When you go about the task of selecting the right ladder roof for your van, truck or fleet vehicle, you need to consider the van roof height, storage, need for accessibility, and budget. Yes, there’s a ladder available for each fleet need. Now that you have decided to invest in a proper ladder roof selection for your commercial van, do get on with an analysis of its cargo capacity, initial cost, worker safety, productivity, benefits and more. Usually priced at $200 to $2,000 per ladder rack, they are equipped to handle different kinds of jobs to perfection. Read on for more.
Know the Available Options in Ladder Racks
At the very onset, it’s essential to gain familiarity about the various kinds of ladder racks, their limitations and strengths, and whether they are well equipped to suit your purpose, or not. In general, these ladder roofs are available in three main categories: lock-down, utility, and drop-down. A simple breakdown of these three main categories, along with their distinctive pros and cons, are given below for your understanding. Ensure that you buy the one that fits your specific applications to the hilt.
Utility Racks
Suited for standard and compact sized roofs for full size vans, these utility racks boast of a high flexibility quotient and are capable of hauling different material types and ladders alike. Their USP is their lowest price points. One of the drawbacks of these racks is that they are a tad difficult to access and have a potential to encourage overloading. Most economic among them all, these racks are simple in design and consist of 2-3 adjustable crossbars that can be separately mounted on top of a van. They may also be mounted with ease on a single-piece gridiron platform that has adjustable crossbars and a fixed perimeter.
These utility racks offer the flexibility of carrying materials like ladders, pipe and lumber, etc. They can be secured on to the rack use straps, bungee cords, or tie downs. In line with the weight of these ladders, and the frequency with which they will be accessing the racks, the problems arising in the way of loading and unloading ladders may increase the risk factors of injuries. This leads to lost productivity and expensive claims for your business—so, choose accordingly.
Yet another concern that comes in the way of utility racks is that the cargo/ load has to be secured by using straps or bungee cord, sans the standard “foolproof” mechanisms for locking down cargo. This proves to be a headache for most fleet managers responsible for handling multiple vans; as they keep hoping that their drivers would follow proper procedures headaches to avoid any accidents.
Rack Fits: GM full-size vans, Cargo Trailers, Transit Connect, Nissan NV200, Nissan NV Cargo, Sprinter Vans, Ford full-size vans.
Lock-Down Racks
Compact and standard-roof for full-sized vans, lock-down racks are also easy-to-use, and are available with dependable locking mechanisms. They may offer difficulty of access to high-roof vans and have certain cargo limitations too. Available in double and single-sided configurations, these lock down racks are appropriate for supporting one ladder roof on each side of the vehicle. These racks have easy-to-use torsion systems that secure the ladder into place to perfection. Though they are exclusively designed for hauling ladders, they are often packaged with accessories like conduit carriers, which are much compatible with their style.
As far as pricing is concerned, these lock-down racks usually represent mid-level options that range from $300 to $800, in line with single/ double side installation as well as other factors. Easy to unload and load, lock-down racks are specific to ladders and do not require straps or bungee cords as in the case of a utility rack. Their reliable locking mechanisms also help in eliminating opportunities for user error, or whether the ladders are tied down properly or not.
Rack Fits: Cam GM full-size vans, Ford full-size vans, Nissan NV200, Transit Connect, RAM CV, Pickup Trucks.
Ladder Roof for Commercial Uses
Roof racks that are specifically designed for commercial vans are equipped to handle heavier loads. They usually have side railings for keeping their loads in place and from preventing them from rolling off mobile vans. The related accessory lines packaged with these racks for commercial users include pipe clamps, board stops, load stops, and ladder clamps. Moreover, there are racks that are manufactured for one type of gear, carrying different types of loads in different seasons, and for the easy installation of load accessories.
No comments:
Post a Comment