Racks -- removable for kayaks, bikes, etc.

44804 Views 80 Replies 24 Participants Last post by bolesjb, Jun 1, 2017

PeterR

Discussion Starter · May 8, 2015 (Edited)

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.

61 - 80 of 81 Posts

Bajatransit

· #61 · Feb 22, 2016

Faztek roof rack

This is what I did. Wanted to go modular. Wanted to be able to remove and move the cross bars as needed. Didn't want the wind noise of a full time rack since this is the wife's daily driver.
Used Faztek product in combination with some heavy guage off the shelf aluminum angle material. Holes drilled to fit roof and Faztek bars. Found shims and neoprene on Amazon to square it out. Pretty happy with the results. Super easy. You can also order Faztek from Amazon.

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Bajatransit

· #62 · Feb 22, 2016

Pic of bracket

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Bajatransit

· #63 · Feb 22, 2016

Pic of Faztek product.

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jhtransit

· #64 · Feb 23, 2016

Is Faztek comparably priced with 80/20? Like the rubber insert.

Bajatransit

· #65 · Feb 23, 2016

jhtransit said:
Is Faztek comparably priced with 80/20? Like the rubber insert.

I don't know what the 80/20 stuff runs. But I paid $66 dollars for each of those long "rails". 1.5" X 3.0" X 120". Part number 15QE1530L.

The 1.5 x 1.5 bars are sold on Amazon. I think all in I'm at around 400? Not sure. That's with angle. Hardware. Four cross bars.

I like it because this is how I am attaching the roof top tent to the top of the van. Super easy. Leave the triangles on the tent. Pop it on. Eight screws.

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Hein

· #66 · Feb 23, 2016

Thanks for the photos, Bajatransit. I am working on some tower brackets that utilize 8020 crossbars. I've posted in some other "rack" threads and would appreciate your feedback.

Bajatransit

· #67 · Feb 23, 2016

Hein said:
Thanks for the photos, Bajatransit. I am working on some tower brackets that utilize 8020 crossbars. I've posted in some other "rack" threads and would appreciate your feedback.

I looked at other thread. Looks like you don't have low roof. What are you asking for clarification of.

Holly

· #68 · May 26, 2016

Vantech H3 Roof Rack

We are considering a Vantech H3 roof rack with an added roller bar and kayak holders.

http://vantech.us/H3-Transit-Cargo-Van-2015-On_c166.htm

http://vantech.us/Kayak-and-Canoe-H...inum-Bars-with-Channels-A67.htm?categoryId=-1

Anyone familiar with this brand or rack?

Holly

· #69 · Jun 4, 2016

I am looking at a VanTech roof rack, H3 model, with added roller bar and Kayak holders. The bars are extruded aluminum with channels for adding accessories like the kayak holders. Anyone have one of these or researched them?

tthrsn

· #70 · Jun 4, 2016 (Edited)

I had some stainless steel landing pads made for my ancient Yakima racks. The pads are bolted permanently to the van (caulked with 3M 4000 fast cure, UV resistant) and the two racks are removable. Occasionally when I want to load something on the roof I take out the stepladder (it's a high roof van) and snap the racks onto the pads.

To load a canoe onto the high roof I add an extension pipe to the front rack that extends 3' past the wall of the van. I put the bow of the canoe onto this extension pipe and then walk the stern up the step ladder and onto the rear rack. Then slide the bow over, remove the extension pipe, and tie it down. Recently I was able to manage a heavy load of 20' aluminum sections this way.

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yelnam

· #71 · Jun 6, 2016

The extension pipe sounds great. For those who want something off the shelf that does the same thing, check out the Yakima Boatloader (for round bars).

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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tthrsn

· #72 · Jun 6, 2016 (Edited)

yelnam said:
... check out the Yakima Boatloader (for round bars)...

Thanks, I should have guessed that the product existed. Though you can't beat junk yard pipe for value.

Maybe I'll add a shovel blade to the end of my extension pipe so that it becomes dual purpose (and I don't begrudge hauling it around the continent).

foxharp

· #73 · Jun 9, 2016

tthrsn said:
I had some stainless steel landing pads made for my ancient Yakima racks. The pads are bolted permanently to the van (caulked with 3M 4000 fast cure, UV resistant) and the two racks are removable. Occasionally when I want to load something on the roof I take out the stepladder (it's a high roof van) and snap the racks onto the pads.

