Chevy Express 2500 van 10 ply tires rattle rattle bang bang

[Mule]

Took those 10 ply tires off yesterday, and had 6 ply BF Goodrich's put on...Unbelievable the difference. All that stuff in the back rattles about 1/4 of what it did, and the front end doesnt feel like your going over a cattle guard........Im a much happier camper.... Im giving the 10plys to a Lighting and Sound contractor freind..

 

[B4T]

I drive a van with ladder racks on top. I took a 3 foot rubber floor mat and cut sections to run around the support bar to keep down the noise from the ladder bouncing around. I also put spray foam inside the ladder rungs to cut out the "whistle" noise when I drive really fast to those free estimate. :grin:

 

[Mule]

I drive a van with ladder racks on top. I took a 3 foot rubber floor mat and cut sections to run around the support bar to keep down the noise from the ladder bouncing around. :grin:

Hey that's a good idea, I might try that....maybe armorflex and wire ties?

 

[B4T]

Hey that's a good idea, I might try that....maybe armorflex and wire ties?

I also put one inch foam plumbers pipe wrap under the pieces of floor mat to give it some cushion. I got a few rolls of heavy duty 1 1/4 electrical tape and used it to wrap the whole thing together. The electrical tape has yet to wear a hole and its 5 years old. Wire ties won't last. You can always add more tape if you get wear spots. I also used the same system on the 6 inch vertical post that the ladder rides against. I used rope to tie ladder to the rack. Bungi cords don't work and ladder will go flying in a bad accident.

 

[daleuger]

A couple of 2-3 ft pieces of romex wrapped around the ladder and rack then twisted works pretty good for holding them down too. No banging around whatsoever. I'm only 5'8" and I have no problem tying them down without having to climb all over the van.

 

[480sparky]

A couple of 2-3 ft pieces of romex wrapped around the ladder and rack then twisted works pretty good for holding them down too. No banging around whatsoever. I'm only 5'8" and I have no problem tying them down without having to climb all over the van.

I cheat. I have one of these. One side for the 10-foot step and the other for the 24-foot extension that's always on the van. Takes all of 3 seconds to keep a ladder from flopping around. Another 2 to install a padlock so they don't walk away in the middle of the night. Tying down with Romex is, sorry, cheesy in my book.

 

[B4T]

I cheat. I have one of these. One side for the 10-foot step and the other for the 24-foot extension that's always on the van. Takes all of 3 seconds to keep a ladder from flopping around. Another 2 to install a padlock so they don't walk away in the middle of the night. Tying down with Romex is, sorry, cheesy in my book.

I agree.. seeing romex in knots looks like a bad dream

 

[daleuger]

Bah, we have a shop big enough to lock the 15 or so vans inside at night. If somebody gets into the shop stealing your ladders is the least of their concerns. Sparky's ladder rack seems like an excellent idea but our owner (not to bad mouth him) is a bit on the tight side.

 

[LarryFine]

I used rope to tie ladder to the rack. Bungi cords don't work and ladder will go flying in a bad accident.

I use ratcheting tie-down straps. One strap is long enough to secure both ends of each ladder.

I hook the hook of the long strap to the upright plate, over one end of the ladder, under the crossbar, parallel to the ladder to go under the other crossbar, over the other end of the ladder, and into the ratchet, whose hook is hooked to the other upright plate.

 

[480sparky]

Bah, we have a shop big enough to lock the 15 or so vans inside at night. If somebody gets into the shop stealing your ladders is the least of their concerns. Sparky's ladder rack seems like an excellent idea but our owner (not to bad mouth him) is a bit on the tight side.

Um.... don't you, like, tend to drive those vans to the jobsites during the day?
Ladders are just as likely to sprout an extra pair of legs during the sunshine hours.

I use ratcheting tie-down straps. One strap is long enough to secure both ends of each ladder.

I hook the hook of the long strap to the upright plate, over one end of the ladder, under the crossbar, parallel to the ladder to go under the other crossbar, over the other end of the ladder, and into the ratchet, whose hook is hooked to the other upright plate.

