2008 front rack / brush guard for Hang Gliding

[gerg]

Here's an interesting question for you all:

I'm picking up a 2008 Pathfinder SE, slightly used. I want to use this rig for getting me up the hill for my new sport, hang gliding. Now, a hang glider, when all rolled up for transport, looks like a 19 foot long burrito, about 1 to 1.5 feet in diameter, and weighs about 50-70 lbs.

Typically, we'll just add some padding to the stock roof rack, and then do "something" custom for the front in order to provide support for the glider(s) at the front of the rack. That something is usually mounted similarly to what a brush guard would be, e.g. needs to be sturdy enough to hold ~ 3-4 gliders while going up what are usually poorly maintained forest-service roads. Think something that looks like a "T" or a box that is high enough to be level with the roof rack, and mounts to the front/undercarraige of the vehicle.

Preferably something that can be easily removable (maybe leaving behind a permanently mounted hitch, or brush guard) so I just throw on the "T" bar when it's time to go flying.

Some good examples are here:
How to build a hang glider rack - Hang Gliding Org - Worlds largest Hang Gliding community, discover Hang Gliding
Car Rack - Hang Gliding Wiki
Pathfinder rack option - Hang Gliding Wiki

My question is... After looking at the 2008 Pathfinder up close, I don't see any great mounting points for the front rack. E.g. something that would be sturdy enough... I haven't yet bought the rig, but I noticed some of the lower plastic is bolted on, which might mean after removal there might be some more obvious mounting options.

Thoughts? Ideas? I'm even looking for after-market brush guards that would be easy to mount the front rack to.

For those interested, here's a short video I put together of what it's like to fly a hang glider. I'm in the orange wing...
http://vimeo.com/1663803

-Greg

[blink32]

This is a lot late but if you haven't figured something out yet, just get a Curt MFG front mount receiver hitch for the frontier. It fits the front of the R51 Pathfinders with no issues (on the Pathy side). You might need to modify receiver its-self but that's because of the manufacturing process, not because its going on a Pathy instead of a Fronty. I installed one on my own 06. The Nissan Path :: View topic - Front Mount Reciever Installed - Curt MFG Model 31241