To load a canoe onto the high roof I add an extension pipe to the front rack that extends 3' past the wall of the van. I put the bow of the canoe onto this extension pipe and then walk the stern up the step ladder and onto the rear rack. Then slide the bow over, remove the extension pipe, and tie it down. Recently I was able to manage a heavy load of 20' aluminum sections this way.

do you have any pictures of that setup? we have a high roof, and a canoe, and i've been wondering how to make them compatible. just seems wrong to have a 20' cargo van that can't carry a 16' canoe.

other than having to carry a stepladder along for loading/unloading, yours is the most practical solution to come along.

do you have a roof fan to contend with?

tthrsn

· #74 · Jun 9, 2016 (Edited)

foxharp said:
do you have any pictures of that setup? ... do you have a roof fan to contend with?

I tried uploading some photos but the site rejected them. I am over the 10 Mb limit and haven't worked out an alternate solution for photos. If you PM me with your email I'll send you some.

No roof fan. I plan to start by venting out the floor through the D pillars and then we'll see what more I need, maybe wall vents. I don't really want to install a roof vent because it would interfere with pushing snow off the roof in the winter. The Yakima landing pads are flush with the roof to facilitate this.

Most of the time my 13' pack canoe will be stored inside the van, strapped to the ceiling in the upper bunk bed. When I have company I'll move it onto the roof, hence the removable Yakima racks.

foxharp

· #75 · Jun 9, 2016

yeah, i hear you about the fan, and snow. it was pretty sweet last winter (before we had installed the fan) when we had 8" of snow or so -- i parked facing uphill, got the inside of the van toasty warm, put it in reverse for a bit, then jammed on the brakes. all of a sudden the roof was clear.

(i also have one of those firm foam snow "plows" on a pole -- i think it will do the job even with the fan in the way.)

thanks for the picture off -- i'll PM.

Knot Yett

· #76 · Jun 9, 2016

tthrsn said:
I tried uploading some photos but the site rejected them. I think that I am over my 10 Mb limit and haven't worked out an alternate solution for photos.

If you sign up for a Dropbox Account you will get 2GB of space for free. Put your photos in the "Public Folder". Then click to copy & paste (make public).....not very hard to do and they provide instructions.

ramblingrose

· #77 · Dec 27, 2016

EddieZ said:
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.

EddieZ, I am in GA as well. If you install racks, I would like to talk to you and possibly have you do some work!

EddieZ

· #78 · Dec 27, 2016

ramblingrose said:
EddieZ, I am in GA as well. If you install racks, I would like to talk to you and possibly have you do some work!

Hey, no, I'm just a DIY van guy... not hiring out. I just happened to be talking with another Transit owner, when I saw his awful handiwork.

bolesjb

· #79 · May 28, 2017

An Optimum Rhinorack - 107x58 vs 100x62

I'm going to resurrect this thread to keep good rack stuff all in the same place. I'm about to do the Ford Roof Rack (cross bars) and install a Rhino Rack Pioneer Platform on top of it on my LR 15 passenger EB, partly in a quest to shade my roof and try to beat the heat (thinsulate too over the winter maybe). But only partly, because I like this setup too.

Now I'm thinking about going with a 107" x 56" platform, based on Hein's diagram of the crossbars: http://www.impact3d.com/Ford_Transit_8020_crossbar_layout.pdf - this suggests the rack is about 54 wide by about by 88 long.

Anybody have thoughts about that size? They also make a 100" x 62", that might offer some more protection when trying to throw stuff on top over the sides, but the price is much higher. Anyone want to try to convince me one way or another?

tthrsn

· #80 · May 28, 2017

4

tthrsn said:
I had some stainless steel landing pads made for my ancient Yakima racks. The pads are bolted permanently to the van (caulked with 3M 4000 fast cure, UV resistant) and the two racks are removable. Occasionally when I want to load something on the roof I take out the stepladder (it's a high roof van) and snap the racks onto the pads.

To load a canoe onto the high roof I add an extension pipe to the front rack that extends 3' past the wall of the van. I put the bow of the canoe onto this extension pipe and then walk the stern up the step ladder and onto the rear rack. Then slide the bow over, remove the extension pipe, and tie it down. Recently I was able to manage a heavy load of 20' aluminum sections this way.

tthrsn said:
I tried uploading some photos but the site rejected them. I am over the 10 Mb limit and haven't worked out an alternate solution for photos ...

Thanks to Orton the 10mb limit has been expanded so here's some photos taken last year.

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