ladder straps

[johnthesparky]

that's good advice, I have a rhino roof rack (the new modular one with the spoiler... not like the old square tubed howler on my doblo), and rhino pipe tubes on the van all the time, and I do take the ladders off when I can... or remember, or don't get in too late and then can't be bothered to go back out, move the van, take the ladders off, then pack them away and move the van back

unfortunately the other option didn't seem to make any sense, keep motorway speeds what?

I also have got the safe clamps too... bought mostly because I forgot my new van was higher than my old van and *ahem* stretched the threads on the old clamps on a carpark height limit), and so far rate them..... we'll see in a few months (when the threads in the old clamps would have seized, I'm hoping the stainless bar will still be fine)

 

[Capita]

Bumping this to dust off the cobwebs slightly

The easiest and best solution was mentioned on P1 - ratchet strap and a chain and padlock.

I used to strap the ladders on to the rack down the length of the rungs, rack in question was an SDV trade rack with 3 stage extension ladders.

Ladders on the left die of the rack up against the stops, this is probably going to be long winded to explain but straight forward to do - the strap essentially runs across the top section of ladder across the length of the rungs, imaging pulling the strap on from the back to the front of the van with the hook in your hand, then somewhere near mid side door level you want to thread the hook down between all 3 ladder sections and under the roof rack rail, then straight back up so the strap is back on top of the ladder sections, then carry on across the top of the ladder and drop back down and hook the strap onto the roof rail nearest the second set of ladder rungs. The ratchet then used to hook on to the roof rails at the back, and thread up and tighten.

Once you've done it a couple of times its second nature and takes seconds, ladders are secure and have no rattle. Then a small length of chain to ring around the stiles and the roof rack side rail - key on a magnet to stick on van bulkhead and the jobs done!

Sorry if some of that is like teaching your gran to suck eggs, but after seeing some of the bizarre and unsafe ways people tie (or insulation tape or cable tie) stuff to their roof racks i thought id try and give a bit of detail

 

[The Finch]

I'm using the full length straps at the moment nut can be a pain to thread under so might look at the ones with the hooks as for lock I bought z bike lock from halfords stop the light fingered little bleeders