[PeterR]

At the suggestion of tthrsn here:

http://www.fordtransitusaforum.com/accessories-add-ons/8673-rack-construction.html

This seems like a good time to discuss removable racks for kayaks, bikes, and so forth, like Thule, Yakima and other brands. In particular I am interested to see if the after-market manufacturers will use minimal base plates which can be bolted to the roof using the Transit's pre-threaded holes in the roof, then left in place in order to remove the racks.

 

[PeterR]

Copying Geographer's post from the other thread, along with my questions. It will be interesting to see how Thule, Yakima and other manufacturers gear up for the Transit, and how many will move away from the rain gutter method of attaching the racks.

It looks great. Thule has brought to market a rack connection for the Transit's roof, It consists of a Podium Foot 460 paired with a fit kit 3138. I getting these so I can reinstall my existing Thule kayak carriers to my new Transit 350.

Thanks, I have been waiting for the after-market rack mfg. to adapt to the Transit.

Will this setup be attached to the threaded holes in the Transit's roof, or clipped to the edge of the roof somehow? The illustrations are not definitive IMO.

The 460 foot pack is shown at the edge of another vehicle's roof here:

http://www.thule.com/en-us/us/produ...racks/feet/thule-podium-foot-pack-460-_-34826

But the base plate for the fit kit looks like it could bolt down to the threaded holes in the Transit's roof (the right-hand photo):

http://www.thule.com/en-us/ca/produ...acks/fit-kits/thule-fit-kit-kit3138-_-kit3138

Although the adapters on the left and center look like they may be intended to go at the edge of the roof.

Thanks.

 

[Airedrifter]

Yakima make "artificial gutters." That is a plate that bolts down on a flat surface. I've used them in the past. With the plate installed you can attach any rain gutter latch, be it yakima, thule, or off brand. I'm certain than you could drill a hole in one and use it on a Transit. I'm thinking it would fit right in the indention around the anchor point.

 

[PeterR]

Airedrifter,

I'm liking your base plates as being heavier duty and more versatile in the long run than anything the manufacturers are likely to have,

http://www.fordtransitusaforum.com/118497-post8.html

but let's see what they come up with. I only need two simple cross bars on my low roof Wagon near the back probably (four attachment points), for misc. and a wide 9' dinghy upside down.

I've always had custom removable racks made for my vans, from square tube steel like yours, and if the connection with the "towers" were worked out, the racks should be easy to install and remove when needed. I don't need a large permanent flat rack.

Wonder if the "gas pods" being discussed for fuel efficiency would fit over something like your custom towers to streamline them when the racks are not attached?

PS -- Here is a photo of one Transit roof's flat mounting points:

http://www.fordtransitusaforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=1857&d=1408896813

I think this is an extended length van BTW. My short low roof Wagon has a total of six flats.

 

[EddieZ]

PS -- Here is a photo of one Transit roof's flat mounting points:

http://www.fordtransitusaforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=1857&d=1408896813

I think this is an extended length van BTW. My short low roof Wagon has a total of six flats.

I happened to see a Transit the other day, with a rack that must have been moved from another vehicle. It was about 6 feet long, had 8 footpads, and NONE of the mounted into the provided weight distribution points. I cringed when I saw it... all footpads further inboard, with new holes, and slathered sealer. I figure the total weight of rack and load is about 160 pounds, so, that could be worse. I didn't see any deformation.

 

[PeterR]

I have emailed Yakima for feedback, including their new WhispBar division:

http://www.whispbar.com/

Check out the video -- just Madison Ave. flashy -- FWIW:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=hpRCcCuxV60

Is anyone familiar with these new racks, in general? They look like they might adapt well to the Transit's pre-threaded roof rack connection points.

 

[PeterR]

Yakima make "artificial gutters." That is a plate that bolts down on a flat surface. I've used them in the past. With the plate installed you can attach any rain gutter latch, be it yakima, thule, or off brand. I'm certain than you could drill a hole in one and use it on a Transit. I'm thinking it would fit right in the indention around the anchor point.

Are you familiar with the new WhispBar rack system from Yakima? I have emailed them for more information per my recent post. Thanks.

 

[Airedrifter]

Are you familiar with the new WhispBar rack system from Yakima? I have emailed them for more information per my recent post. Thanks.

Somewhat, my kayaking buddy was looking for a new rack a month or so ago. REI had the WhispBrar system. It looked very nice and it might be a bit stronger, but we/he decided that one, it was expensive and two, it would look cool for skis and three, kayakers were likely to be too rough for it and it wouldn't look near as cool after a couple of hard seasons.

 

[ted]

Always liked those bars from Yakima. Great thing about them, aside from products of theirs with large markings, for the most part they appear "OEM"

 

[PeterR]

Yakima's reply regarding racks for the 2015 Transit:

"We need to test every vehicle as it comes out with our racks to make sure that the fit is safe. Our Fit Team has not had an opportunity to test that vehicle. We cannot test anything until one becomes available from a dealership and then it has to go through rigorous testing to be sure it is a safe fit. Many times, once we’ve gone through all of the testing we can use one of our existing tower systems and call out the fit. That usually just takes a month or so after we’ve seen it. If we cannot use an existing system, we need to develop something especially for it and that does take at least 6 months to go through the development process."

.
.
.

[sound of dull thud]

 

[PeterR]

FYI Geographer's update in the other thread:

I will let you know how things progress. REI has had to special order the fit kit from Thule's Connecticut facility.

 

[Geographer]

Thule and Yakima Sale

If you happen to be a member of REI, Thule and Yakima equipment is on sale for 20% off of retail prices.

