32-ft ladder on the factory rack?

[pipspeak]

I need to transport a 32-foot extension ladder and am wondering if anyone has done this by strapping it to the factory rack? It's 16-feet long when folded (obviously) and weighs 70lb... the weight's not a problem but is 16-feet going to be too long to go on the roof? Any advice appreciated.

 

[Colemanfu]

Not on a stock rack but on my Yack rack. No problem. Use some type of motorcycle ty down with the cam or ratchet. One in the front and one in the back. I am a geek so I will use as many as I have so three is better.

 

[pipspeak]

So you're suggesting the factory crossbars are the weak link? My main worry is that I can get only a maximum of only 4-feet between the two crossbars on the roof, which means there will be a 6-ft overhang at each end. Looks like that would be no different with the yakima crossbars.

The ladder's stiff, so that might not be a problem. Then again, gravity on a 6-ft overhang is fairly substantial.

 

[boston_kevin]

The factory bars should be fine for this load. The problem is that you only have 4 feet to support this 16 foot ladder. My recommendation would be add a support that you can tie into the grill or on the front bumper that can support the front of the ladder. Many canoe/kayak shops should have something that can help. Or you can add a back support (like the one below) and add some foam blocks on the front edge of the roof and a tie down up on the front edge of the hood.

Something like this for the back:

http://www.prolineracks.com/thule-997-goal-post.html

 

[pipspeak]

I like that hitch support idea. Thanks. I might actually end up just hangng the darn thing 6-feet out of my back window. From the front passenger footwell over the back of the rear seat (front seat fully reclined) and out of the rear window will result in 5-6 feet sticking out of the back, and I'd rather do that than risk a ladder falling off the truck onto the road.

 

[RamThis]

You'd be fine if you used two ratchet straps, one on the front and one on the back cross bar, then used some medium duty nylon rope, 1/4 inch would be more than enough, and tie the front down to a point under the front bumper, using a small dish towel between the paint and the rope to protect it where it will touch the bumper. Then do the same in the back down to the hitch. This will stabilize the ends so that the short distance between the crossbars will not be a problem, as the ends cannot move due to the downward tension from the ropes.

Make sure to use some foam or some small rags folded up between the ladder frame and the crossbars too so it doesnt scratch the paint on the crossbars.


I HIGHLY recommend you DO NOT place the ladder in the passenger cabin. If you got into a wreck for whatever reason, there's no telling where that thing would go, and it all would depend on where you got hit. Being 16 feet long, 70 lbs, in a wreck, that thing has a ton of leverage and potential engergy.
Really really really not a smart idea.

 

[TechWrench]

Just got through attempting to carry a 24' extension ladder on my roof rack. Finally decided to strap it to the side of the utility trailer instead. The ladder went on the roof rack OK, but I wasn't happy with the amount of overhang, and I didn't feel comfortable about the front/rear support options. Also, you can't open the rear hatch with the ladder on the rack, the hatch pivots up too high.

 

[pipspeak]

I ended up bailing. Tried it in the cabin... took out the rear seat pad so I could recline the front seat all the way back then had the ladder from the front foot well all the way out the back window. Scared me. Then I tried it in the roof. Also scared me.

It wouldn't have been a problem if I was going a few miles down the road, but I had to drive about 50 miles on the freeway so I opted to wait until I could borrow a friend's truck.