For the home improvement maverick, or the neighborhood window cleaner, a ladder rack is an essential component of a day's hard work. Ladder racks make it possible to carry ladders far too large for the cab of a van. Ladder racks require only a few steps to install, and only basic tool technique.
Tools
To install a van ladder rack, you will need a few tools. Most ladder racks use button bolts to secure the braces, or mount, so you will need to buy a hex screwdriver or Allen key set with a size fitting the hex bolts you have been provided. You will also need a wrench to screw down bolts onto the washers provided. With some ladder racks for vans, especially if your van does not have gutters on the top, which are small trenches in your van's roof, you will need to drill holes. Obtain a drill if required by your installation instructions. You may need to saw the rack down to size to fit your van if it is smaller, so get a saw if required by your instructions.
Putting the Rack Together
Before assembling the van ladder rack, you will need to put silicone sealant on to the beam connection points. Adding silicon gel helps prevent corrosion of the metal, and helps disassembly if required. Fit all of your rack's tubing together, aligning all the holes for the bolts you will install. Once the basic frame of the ladder rack is assembled, put in the cross bars at their assembly points, and secure them using the bolts and the washers provided. Your ladder rack may include clamp plates that hold together the center tube. Assemble these at this time and install.
Mounting the Rack
Once the frame of the rack is assembled, put together your mounting brackets and secure them to the ladder rack frame. The mounting assembly will fit into your van's rain gutter. Center the mounting assembly on the van's top. The roof of your van may taper off in one direction, so ensure that the mounting assembly will provide an even distribution of the weight being applied when a ladder is added to the roof. Your mounting assembly will likely come with a gutter clamp, which secures your rack to the van. Make sure these are safely in place.
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