Once more, only faster.........

 

[daleuger]

Um.... don't you, like, tend to drive those vans to the jobsites during the day?
Ladders are just as likely to sprout an extra pair of legs during the sunshine hours.

Not that that couldn't happen, but it's never really been a problem. It's not uncommon to see people leave cars outside running around here. Personally, having lived in a lot more places would consider that a big bonehead move. Guess it's a matter of where you're at.

 

[LarryFine]

Once more, only faster.........

Okie-dokie. My ladder rack's side uprights, the gutter clamps, which are made of plate steel and not square tubes, have a hole in the top of each one.

I hook the hook of the long strap to the hole of the front ladder rack's upright, run it over both rails of the ladder, under the front crossbar, along the ladder and under the rear crossbar, over both rails of the other end of the ladder, and into the ratchet, whose hook is hooked into the hole atop the rear plate upright.

Mebbe I should take a pic tomorrow.

 

[480sparky]

Okie-dokie. My ladder rack's side uprights, the gutter clamps, which are made of plate steel and not square tubes, have a hole in the top of each one.

I hook the hook of the long strap to the hole of the front ladder rack's upright, run it over both rails of the ladder, under the front crossbar, along the ladder and under the rear crossbar, over both rails of the other end of the ladder, and into the ratchet, whose hook is hooked into the hole atop the rear plate upright.

Mebbe I should take a pic tomorrow.

Man, that reminds me of how I learned to tie my shoelaces.:grin: "The rabbit comes out of the hole, runs in a circle, goes around the tree, and back in the hole......"

I guess I'm spoiled rotten. I put the ladder in the rack, turn a handle 90?, and install a padlock.

 

[LarryFine]

Man, that reminds me of how I learned to tie my shoelaces.:grin: "The rabbit comes out of the hole, runs in a circle, goes around the tree, and back in the hole......"

You sure that wasn't about how to tie a bowline knot?

 

[480sparky]

You sure that wasn't about how to tie a bowline knot?

Or a Sheepshank we did in Cub Scouts.

 

[Article 90.1]

Okie-dokie. My ladder rack's side uprights, the gutter clamps, which are made of plate steel and not square tubes, have a hole in the top of each one.

I hook the hook of the long strap to the hole of the front ladder rack's upright, run it over both rails of the ladder, under the front crossbar, along the ladder and under the rear crossbar, over both rails of the other end of the ladder, and into the ratchet, whose hook is hooked into the hole atop the rear plate upright.

Mebbe I should take a pic tomorrow.

My only concern with a system like you mention is that if any part fails, the whole system fails. I'd rather use two straps, one at the front and the other at the rear.

PS. I used to to use romex for my ladders, but I started to look like Fred Sanford rolling up to service calls!

 

[jrannis]

Took those 10 ply tires off yesterday, and had 6 ply BF Goodrich's put on...Unbelievable the difference. All that stuff in the back rattles about 1/4 of what it did, and the front end doesnt feel like your going over a cattle guard........Im a much happier camper.... Im giving the 10plys to a Lighting and Sound contractor freind..

I seem to have way fewer flat tires from screws with the 10 ply and they seem to last much longer.

 

[cadpoint]

Yesterday, I reinflated my tires I had let 6 months pass, I was 6-7 pounds down.
Tire Tech said about a pound a month is lost....

With the change in the weather here every few days I'm surprised it wasn't more lose.

You have to know I don't and haven't had to drive 5 miles round trip for the last year and half.

 

[daleuger]

PS. I used to to use romex for my ladders, but I started to look like Fred Sanford rolling up to service calls!

Not too bad, eh?

 

[Mr.Sparkle]

Tying down with Romex is, sorry, cheesy in my book.

480 you give me hope, In the past I have been very outspoken in regards to how silly this looks and it always seemed like I was the minority in thinking so. Maybe we look to far into it because we need to see nice neat romex used properly in order to sleep well at night but overall I always just thought it looked unprofessional. Now I have solace.