Rack Em Up

Quick little project to modify an inside ladder rack to actually work and to hold a multi ladder. The thing that came in the truck was a mess. It would barely hold a step ladder, and frequently tried to pinch your fingers getting it in or out. Also it would often take two people to get it unjammed from time to time. I salvaged some of the parts and the track, and just made some new holders to go with it. Originally it was going to be all aluminum, but time and materials on hand, made it easier to just use steel. Original design changed along the way, too, when I went to get some paint and found some bicycle hooks that fit the bill for the front. Just welded them into a small cross tube and added a flange to bolt to the existing slider.

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In the back some 1" x .063" and more flat, made up the rear hook. I even painted it with the hammered paint.

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However, installed it before it was really dry. ;)

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I will probably glue some foam blocks on the roof to help keep it more stable, going down the road, as the single center aluminum track has a lot of twist flex in it.

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http://youtu.be/de-vZd__8Jc

Overall it does the job, and the person who drives this was very happy. Just need to add a few more things to get this truck organized.