Cargo rack reviews

[White Mule]

Im looking at the racks that VI in parksville makes. Has anyone had any experience with this product?

Thanks

WM

[Adam]

Ask Konadog

[konadog]

Mmm, luke warm, at best - the guys seemed in a rush - a bad sign for a guy who likes quality and guys who think of themselves as artists and craftsmen rather than slaves doin' time for a whip crackin' tyrant. The welds were not tidied up, the corner tubes were left open so howl like pan flutes and the cross supports vibrate like guitar strings. Oh, and the floor mesh isn't supported properly in the corners... Fortunately for me, new delica.ca member wookie can weld aluminium and is going to help me do the needed mods next week. In the meantime (6 months...) I injected expanding foam in the hollow tubes (a freakin' mess!) and have cord tying the cross members together to stop the terrible NOISE!! And get this, perhaps the worst example of sloppy workmanship in my story: When we dropped the bus off there for the instillation we took dog for a bike ride down the road a few kms. to visit ccautos Glen. When we told him why we were in the area he "tsk, tsked" and warned us that the guys there would plant the rack straight onto the bus with no padding We rode back there hoping they hadn't finished yet. Thank God they hadn't but sure enough the guy was setting up to plop that hard sharp aluminium right onto Hazel's rain gutter. I pointed out this lack and, to his credit, buddy ran into the shop and came out with enough steel reenforced rubber to install the rack + as much again for future use. Still, the plan was to wreck the roof to save a few bucks on their end. We bought our aluminium utility trailer from the same guys and just LOVE it. The roof rack, not so much. Honestly, if I were to need another I would look elsewhere...

[jessef]

If you want a real roof rack, go see Noel at Enviroimports in Victoria.

The fabrication/welding he gets done is amazing.

[White Mule]

Honestly, if I were to need another I would look elsewhere...

Thanks Kona, that was some important feedback.
I have gone to great length researching aluminium welding on the web as well as local craftsmen and have concluded that this is an art form if done correctly. The thought of shoty welds and howling demons is displeasing, not to mention vibrations and metal on metal. The reaserch continues...
On a side but related note. In my dream last night, I vividly saw the name jfarsang in connection to this topic. Call George Noory!!
Thanks for the help.

WM

[Erebus]

White Mule, since you are in the Calgary area, check Rock Alta. That's who made my rack. They are near the 1A and Lochend Road towards Cochrane. Phone, don't send e-mail, Kevin probably wont reply to e-mail.

They do the racks for the Budget and Hertz rentals, and many commercial vans in the city.

If you want, we can meet and you can have a close look at mine.

He doesn't really like doing custom work, since it is more time consuming than his usual racks. Mine is his standard design, but slightly different size (8 feet long, 53 inches wide). The feet he had to do special, because the Deli's rain gutters are narrower than the Ford/GM ones. It wasn't cheap, but he says that it will hold 1500 lbs. Wouldn't want to try that

Although he doesn't like custom, he seemed to enjoy figuring out how and where to mount the high lift jack and shovel and awning. He also cut the holes for the turnsignal/brake lights that I later put on.

But it has served me well, and on my trip north, it certainly had a lot of stuff up there (and still does) He can also do ladders, but be forewarned, they will be bolted on, just like his racks. He won't do clamp-on. Probably a liability issue with careless users of rental vans. I've seen one of his racks on a rental truck, you could clearly see one of the mounting bolts was very loose, but obviously no one using the van had taken 10 seconds to look at the rack to see it wasn't secure.

[White Mule]

If you want, we can meet and you can have a close look at mine.

Sounds good Erebus. PM me if you like to set up a time and place.

Cheers,

WM

[steepcreeker]

Have I got the Rack NOW! It is a massive basket rack.

A guy in Victoria built it and it rocks!!! I will post photos later. I have a low roof and it is built to be underheight on Ferry. It is able to take a 4X 8 sheet of plywood and we've had FOUR people standing on it!!!! It has four connection points and two people can easily take it on and off. Beautifull work too.

The guy's name is Kevin and his company is called Burning rod Metal works. He has one High roof rack built already.

IMGP2798_resize.JPG (195.43 KiB) Viewed 7089 times

[dharmadelica]

That is a nice rack, how much?
Can we have the contact info for Kevin?

[Spearo]

Myself and another member here in Edmonton are having asorensen (Andy) build us ladders and racks. I'll pick them up next week near Port Hardy. His work looks good in the pics.


http://www.delica.ca/forum/ladders-5459.html

[Erebus]

Green1 and I are going to be on the island in mid-July. We hope to pick up one of asorensen (Andy) ladders. We could probably pick up a second one and deliver it to Revelstoke, as we will be passing through Revelstoke on the way home to Calgary. Let us know if this can work for you.

[Spearo]

Green1 and I are going to be on the island in mid-July. We hope to pick up one of asorensen (Andy) ladders. .

If you happen to stop in at Telegraph Cove (15 min from Andy) to camp between July 12-19, I'll be there in a lifted white 92 Delica. Come say hi and hopefully we'll have some fresh fish on the stove.
Erik

[Erebus]

If you happen to stop in at Telegraph Cove (15 min from Andy) to camp between July 12-19, I'll be there in a lifted white 92 Delica. Come say hi and hopefully we'll have some fresh fish on the stove.
Erik

More likely to be around the 22nd, so we won't likely see you. But where are you camping? It looks like we might just be going to Port McNeill or at least Parksville. Sigh, now I have to read those many posts about camping on the island.

[Remillard]

If you happen to stop in at Telegraph Cove (15 min from Andy) to camp between July 12-19, I'll be there in a lifted white 92 Delica. Come say hi and hopefully we'll have some fresh fish on the stove.
Erik

More likely to be around the 22nd, so we won't likely see you. But where are you camping? It looks like we might just be going to Port McNeill or at least Parksville. Sigh, now I have to read those many posts about camping on the island.

Not sure I'm reading your post correctly (and sorry that I'm off topic) but if you're looking for camping on the Island and you'll be near Port McNeill then you really should go to Shoen Lake Provincial Park: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explor ... schoen_lk/

[Erebus]

Not sure I'm reading your post correctly (and sorry that I'm off topic) but if you're looking for camping on the Island and you'll be near Port McNeill then you really should go to Shoen Lake Provincial Park: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explor ... schoen_lk/

That looks lovely. I especially the part about "Both roads can be rough and logging vehicles are common". Will certainly keep it in mind.