Quote:
Originally Posted by Fitz
From Post 177 above: The next planned addition will either be a set of Maxtrax or aluminum sand ladders, I’m still researching to determine which will be the best fit for us.
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There are lots of opinions out there as to the best style of recovery ramp - the old-fashioned aluminum sand ladder vs. the new-style Maxtrax or one of the many variants that are currently available.
When I thought through this I decided that I wanted to serve several purposes (don't we always?) - recovery ramps for use in sand, the ability to carry either one pair or two, storage out of the way up on top of the van, a low-profile storage solution that will allow for use of Thule crossbars (the top of the crossbar is just over 4" high) so long loads can be carried over the top, and finally, strong enough such that I can use the final assembly as a platform on top of the van when desired.
All in all, I am pleased with the design and solution. Each sand ladder is 12" wide by 48" long and weighs 10 lbs., the bracket and hardware weighs 16 lbs.
On to the pictures!
Here is the bracket sitting on my workbench as I was laying out and drilling the mounting holes.
Construction is fairly simple - basically an aluminum pan with the ovals water-jetted out to reduce the weight. My basic design, but definitely beyond my capability to execute in aluminum. For that, I brought on Moose Metal.
Here is the bracket laid out on the roof of the van. I spaced it far enough away from the solar panels to allow for an additional Thule crossbar in the center if ever needed in the future.
And here it is with the sand ladders in place. The tray is deep enough to accommodate an additional pair of sand ladders nested on top of what you see.
And here is the finished assembly mounted alongside the solar panels.
A few detail pictures:
The rails mounted on top of the van are Thule, but the method of attachment is this Landpad kit from Yakima, with longer stainless cap screws and 1/2" aluminum spacer blocks that I added.
Locking the sand ladders in place was a simple matter with a lock on each end, just enough to keep the honest people honest!
Here is the finished installation.
And finally, the in-service proof test! There is no issue with the final assembly carrying my weight, thus I now have a nice spot to watch the sun set or to tie something on that for whatever reason needs to come along for the ride.