all:
Keeping exterior glass clean
Rain-X (or equivalent) rain repellent:
· if you use Rain-X (or equivalent) rain repellent on your windscreen and all other exterior glass including (glass) headlights and mirrors it also makes them all easier to keep clean
· adding Rain-X rejuvenator (or equivalent) in the windscreen washer mixture helps further still
· initially clean windscreen and all exterior glass sparingly with glass polish before applying Rain-X (or equivalent)
To help keep exterior glass clean:
· get cheap paper kitchen rolls (doesn’t work so well with the dearer ones) and a used spray bottle that’s been thoroughly clean out, in the spray bottle put a mixture of almost all water, a very little ordinary screen wash (and if using, a splash of Rain-X rejuvenator or equivalent) – just spray on liberally, wiper off whilst rubbing off splatters, dampen again if required, wipe off, buff with dry paper towel
· you can also use it to clean all the other exterior glass and reflective number plates
· keep a spray bottle with mixture and cheap paper kitchen roll in your car and use them to clean your windscreen particularly when you’ve just stopped and the screen is a killing field of bugs that will bake on to the screen if left, or use it clear the screen before a journey
· if you’re on a tour make sure you have plenty of roll and mixture as others will want to borrow your “very expensive magic formula screen cleaner”, well that’s what you tell them it is otherwise they use it all and you’ll be left without, you can pass on the ‘secrets’ at the end of the tour
Tip – always keep your all windows, all the lights and your reflective number plates clear and clean – to see and be seen (even with lights off parked up by reflected light off number plates and lights and rear reflectors)
Tip – clean the wiper blades rubbers with glass polish after washing the car and between if washes are not that frequent
Edited by na on Tuesday 16th August 15:08
Just by way of closure, we went up to Scotland, we toured, the weather was even good 
Just under 1500 miles in 6 days, up to the far north coast and back down the western coast via the Isle of Skye.
Had the top down every day except one, and my work with the silicone sealant had turned out ok because there were no leaks when the rain did come down.
As far as the boot rack goes, well I didn't bother in the end. Ditched the spare wheel and took a can of slime and a foot pump. So we could get everything in the boot, apart from the sleeping bags and mats which went behind the seats. As someone above said, it was good to be able to lock stuff in the boot.
The car itself ran fine, not a hiccup apart from using rather a lot of oil - I had to top up with a litre of something random half way around (no Castrol Classic out in the stix!).
I'd not expected it to be so comfortable either - myself and the Missus were both pleasantly surprised. Stretches of 7 hours in the car passed with zero aches or dead limbs.
Just under 1500 miles in 6 days, up to the far north coast and back down the western coast via the Isle of Skye.Had the top down every day except one, and my work with the silicone sealant had turned out ok because there were no leaks when the rain did come down.
As far as the boot rack goes, well I didn't bother in the end. Ditched the spare wheel and took a can of slime and a foot pump. So we could get everything in the boot, apart from the sleeping bags and mats which went behind the seats. As someone above said, it was good to be able to lock stuff in the boot.
The car itself ran fine, not a hiccup apart from using rather a lot of oil - I had to top up with a litre of something random half way around (no Castrol Classic out in the stix!).
I'd not expected it to be so comfortable either - myself and the Missus were both pleasantly surprised. Stretches of 7 hours in the car passed with zero aches or dead limbs.
great stuff well done 
I’ll be doing much the same in my Midget touring the back and mountain roads of Wales plus a few carefully selected real ale pubs
personally I wouldn’t expect to need to top up much if at all over 1,500 mile including mountain miles and hard driving certainly not a litre so check the usual suspects – when it was happening to James above we discovered it was blocked oil vent pipes
have a look at the John twists videos he covers this more than once and much more in his many videos – http://www.youtube.com/user/Universitymotorsltd#g/...
James turned his B from a heaving drinker of oil and petrol to a moderate sipper of both just by doing the regular servicing that had been missed before
I’ll be doing much the same in my Midget touring the back and mountain roads of Wales plus a few carefully selected real ale pubs
The Black Flash said:
not a hiccup apart from using rather a lot of oil - I had to top up with a litre of something random half way around (no Castrol Classic out in the stix!)
don't worry about what oil you had to use to top uppersonally I wouldn’t expect to need to top up much if at all over 1,500 mile including mountain miles and hard driving certainly not a litre so check the usual suspects – when it was happening to James above we discovered it was blocked oil vent pipes
have a look at the John twists videos he covers this more than once and much more in his many videos – http://www.youtube.com/user/Universitymotorsltd#g/...
James turned his B from a heaving drinker of oil and petrol to a moderate sipper of both just by doing the regular servicing that had been missed before
na said:
on't worry about what oil you had to use to top up
personally I wouldn’t expect to need to top up much if at all over 1,500 mile including mountain miles and hard driving certainly not a litre so check the usual suspects – when it was happening to James above we discovered it was blocked oil vent pipes
have a look at the John twists videos he covers this more than once and much more in his many videos – http://www.youtube.com/user/Universitymotorsltd#g/...
James turned his B from a heaving drinker of oil and petrol to a moderate sipper of both just by doing the regular servicing that had been missed before
Many thanks, I will have a peak. I was suspecting piston rings as it is very smokey on start up, but it'd be nice if it were something easier personally I wouldn’t expect to need to top up much if at all over 1,500 mile including mountain miles and hard driving certainly not a litre so check the usual suspects – when it was happening to James above we discovered it was blocked oil vent pipes
have a look at the John twists videos he covers this more than once and much more in his many videos – http://www.youtube.com/user/Universitymotorsltd#g/...
James turned his B from a heaving drinker of oil and petrol to a moderate sipper of both just by doing the regular servicing that had been missed before
its true. my b seemed to be drinking more oil than petrol at one point. but after a good service it seems to have lost its appetite for oil.
might be worth having some one drive behind and check for smoke on the overrun if you think its engine related.
not sure if i beleive the weather was good. we have had terrible weather in central scotland apart from summer. which happened yesterday.
might be worth having some one drive behind and check for smoke on the overrun if you think its engine related.
not sure if i beleive the weather was good. we have had terrible weather in central scotland apart from summer. which happened yesterday.
jms700 said:
its true. my b seemed to be drinking more oil than petrol at one point. but after a good service it seems to have lost its appetite for oil.
might be worth having some one drive behind and check for smoke on the overrun if you think its engine related.
not sure if i beleive the weather was good. we have had terrible weather in central scotland apart from summer. which happened yesterday.
Ah, we were right at the top bit. There, the sky was clear but the ground seems to be permanently waterlogged. might be worth having some one drive behind and check for smoke on the overrun if you think its engine related.
not sure if i beleive the weather was good. we have had terrible weather in central scotland apart from summer. which happened yesterday.
Gassing Station | MG | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff