Ladder Racks - Stainless Steel or Aluminum?

Ladder Racks - Stainless Steel or Aluminum?

In todays world of high gas prices its important to carry all your tools and equipment with you in one trip, saving time and money. That's why adding a ladder rack to your vehicle , whether it be for personal use or used on a commercial fleet truck, can be extremely valuable. Ladder Racks will ensure you show up at the job site ready to work, safely with your equipment or material load. Having a ladder rack installed gives you the ability to carry a traditional oversized "ladder" that wouldn't fit in most truck beds or van cargo area. The other most important or common use for the ladder rack, is hauling the materials and other equipment needed for the job or transportation.

Truck Bed Racks

There is alot of confusion between a "ladder rack" or "truck bed rack" as they both have similar features. For most personal use vehicles, in non commercial applications, using a truck bed rack might be a better choice. They will offer more options, such as working with a tonneau cover / bed cover. Checkout the Access ADARAC Aluminum Bed Rack series for an easy installation, with great applications.

What is a Ladder Rack?

A ladder rack is simply exactly what it sounds like. Ladder Racks offer you the ability to carry equipment like a "ladder" which generally wouldn't fit in the normal cargo area of your van or truck bed. Other uses for ladder racks are transporting materials needed for construction such as plywood, sheetrock, 2x4's, larger piping, basically anything that is oversized, and needs to be safely transported. Having the ladder rack installed on your truck or van, allows you to mount whatever your trying to haul, and securely strap it down around the ladder rack frame. This way you can get from point A to B safely without losing any of your cargo.

Do I need a Stainless Steel or Aluminum Ladder Rack?

Depending on your needs and use of your vehicle , you might decide to go with a heavy duty stainless steel ladder rack or an aluminum ladder rack. Typically most ladder racks are going to be made out of a durable stainless steel frame or aluminum as they have to be strong and reliable. You certainly would not want to be carrying around a 3000lb load of materials, on a ladder rack made of Plastic or a synthetic material. These would easily break from the vibrations on the road, and cause instant damage to your vehicle or cargo. Every piece of the ladder rack frame (especially mounting points) must be constructed of stainless steel or aluminum. Accessories such as pads to protect your vehicle or material is fine, but the frame must be rigid and made of metal. Aluminum is typically lighter, and easier to install, however it might not be as strong as the stainless steel when needing to carry heavier loads. For personal use, aluminum ladder racks are typically fine for carrying materials needed for home upgrades, or equipment you might need for weekend projects. However, for Fleet Trucks or Vans, doing commercial jobs or transportation, we do recommend a stronger stainless steel heavy duty ladder rack. For any questions about finding the best ladder rack to use for your vehicle feel free to contact us with any questions. Were always happy to help you find the best ladder rack for your vehicle .

Side mount or Top Mount Ladder Rack?

For most applications, the typical top mount ladder rack would be the choice for your truck or van. These are installed "on top" of your truck bed or van cargo area. However, for some larger commercial work vans or box trucks, a side mount ladder rack might be a good choice. A side mount ladder rack is installed "on the side" of the box truck or van, allowing much easier access to your mounted ladder, or materials. Since they are on the side, loading and unloading is much easier. However, the downfall of the side mount ladder rack is the load capacity. The traditional top mount ladder rack is going to be able to carry a much heavier load then the side mount. So depending on your intended use of the ladder rack, a side mount or top mount install should be considered. Again, if you are unsure at what would be the best ladder rack for your vehicle , contact us and well be happy to help you find the correct one.