Quote:
Originally Posted by Timco
Fins della norga, snella barn ar?
(Can't spell it. I was Tompten for a little girl's Christmas this year)
No help with hard top.  |
Nice try
Finns det några snälla barn?
Quote:
Originally Posted by PaulE
I think the Porsche roof transport system is the only thing out there that will safely let you carry things over the roof of the Boxster. While early version of the hard top had the external covers at the back of the B pillar all Boxsters have the small body piece at the B pillar behind the top of each door where the RTS mounts. I don't think any rack manufacturer, e.g. Thule, Yakima, Rocky Mounts, will endorse use of any of their rack systems on the hard top. Yakima used to make adapters that could be bolted to car roofs without any way to otherwise attach a rack, but I think the weight of a box or ski rack combined with the aerodynamic forces at work at highway speeds would do a number on the hard top.
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Not the answer I was looking for. But I guess there are reasons why you don´t see any solutions where Porsches own solution is fitted to the Boxster (with or without hardtop).
Quote:
Originally Posted by rick3000
I believe I can be of some assistance, I have an early hardtop (with ears) and the Porsche Roof Transport System (RTS). Firstly, the only difference between the two hardtops are the ears, which is just a small plastic cap behind the windows which you can pop off to mount the RTS. However, Porsche quickly abandoned this design and removed the ears from the hardtop.
The RTS was sold with mounts to be fitted to hardtops with ears or directly to the body by popping off the 'wingtips' just behind the door / in front of the clamshell. When the hardtops with ears were discontinued Porsche issued a TSB which advised everyone to mount the RTS directly to the body (under the wingtips). I have mounted my RTS both ways, and suggest the body mount (under the wingtips) because it is a lot sturdier and quieter.
To your other question, the RTS is the only rack available for the 986, unless you are looking for a trunk mounted luggage rack. I am actually surprised Porsche even made a roof rack for a convertible, and no one else offers anything 986 specific or universal that would work. The main problem is that the roof has too much of a curve to stick or clip anything to it.
I even investigated mounting a ski rack to a trunk mounted luggage rack, but that presents two issues. The trunk racks cause paint damage and the angle is not steep enough to clear the top. I suppose you could weld a rack onto the hardtop, but it's made of aluminum and there is a good chance it would deform under any significant weight. The RTS is rated for 175 lbs.
I have a 6' Thule box I mount on my RTS in the winter, and a few others have mounted bike, surf, kayak racks. The RTS bars are oval and you can use most generic ski, bike, etc carriers. I will say my 986 handles horribly with a roof box, way too top heavy, and I bought the slimmest box available. But it sure looks cool.
Hope that helps! 
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Very helpful post. I have other solutions if I really need to haul things like skis around. With that said it would be fun to take the car on a trip to the alps to ski in early spring. A weekendbag and ski boots in the trunks and skis on the roof (there are always rental skis).
I had an Alfa Romeo GTV (916 model) many years ago. Alfa Romeo offered a rack solution for the trunk. I never bought it however. That car was as practical as a 911. But you bought it for the engine note alone.
Is it a big difference in comfort between the soft top and hardtop an daily basis? If I would source the hardtop just for use in the spring and late autumn.