Creative Rack - Response from Dave - 1 - 10 - 08

[faux]

I'm starting a new thread on the Creative Engineering steering rack for the Early Bay. (Piggy backing this thread: http://forum.earlybay.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=9500" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; )

It seems that Dave from Creative has made one based on his Split Screen set up. The problem, as I see it, is that on a very low bus the bumper does catch every now and again :roll: which means his new system may not be any good (imo). On a stock height or moderately lowered bus it looks to be great.

I really want to get a list together of questions and of people who would be interested in a kit which would give a bit more ground clearance (and possibly retain the pedal tray. I have always been pleased with the work Dave has done for me and I have experienced this kit on a Split Screen and it makes the world of difference.

I will take this info to Dave and discuss it with him, rather than moan about it. It will also save everyone asking him the same questions.

Please let me know what you think.

Cheers all.

Jon

 

[slammedresto]

yup, def interested in one too, but put off by peeps that have seen it in the flesh and reckon they will catch on a low bus, if dave can make them more suitable for a slammed bus, then im in for one :mrgreen:

 

[Nelly]

I'd be interested, Once fitted it made my mates split drive like a dream

 

[Graham L]

might be interested,

 

[easy]

Im interested if its sorted for a lower bus :mrgreen:

 

[THE LAST PANZER]

Count me in if its for a lowered bus

 

[faux]

Cheers Guys, keep 'um comming!

I will let this run for a couple of weeks to get a feel for things.

Jon

 

[stuartrx7]

Very Interested.
Stuart

 

[andy11]

was interested in this but did not know about issues with lowered buses

 

[faux]

was interested in this but did not know about issues with lowered buses

This might not be an issue on a lowered but but I am pretty certain it would be on a slammed bus......most people who drive very low buses will hit the bumper every now and again, if there is a steering rack below.....well you do the Math!

But please don't take this as a slur on Creatives work, I respect his work and am a regular customer.

Keep um coming :lol:

 

[westy71]

me please :wink:

 

[Pete B]

Hi Jon. Looked at this on the Sunday. Just the slope of the footpath onto my drive is enough to make the front towing eye ground so hard I cannot reverse onto the drive. Forwards is the only way and that is close. As stated, the rack sits below the bottom of the bumper, so as you say, will ground out very easily on a LOW bus. If Dave and co can get it to sit higher and out of harms way, then I'm sure they will get plenty more takers. Personally I won't be putting an order in with it in it's present form. Big shame, just hope they can do something, my steering box is shot! By the way, good to meet you mate!

 

[faux]

Hi Jon. Looked at this on the Sunday. Just the slope of the footpath onto my drive is enough to make the front towing eye ground so hard I cannot reverse onto the drive. Forwards is the only way and that is close. As stated, the rack sits below the bottom of the bumper, so as you say, will ground out very easily on a LOW bus. If Dave and co can get it to sit higher and out of harms way, then I'm sure they will get plenty more takers. Personally I won't be putting an order in with it in it's present form. Big shame, just hope they can do something, my steering box is shot! By the way, good to meet you mate!

Hi Pete

I think most people are in agreement with you on that one, lets see what we can do.

It was a good weekend at vanfest and great to meet everyone include you and your boy - it is great to meet some young people who can socialise with all ages.

Jon

 

[faux]

I will be ringing Dave this week so if you have more comments I can pass on to him let me know.

The feelings seem to be the same:

We are all interested in a Creative rack but it need to sit higher than the bumper etc.

If possible the pedal pan should still be able to be fitted.

Jon

 

[Araon]

jon, even on a standard height bus it would be desirable to have it tucked and the tray fitted.....

 

[faux]

jon, even on a standard height bus it would be desirable to have it tucked and the tray fitted.....

Yes, sorry. I just thought that Dave might use the chassis rails as fixing points which may make it hard to refit the pedal tray.

I will just be putting our thoughts to Dave, he may be willing to work on it, he may not.

Worth a try I supose.

(Fitted the Firetec kit....a bit of a pain due to the lack of fixing points on the roof of my engine bay, but got there in the end, cheers)

 

[Araon]

Nice one....

re the firetec I'm going through a selection of cable clamps to see which work best, I have some quick release which may well benifit the dry powder guys whose bottle needs to be removed on a regular basis in order that the powder be agitated... I'm pullin the sound deadening/card out and fixing direct to the roof, and fitting sound deadening above .... any pics of the install?

 

[faux]

Thank you to all those who replied.

I have spoken to Dave at Creative, it was a difficult start to the conversation. He is obviously passionate about his work and gets annoyed when people make negative comments before they have experienced his products, which I fully understand. Forums are great for us to discuss various issues but can damage the reputation of people and companies.

The new bay rack is still only a prototype and he has still got to make minor alterations to it, it has been fitted to one LHD early bay and works very well and the owner is very happy with it so far. Dave never intended to make bay racks but was asked by a company who regularly work on bays and they have persuaded him that there is a demand.

The design he has put together is meant for a stock or moderately lowered bay, his thinking behind this is that when you lower a bay on adjusters he feels that a 4" drop is all you can safely go. He is an engineer and has worked on VW's for years, I'm sure there are others on here with great experience too but I am not willing to go against his judgment.

He agrees that when you fit a king and link pin system and dropped spindles (Maybe even BJ dropped spindles system) then this changes things but it was not what he had in mind when designing his rack.

Being a lover of the lowered bus :mrgreen: , and someone who had supported the KnL sytems on bays for years Dave was willing to look into it. He is concerned that there is not a big enough market for this to justify months worth of research and trials but I have assured him that there is a growing number of us with a lust for a bit of bumper scraping.

By the end of the conversation Dave was really positive and understands our comments are not a slur on his work but a request for something different to what he designed. He has not made any promises and admits there may not be a bolt on option with no mods.....but hey most of us are prepared for minor mods.... :mrgreen:

I am going to keep in contact with Dave so please could you refer any ideas, comments to me. And if your bus is stock or moderately lowered he is adamant that his rack is for you!

(Essay over :lol: )

 

[adamski]

I drive a very slammed early bay with a 4 inch narrowed K&L beam and would be seriously interested in the box. I was close to calling Creative when I saw the box at Vanfest but the clearance worried me also. If there is one with more clearance, I would certainly buy one.

->Adam

 

[easy]

I drive a very slammed early bay with a 4 inch narrowed K&L beam and would be seriously interested in the box. I was close to calling Creative when I saw the box at Vanfest but the clearance worried me also. If there is one with more clearance, I would certainly buy one.

->Adam

I think there will be a big cue out Daves door if he makes it just right :wink: 8)