Just bought a 2002 GMC Safari Cargo not much used. Will carry much more than my peanut butter sandwich, but no drip rails. Does anyone know of a manufacturer selling stainless steel feet with reinforcing plates below? I know I’ll have to drill roof. I have Ipe 2 x 4’s for cross bars. In your debt, and thanks.
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http://www.americanvan.com/catalog/standard_wide_desk.cfm?FamilyID=247
That is the entire rack, but if you call them they might sell you the feet separately. I've dealt with them a few times with success.
Edited 7/4/2005 9:22 am ET by dustinf
Jim,
I use System One for my pickup and they're the best racks out there in my opinion especially with the Work Winch set up. There's no other racks out there like these from what I've seen. I saw a truck about a month ago with heavey duty racks but he bought the System One Work Winch and had a special bracket welded on his racks to accomodate the Work Winch.
http://www.ladderracks.com/Van/Overview.htm
You are limited in total carrying capacity. The reinforcing plates will only spread the load so far, and they are unsupported under the roof.
I have an Astro and paid someone (a professional truck outfitter) to install the aluminum Weather Guard system. I should have done it. You will need three racks to haul stuff up there effectively. I know this because I have two racks. If you go with two racks, mount the forward one behind the drivers door jamb, not ahead of it like mine.
The other system mentioned trades a roof compression load to a sidewall shear/pullout load on a vehicle without rain gutters. Might work better, might not. Still not something to get carried away with.
Some people do not care and just screw a bunch of angle iron and such to the roof.
The best solution is a small enclosed trailer with racks on it. Put your ladders and wood in there, tools in the van.