Aluminess Cargo Rack and ladder

[ASD Dad]

Anybody have the rack?  Looks like a very well made piece and it is Huge!  Thinking of ordering one to haul some stuff I am used to putting in the bed of my old truck when camping.  Not sure how easy it will be to get up there but they have a side mount ladder now to climb up there.  

 

Any other rack options out there that dont look like a contractor?  I want something flat I can stack stuff on and tie it down.  

 

Only downsides I have seen are price and lead time.  I was quoted 8-10 weeks to get one made and shipped.

[likeskites]

Which model you looking at and what price are you being quoted? I've been considering them as well.

[ASD Dad]

The "stock" rack they offer - double loop, standard slats.  Waiting on price on the ladder, it is brand new.  It mounts to the rack and attaches at the pinch weld seam at the bottom so minimal body damage.  

 

It is $1795 for that setup plus shipping.  I use a ton of truck freight through work so I can get a rate less than half their quoted freight so that helps and they dont mind if we send in our broker to pick it up.  

 

Pricey but it looks very well made and it only weighs 130# despite the size of it.

[ASD Dad]

Just an update - their price on the ladder is $495 and it is only for a low roof NV.  The top attaches to their rack and the bottom attaches to the pinch weld seam of the body so minimal drilling.  He told me they had 350lbs on it with no issues.  It doesnt stick out past the mirrors so clearance should be an issue.  

 

Total package price is definitely an issue and we're holding off for now.  Even with my huge freight discount the delivered price came out to be $2500 with a 8-10 week build time.  That is the standard double loop rack with the standard slats package plus the ladder.  

 

I could just do a Yakima setup but I really like their ladder design vs drilling one into my rear door.  

[Chris_CommercialManager]

If you have not had a rack before please keep in mind with one like that aluminess you will pick up wind noise.  Just wanted you to know in case you didn't, that rack is not chump change.

[radin2son]

With our poptop, we get a lot of wind noise and latch noise depending on how the roof settled when taken down. This, however, is not as annoying as the loud hum of roof bike rack and open sunroof.

[ASD Dad]

I've had Yakima amd Thule racks in the past but never a huge cargo rack. With my other racks I'd use a fairing or the diy cheap method of wrapping the crossbars with rope. Look at our radio antenna on the NV, same concept. Disrupts airllow and causes enough disturbance to stop a lot of noise. On antennas it stops whistling, larger bars it helps other frequencies. You just need to experiment with spacing and rope size.

 

On a rack this size I'm not sure a rope would work but maybe a fairing? If I build one from Yak parts I can put it towards the rear of the van, that should help.

[caryhecker]

FYI...I found a custom fabricator today.  He is designing me a badass rack like the one for $1800, but a lot cheaper and all aluminum.  you can paint it, but there will be issues with it coming off if putting up ladders all the time, etc.  He is also designing a custom ladder for the side and has some good ideas.  I will be the guinnea pig and take pics once done.  He is in Florida (10 miles away from me, so no $400 freight charges) and totally custom.  My point, Aluminus looks totally awesome and want it, but not at $2800 with ladder and shipping...you can call aluminum or steel fabricators in your area...work a deal with a local guy.

[ASD Dad]

I checked with two local fab shops and both quoted me about the same price as Aluminess.  I figure there has to be somebody around here and we have a pretty decent offroading community but I just cant find the right shop yet.

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

The wind noise thing can be a problem, depending on the rack and you speed. 

I find that up to 65 MPH you only hear it a little, gets a little louder as you go faster, but it really screams over 80 which I finally found out mostly legally on highways in South Dakota  / Wyoming a few weeks ago.

 

 

I checked with two local fab shops and both quoted me about the same price as Aluminess.  I figure there has to be somebody around here and we have a pretty decent offroading community but I just cant find the right shop yet.

 

That is pretty standard - most pro welders know you are coming to them because you have no choice. I'm not saying they are ripping people off, but they calculate their time / charges based on other work where they can probably be even more profitable. Making a one-time-job rack for someone is not a big priority.

The  4x4 friend thing is your best bet  to get help form someone with the ability.  Being one of those types, I can tell you my rack with the Core Product tie down tracks was about 300 bucks worth of supplies (I did steel) and took me 1 day to build plus a day to coat it with DIY'er bed-liner.  At my working shop rate that would be around a $1500 job if I was being "nice" ...and I didn't do a ladder.  I find opending the doors and stepping up on eth sill is just enough, with 2 people - one at rear and one on side of van, to load anything from lumber to our 16 foot canoe. 

Edited July 2, 2015 by Heavy Metal Doctor

[ASD Dad]

I did get two more quotes including my 4x4 buddy and the price was the same - about $2 grand the way I wanted it.  I may go with the Topper galvanized contractors rack for $450 and mod it to my needs.  Nice to see that the quotes were pretty much in line though!

[Dan Wilcox]

I am a building contractor and I found that I needed to custom build a rack low enough to  load lumber without a step ladder. The rack cross bars consist of 1 1/2' galvanized pipe welded to brackets which mount to the mounting tabs on the NV roof. I plan to mount a folding step to the driver side panel between the door and the rear wheel. Has anyone done this? Should I plan to through-bolt the step? I have plywood installed on the interior of the side ribs.

 

Also, I have roof noise caused by the air flow between the rack and the roof at the front. Has anyone glued insulation to the roof above the headliner? I installed 2 Dynamat pieces, which helped, but I would like to cut the sound even more.

[Galax_NV]

Here's my solution, I got a local guy to build it all for 1400.  I saved a ton and this thing is DOM tubing, so I think I am protected from most anything, except a two year old peeing up there.......which mine did.......repeatedly.