 

[Outdoorplayer]

Hello all,

I'm close to pulling the trigger, got almost all the details worked out with the dealership. They told me today to expect 4 months after I place the order. This has me thinking of the little personal touches. One of which is a roof rack. I won't need it all the time, just for the road trips.

Has anyone looked into the option of adding the permanent tracks to the roof of the transit? Yakima offers multiple lengths
http://www.yakima.com/shop/racksystems/permanent-installation/tracks60-w-bolts

I've used this on my truck topper and it works well. I can remove the crossbars when I don't need to transport kayaks or rocket box. Helps the fuel economy and it's pretty quick and easy to take on & off. I don't have the transit yet, but I'm thinking this product could be fitted into the existing rack mounts on the transit roof, as detailed by Airedrifter in his beautiful custom rack posts

http://www.fordtransitusaforum.com/accessories-add-ons/8673-rack-construction.html

Some modification would be needed at the attachment of track to roof mount to create a good (aka "dry") seal, but you would have some flexibility to bar spacing front to rear. Maybe Mystiko can shed some light on his attachment of the "Z" shape angle iron he mounted to attach his rack system.

This forum has been a great resource, any and all input is welcome.

Cheers

 

[PeterR]

Hello all,
. .
This forum has been a great resource, any and all input is welcome.
. . .

Welcome to the forum! You obviously have done your home work reading about Airedrifter's and Mystiko's racks, both works of art . . . I hope you saw my earlier post that Yakima seems to be behind the curve here in coming up with a base plate which would work on the Transit's roof, but who know what they might bring to market soon . . .

It will be interesting to see what Geographer receives from Thule also.

One tip for this site, if you want new feedback from an earlier poster, it really helps to hit the Quote button below in order to reply. This way the original poster (usually) gets an email notifying them that they have been quoted. So even if they are not monitoring the site any more, they may reply to your questions/comments.

You can edit the quote you get (as I did above with your previous post), so as to minimize the redundancy, yet enable the email notification process. Just be sure to leave the correct coding at the start and end of the quote [the stuff inside the brackets].

Good luck with your Transit order!

 

[Airedrifter]

Hello all,

I'm close to pulling the trigger, got almost all the details worked out with the dealership. They told me today to expect 4 months after I place the order. This has me thinking of the little personal touches. One of which is a roof rack. I won't need it all the time, just for the road trips.

Has anyone looked into the option of adding the permanent tracks to the roof of the transit? Yakima offers multiple lengths
http://www.yakima.com/shop/racksystems/permanent-installation/tracks60-w-bolts

I've used this on my truck topper and it works well. I can remove the crossbars when I don't need to transport kayaks or rocket box. Helps the fuel economy and it's pretty quick and easy to take on & off. I don't have the transit yet, but I'm thinking this product could be fitted into the existing rack mounts on the transit roof, as detailed by Airedrifter in his beautiful custom rack posts

http://www.fordtransitusaforum.com/accessories-add-ons/8673-rack-construction.html

Some modification would be needed at the attachment of track to roof mount to create a good (aka "dry") seal, but you would have some flexibility to bar spacing front to rear. Maybe Mystiko can shed some light on his attachment of the "Z" shape angle iron he mounted to attach his rack system.

This forum has been a great resource, any and all input is welcome.

Cheers

I take it you ordered the low roof? If I had a low roof, I'd do like you are thinking. If it's higher, it's unusable for general roof rack systems without some kind of ladder.

(Thanks for the compliment. It turned out alright. I'd redo the paint if I had to do over.)

 

[PeterR]

FYI the Prime Design website has been updated with lots of photos and videos of the AluRack and ErgoRack systems for the Transit -- not exactly removable but FYI and FWIW:

http://www.primedesign.net/products/alurack/

http://www.primedesign.net/vehicle-product/ford-transit/ford-transit-ergorack/

Waiting to hear from alarmist whether the company's Transit systems use baseplates which bolt into the Transit's pre-threaded roof holes:

http://www.fordtransitusaforum.com/accessories-add-ons/3402-ladder-rack-options.html

If the base plates are sold separately, they could be part of a DIY removable rack system IMO.

 

[orton]

Waiting to hear from alarmist whether the company's Transit systems use baseplates which bolt into the Transit's pre-threaded roof holes:

If the base plates are sold separately, they could be part of a DIY removable rack system IMO.

If you want baseplates drop by your local weldingfabrication shop and have them make some.

 

[PeterR]

If you want baseplates drop by your local weldingfabrication shop and have them make some.

Of course that is always an option of last resort, similar to Airedrifter's elegant system. Off-the-shelf base plates from Thule, Yakima, or this mfg. would probably be cheaper, not to mention easier to obtain. Guessing Geographer will have success from Thule per his recent posts.

PS Edit see recent posts in alarmist's ladder rack thread:

http://www.fordtransitusaforum.com/accessories-add-ons/3402-ladder-rack-options.html

 

[Outdoorplayer]

One tip for this site, if you want new feedback from an earlier poster, it really helps to hit the Quote button below in order to reply. This way the original poster (usually) gets an email notifying them that they have been quoted. So even if they are not monitoring the site any more, they may reply to your questions/comments.

Thanks for the beta PeterR, I appreciate the insight into the inner-workings of this forum. I wondered how the quote thing worked, and it's actually pretty simple.

I poured over the various rack threads and have a very talented fabricator friend that I will work with on the roof rack. I love Airedrifter's plan, but would like to have the availability of removing it. It is gonna be a medium roof and the ladder will be a consideration as well. I'll keep you posted on the rack build in about 4-6 months when I actually receive my van. Thanks again for all the shared knowledge base on this forum.

Cheers,

 

[marvinwus]

Rhino Rack

Rhino rack has an adapter for the Transit. Choose the RLTP profile for the legs.