[robandmandie442]

Ok, so the van has been out for almost a year now. What is everyone's experience with their aftermarket racks and would you recommend them? Let's hear some real world reviews and post some pics of your racks.


The future isn't what it use to be.

 

[alarmist]

I got the Prime Design double drop down. Couldn't be happier. I was able to set it up so it will carry steps from 7-10' and any of my extensions without any need to adjust it for different ladders.

 

[sb930]

Prime Design for me too on Medium roof. Works great and was easy to install.

 

[Zymurgy]

**** I just watched the video that is slick. This may have just changed my van size choice too. I have a 32 foot extension that won't fit inside the medium roof Transit.

Here is my question, how has the ladder rack effected your gas mileage? Either of you guys have the 3.5 gas, that is the engine I am getting?

 

[alarmist]

I have the 3.5 and haven't seen 14mpg since installing the rack. That said, I cruise at 75-80 and hammer the thing otherwise. If I'm in traffic and have to lope along at 55-60, it gets closer to 16 (I filled up and reset the meter right before getting on the freeway once. When I got to my destination 80 miles later, the mpg gauge read 16.8. It's consistently 1mpg higher than reality.)

 

[sb930]

I have a medium roof, medium length 3.5 EB and drove it for about 6 weeks before installing the ladder rack. I see about 14mpg on the freeway at 75mph and about 12mpg in the mountains and canyons so average MPG usually hovers around 13-13.5mpg. What surprised me is that installing the ladder rack had very little effect on mpg... maybe .2-.3mpg less at freeway speeds. My van only has about 1000 miles on it so hopefully I'll see a little better economy once it breaks in more.

 

[Zymurgy]

Thanks guys for the input. I now see a medium roof Transit and a Prime Design roof rack in my future. I have been carrying all my ladders on the interior of my van for 11 years. I won't know what to do with all the room. The extra savings on the smaller van will pay for the rack.

I will be able to fit a medium roof in my heated garage, which is a huge plus. They never need work when it's nice out, it always seems 10 degrees outside.

 

[sb930]

I was also hung up on the decision to buy a high roof and keep ladders inside vs. medium roof with ladders on top. With boots on I can just walk around inside the medium roof... I can stand up between the roof ribs, but need to duck a bit to walk under them. One benefit to keeping ladders inside is it keeps them clean and out of the sun which rots them away in 2-3 years here in California. I looked at the ceiling mount JetRack system, and some guys just hang ladders on the shelves with hooks but it's much less cluttered inside with them on the roof.

I drove the van for about 6 weeks with the ladders in the back waiting for the Ergo Rack to be delivered and prefer them much better on top of the roof.

Be aware that the Ergo Rack is quite tall and overall height of the Medium Roof van with Rack on top may exceed the height of the high roof van without rack?

 

[Zymurgy]

Be aware that the Ergo Rack is quite tall and overall height of the Medium Roof van with Rack on top may exceed the height of the high roof van without rack?

That just kind of hit me. I would not be able to put it into my shop with the racks in place.

Not that I would do this for an oil change, but how long do you think, once it is installed, would it take to remove the front and back sections on a double drop down set up?

It looks like a pretty slick set up, bolting it down on the installed rails. Definitely a two man job however.

 

[robandmandie442]

After looking at all the manufacturers the Prime-design drop down is the way to go for me.


The future isn't what it use to be.

 

[sb930]

...how long do you think, once it is installed, would it take to remove the front and back sections on a double drop down set up?

It looks like a pretty slick set up, bolting it down on the installed rails. Definitely a two man job however.

I had a quote from an outfitter that included 6hrs of labor to install the ErgoRack, but ended up installing it myself in around 5.5hrs. I felt pretty good about this because I'd spoken with someone else that said it took 2 guys almost 8hrs to install one on their van so I wasn't looking forward to it.

Install actually went really well... it just takes some time to get it all together.

The double drop down system I have has three cross sections (to accommodate different length ladders on each side). The cross sections have a torsion bar that runs through them for the rotating action, so it's not really a simple task to individually remove the cross sections. They would all have to come off together (basically lifting the whole rack off the rails), or you'd have to disassemble most of the rack with the exception of the roof rails that run front to back.

The reality is not everything lines up just perfectly so pulling the entire rack on/off wouldn't really work well. Those two guys I told you about that took 8hrs to install one used this approach. They thought it would be faster to build on the ground and then place the entire rack on the roof in one piece using a fork lift and they had to fight it the whole way.

If you build it piece-by-piece on the roof it's easier to line everything up and get bolts in place before you square things up and tighten the bolts.

The short answer to your question is that once you had some practice, it would probably take a minimum of 2 hrs to disassemble and remove and then another 2hrs to reinstall.

 

[Zymurgy]

Thanks sb930 for the nice write up. I will keep this in mind when I install mine for the first time, and I think I realize now it is probably staying up there for good. I believe I will be using my cousin's unheated barn, if I need the cover from the weather, in the future.

 

[alarmist]

That just kind of hit me. I would not be able to put it into my shop with the racks in place.

Not that I would do this for an oil change, but how long do you think, once it is installed, would it take to remove the front and back sections on a double drop down set up?

It looks like a pretty slick set up, bolting it down on the installed rails. Definitely a two man job however.

With two guys it would be easy. Really easy if you can set up a scaffold to walk it off the back. Four bolts and it will come off in one piece. Taking it apart... not so much. When installing, mind the clearance between the sliding door and the rack when lowered. I had to adjust mine a half inch or so to that side to clear it comfortably. Check not just the clearance with the door open, but while opening. The top rear corner protrudes a bit more than the rest of the door.

 

[Zymurgy]

With two guys it would be easy. Really easy if you can set up a scaffold to walk it off the back. Four bolts and it will come off in one piece. Taking it apart... not so much. When installing, mind the clearance between the sliding door and the rack when lowered. I had to adjust mine a half inch or so to that side to clear it comfortably. Check not just the clearance with the door open, but while opening. The top rear corner protrudes a bit more than the rest of the door.

Thanks I was kind of hoping it might be possible like that. The perfect part is a keep my rolling scaffolding in my shop, and the shop is on the family farm, where I an get a second set of hands.

Thanks for the installation tip too.

 

[alarmist]

What size/type ladders are you planning to put on it?

 

[JAM7]

I got the prime design double drop down too. Love it. It fits my 12' a frame and 24' extension with no problems. I was getting 15-16 mpg without it but lately I been getting 13-14. I'm really disappointed with the mpg on this van.

 

[Zymurgy]

What size/type ladders are you planning to put on it?

My biggest ladder is a 32' extension, so I am getting the set up to accommodate that ladder. It will be two section rack. The step ladders will just go inside. I only use the 32' on a few jobs a year. Most of the time I will carry a 28' and a 20' extension on the roof.

 

[robandmandie442]

My prime design rack will be here tomorrow. Looking forward to installing it.


The future isn't what it use to be.

 

[sb930]

It's a well engineered design so I think you will like it. My rack was missing two of the M8 bolts used to secure the rails which is step one of the install process so you might want to inventory the contents before starting. I had two M8 bolts that were the correct length, but weren't stainless steel that I installed temporarily. The manufacturer sent out replacements that arrived within 2 days.

My installation for a double unit took about 5.5hrs including unpacking, inventorying contents, install and adjustments. This was working alone on a hot day working from a ladder and taking a few breaks to return calls and emails.

The installation directions are clear so just follow the steps.

 

[robandmandie442]

Loving the ladder rack. Went in pretty easy and works great. Would highly recommend the Prime Design brand.


The future isn't what it used to be.