Utility vs. ladder racks

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PetrosA

PetrosA

Senior Member
Location
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
I'm upgrading from the station wagon with the raccoon tail on the antenna to a real truck. :grin:

I'm getting a Transit Connect and I need to look into what I'm putting on the roof. My options are either a utility rack (the straight bars) or a single or double-side ladder rack. I will need to carry conduit on whatever rack I get, either in a PVC pipe or a conduit box. Is it possible to do that with a ladder rack, or only with a utility rack? I've only ever had utility racks but it seems a real ladder rack would be a better way to transport ladders. Any firsthand experience and comparison would be appreciated!
 
LarryFine

LarryFine

Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
Location
Henrico County, VA
Occupation
Electrical Contractor
I have a Jet Rack for the inside of the roof. It works well for the 6' step ladder; in or out in about 5 seconds. (My longer ladders live on a pair of cross-bar roof racks.) All you have to add is a length of shallow strut a foot or more longer than your ladder.

shophsg2_2069_7781026
 
480sparky

480sparky

Senior Member
Location
Iowegia
Adrian Steel makes this, if it's what you mean:

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I don't know if there would be room between two ladders for this,

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but I know there is on the rack I have on my van.
 
electricmanscott

electricmanscott

Senior Member
Location
Boston, MA
PetrosA said:
I'm upgrading from the station wagon with the raccoon tail on the antenna to a real truck. :grin:

I'm getting a Transit Connect
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Do you really think so? :-? :D :D

I've seen one of those "real trucks" ;) around here. It has a ladder rack but I can't remember what kind. If I see it again I'll try to get a better look and maybe a picture.
 
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Dolfan

Dolfan

Senior Member
LarryFine said:
I have a Jet Rack for the inside of the roof. It works well for the 6' step ladder; in or out in about 5 seconds. (My longer ladders live on a pair of cross-bar roof racks.) All you have to add is a length of shallow strut a foot or more longer than your ladder.

shophsg2_2069_7781026
Click to expand...

I've thought about buying a jet rack from American Van Company, since you say they work good I think I will.I have three racks (standard) on top of a 07'2500 Chevy Express. On top of that, I carry a 14', 10', and an 8' ladder.
 
PetrosA

PetrosA

Senior Member
Location
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
I realize that a lot of guys aren't going to consider what I'm getting a "real truck." Sure, I could get a full sized van but I don't want one. I drive anywhere from 300 to 600 miles a week, and the fuel economy of a full size van would kill me, especially when fuel prices go back up. If I need to carry THAT much more than I can fit in the Connect, I can always get a trailer. Many of the utility companies are using those little Toyota pickups with the cap on back (which is much smaller overall than the Connect), and they're doing fine.

As for the interior, I'll be getting an electrical package from Ranger. The whole thing weighs 136 lbs. and is very well planned out. Compared to the modified Cherokee I've been using for the last three years, this will be heaven at a reasonable price.

Here's the interior from the Ranger catalog:
 

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growler

growler

Senior Member
Location
Atlanta,GA
PetrosA said:
a real truck. :grin:I'm getting a Transit Connect.
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Well, that thing might work out for you. I know a low voltage electrician that has something similar and he has all the tools and materials he needs ramed in there and still gets good gas mileage.

Before getting a work vehicle it's good to figure out what type work you are going to do and the size needed and the maximum pay load and the very minimum cargo space needed.

There is a reason that most contractors dump their 1/2 vans and go to 3/4 or 1 ton vans after awhile. That pay load really adds up when you start adding tools and materials.
 
growler

growler

Senior Member
Location
Atlanta,GA
PetrosA said:
Many of the utility companies are using those little Toyota pickups with the cap on back (which is much smaller overall than the Connect), and they're doing fine.
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Yes but are you going to do the same type of work they do and have the same needs for tools and materials. The phone company and cable company all drive 1/2 ton vans because they keep a light pay load.

When you start pulling a trailer around with a vehicle designed for high mileage just how long is the engine and tansmission going to last. What size towing package can you put on that thing and not void the warranty. I doubt if it's rated to tow very much.

That compact vehicle is probably great for certain uses but it's still designed for a very specific use ( low pay load & high mileage ).
 
GUNNING

GUNNING

Senior Member
Location
Gainesville, Florida
I'm thinking the equipment package will just about top out the recommended maximum load. Gas prices are not as bad as having to make a trip back to the supply house because you cant find it or don't have the right stuff. Get a real van. I like the Econoline E250. The Sprinters look good and are great on diesel but the price tag compared to the Econoline is way to much for a payback anytime soon.
I know a plumber that went and got 2 huge box vans. He has everything on them. They drink diesel just sitting in the parking lot over night. The bright spot is that they act like GIANT advertising bill boards driving down the road. A bill board around here costs $6K a month. If you are going to brand your shop, buying a real truck with real lettering is a good start.
 
N

nakulak

Senior Member
in the 80's I tried the experiment with a smaller truck. $150 down and just under $200/mo drove a new stripped mazda B2200 off the lot. good mileage when empty, but most of the time it was scraping the ground and getting mediocre mileage (same as an F150). it was a good truck, though - 1 or 2 brake jobs and 250,000 miles and it was towed away to the dump. I stick with 2500 series truck now. I can carry more and still get the same crappy mileage of a midget truck that's overloaded.
 
H

hurk27

Senior Member
Location
Portage, Indiana NEC: 2008
LarryFine said:
That looks like the result of a mating between a Sprinter and a Caravan.
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Chrysler/Mercedes should have used birth control:D

We tried mini vans, trucks and all but they just don't hold up.

With out my ladder rack my Express with a 4800 did get about 25 miles on the highway, but with the ladder rack it drops to about 16, and city I'm lucky to get over 13 if loaded.
 
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