My modified tailgate spoiler to suit a bike carrier

[J3AAY]

I have a Caravelle Exec which I upgraded to from a sportline styled T5.1 Kombi. I love the new bus but as I have the seats I can’t have bikes inboard...therefore use the OEM 4 bike rack.

I’m not a fan of the tailgate without a spoiler - it’s a little boxy in my opinion. I wanted a spoiler but couldn’t find any that would keep the ability to use the cycle rack.Well there is the ABT but it’s a bit ‘Max Power’ for my ‘Velle Exec.

So I set about chopping up a Travelin’ Lite ABS spoiler. It’s taken a lot of time with a dremel but I’m almost there! It also, in my opinion, looks pretty damn good with the rack on or off.

I only had blue plastic (a storage box which had my wife’s old shoes in it!) but it will be fine once they are Sika Flex’d in and smoothed ready for primer and paint.

I cannot wait to get it all finished and fitted!

 

[Kind of Blue]

You have done a very tidy job of that! By the way, is your real name Jürgen Klopp? Our Liverpool super hero your reflection gave you away!

 

[J3AAY]

You have done a very tidy job of that! By the way, is your real name Jürgen Klopp? Our Liverpool super hero your reflection gave you away!

Ha ha, sadly not Jürgen, if I was I’d have had a body shop do all the faffing with this spoiler!

I’m happy with it, I’m no professional panel beater by any means so I’m super happy it’s looking as good as it does.

All done with a metal cutting disk on the dremel, hack saw, modelling knife and normal metal work files. Oh and scissors to chop up Mrs J3AAY’s old shoe store box! Ha ha. Just need the SikaFlex to glue the blue bits in then off to the body shop for a pro prep and paint (maybe fit too, just because I don’t want to fall at the last hurdle!)

 

[Kind of Blue]

Even though not Jürgen Klopp, you have still done an Excellent job. I think you should strut your stuff with that! Well done. When you get the rack on post again.

Now about this team selection...

 

[huw169]

Just a thought, but have you driven it at 70 down the motorway yet. It may buzz.
I admire your efforts as it does look a tidy job, but for me the vans look cleaner without. (I’m not quite off the fence yet though)

 

[.50]

Good job there.

I love it when people turn a, 'it can't be done', into a, 'it can be done cause I've done it myself'.

 

[J3AAY]

I’ve not driven it yet- it’s off for paint. I can’t see an issue as it’s all sealed up inside now and smoothed. There are the little ‘tunnels’ but I don’t expect they’ll whistle. I’ll let you know!

 

[J3AAY]

@.50

I don’t really like the boxy Look if the back end, but needed the bike rack - as I’ve moved from a practical Kombi to an impractical Caravelle .

Hopefully, if it works out I’ll have the best of both without too much of a compromise on looks.

 

[Kind of Blue]

If it does not work then mount a Roof Bar at the back mounting on the roof and place one of those aerofoil wings that are used to streamline the air for towing caravans and make a huge Wale Tail, like those once seen on Porsche 911s. It will give down force and P off the local posers. Or perhaps something like that could be attached direct to the Bike Carrier. Then you could hide from the rain underneath it.

 

[J3AAY]

If it does not work then mount a Roof Bar at the back mounting on the roof and place one of those aerofoil wings that are used to streamline the air for towing caravans and make a huge Wale Tail, like those once seen on Porsche 911s. It will give down force and P off the local posers. Or perhaps something like that could be attached direct to the Bike Carrier. Then you could hide from the rain underneath it.

Ha ha, I’ve seen some horrible Japanese abominations like that!

 

[Eclipse Custom Vans]

I have a Caravelle Exec which I upgraded to from a sportline styled T5.1 Kombi. I love the new bus but as I have the seats I can’t have bikes inboard...therefore use the OEM 4 bike rack.

I’m not a fan of the tailgate without a spoiler - it’s a little boxy in my opinion. I wanted a spoiler but couldn’t find any that would keep the ability to use the cycle rack.Well there is the ABT but it’s a bit ‘Max Power’ for my ‘Velle Exec.

So I set about chopping up a Travelin’ Lite ABS spoiler. It’s taken a lot of time with a dremel but I’m almost there! It also, in my opinion, looks pretty damn good with the rack on or off.

I only had blue plastic (a storage box which had my wife’s old shoes in it!) but it will be fine once they are Sika Flex’d in and smoothed ready for primer and paint.

I cannot wait to get it all finished and fitted!

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Fiddly work, did you not consider a tow bar carrier???

 

[J3AAY]

Fiddly work, did you not consider a tow bar carrier???

I’ve had a Thule tow bar rack in the past. Very good but a pain to store. Also, very costly if you go down the ‘proper’ tow bar route with OEM tow electrics.

convenience wise the VW rack is the best I’ve used. It really is very good.

 

[St4n99]

You have did a good job there , I have saw someone on YouTube do it to a T5 and it worked a treat , only thing I would say is the OEM rack must go on a bit different to the fimma rack that I have as when I mounted mine to the top of the tailgate the instructions tell you to slide the brackets over top of tailgate about a couple of inches away from the hinges and then slide them over to correct position and you can fell it tightn up as you do this so it's possibly the way it's designed to be mounted , hopefully someone has the fimma also and has mibi tried just mounting it like OEM as am sure there will be more out there wanting a bike rack and a spoiler

 

[J3AAY]

It’s on and it works! Rack can be fitted and removed with it in place so it was a success.

Paint shop painted and bonded it on. I added a bead of Tiger Seal along the back edge as I didn’t like the sound of a little gap being there - wind noise etc.

I’m very pleased with it for a mostly DIY effort.

Cheers,

 

[Deaky]

It’s on and it works! Rack can be fitted and removed with it in place so it was a success.

Paint shop painted and bonded it on. I added a bead of Tiger Seal along the back edge as I didn’t like the sound of a little gap being there - wind noise etc.

I’m very pleased with it for a mostly DIY effort.

Cheers,

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Top job @J3AAY I love a mod like this.

 

[J3AAY]

Cheers buddy. I’m really pleased it’s worked!

 

[Ali-G]

Super job, well done.

 

[JOG]

This is a wonderful job!!!

 

[Kind of Blue]

It’s on and it works! Rack can be fitted and removed with it in place so it was a success.

Paint shop painted and bonded it on. I added a bead of Tiger Seal along the back edge as I didn’t like the sound of a little gap being there - wind noise etc.

I’m very pleased with it for a mostly DIY effort.

Cheers,

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Absolutely fantastic Job. Very well done. Looks OEM!

 

[J3AAY]

Absolutely fantastic Job. Very well done. Looks OEM!

Thank you very much!