Small Roof Rack in front of pop top?

[DosMars]

Anyone know who makes the little rack that attaches to the rain gutters and sits in front of the pop top? I saw a photo of one a while back up at Sportsmobile West that was accessable from inside through a fully zippered window. Great use of space and I love the accessability.

I can't find the photo or thread that had it and the closest small rack I'm coming up with is 30"x50". The available room up there looks closer to 20".

 

[Twoxentrix]

Those are made by Aluminess for Field Van - Neither Aluminess or Field Van have them listed as any sort of rack 'accessory', but I've also seen a few used on the new builds.
May have to contact Field Van to see if you can order one through them - If I recall correctly they were priced around $1,500 about 2 years ago.

EDIT: Not too long ago some here made one for his van using a small cargo rack...my memory may be off on this one, but believe it was done by member 'marret'

 

[DosMars]

Yes, contacting them directly was my second option. I tend to get faster info from here!

 

[Twoxentrix]

Mark, use this link & then scroll through the pictures on the right side ... have a couple showcasing that small cab rack.
https://fieldvan.com/camper-vans/ford-classic-4x4/

 

[doublevan2]

I've been "occasionally" looking for a roof rack too - maybe a Toyota or Subaru or some type of compact car roof rack - as I have 8 "Confer" roof brackets - stainless steel - used back in the day in Hollywood to mount roof racks onto vans for shooting films - perfect fit to Ford rain gutters, etc. My budget just won't fit for a plus $1,000 roof rack ! If you find something similar - hope you'll post it to your thread - appreciate it ! Something maybe in the 42" X 48" - ish range - around $ 350-500 ?

 

[DosMars]

When I get to my computer I’ll show you the racks I found that came the closest to what I’m looking for. They were all 50” wide but went from I believe 30” deep all the way to full length. Probably something in there that will work for you.

Any idea where your clamps can be found? (Ah, re-reading I see they’re Confer!) That’s the other piece of the puzzle I need to find. There are more options, just have to find one that works on the Ford gutters.

-Mark

 

[DosMars]

Mark, use this link & then scroll through the pictures on the right side ... have a couple showcasing that small cab rack.
https://fieldvan.com/camper-vans/ford-classic-4x4/

Yes, that’s exactly what I’m looking for. Looks great and with access from the interior it’s perfect for stowing bags when you get to the spot. -All that stuff that goes in the drivers seat and wheel well (footwell?) now.

Just don’t want to spend $1,000+ for it if I can help it…

 

[DosMars]

I've been "occasionally" looking for a roof rack too - maybe a Toyota or Subaru or some type of compact car roof rack - as I have 8 "Confer" roof brackets - stainless steel - used back in the day in Hollywood to mount roof racks onto vans for shooting films - perfect fit to Ford rain gutters, etc. My budget just won't fit for a plus $1,000 roof rack ! If you find something similar - hope you'll post it to your thread - appreciate it ! Something maybe in the 42" X 48" - ish range - around $ 350-500 ?

Check out Arksen. They make one 43"x50" for $150!



ARKSEN

 

[PDXDave-SMB]

I've been on this path as well, as I think it would be a slick way to mount a KC Gravity 6 light bar...
Plus the added storage would be cool.
The field van part is nice, and the price is tolerable, but I don't think it'll work on a RB van, as the pop top sits just a little farther back on the EB vans that I'm seeing it on.
Thoughts?

 

[vandiesel]

I have all the makings for one but now have a CCV. I have the weld on gutter brackets and a cage to put them on. I was soooo close to finishing when I bought 1der's top and stopped. It's sitting in my shop. Dave come by and fab it up! Its a cool place for chairs and firewood.

 

[buggymancan]

I would like to find a small rack like that also, in my case to mount to a 2016 Mercedes low roof sprinter (no rain gutter). I like the concept of accessing from the front zippered window of the SMB pop top once deployed!
Please share if anyone has a lead on such a rack.

Mark, use this link & then scroll through the pictures on the right side ... have a couple showcasing that small cab rack.
https://fieldvan.com/camper-vans/ford-classic-4x4/

 

[Twoxentrix]

I considered this combination a while back - and Since you have no drip-rails, whatever you do would require mounting through the roof so something along these lines may be right up your alley:
https://overlandaddict.com/collecti...roam-rugged-mounts-for-83l-case-quick-release

https://overlandaddict.com/products/roam-rugged-case-95l

 

[bobthecow]

The only things I've seen that work in front of the pop top are Yakima or Thule gutter mount bars with a cargo bin on top, or that Field Van / Aluminess stubby rack. I didn't really love either of those options so I ended up making myself a bootleg Prinsu-style low profile rack:

https://www.sportsmobileforum.com/forums/f16/low-profile-roof-rack-31256.html

 

[rjs73]

FieldVan Cab Rack

I was curious about those, too and recently contacted FieldVans.

They said it's called the "Cab Rack" and it's $2k installed or $1,850 plus shipping if you want it delivered to you.

That's quite a bit more than I'm looking to pay for that functionality, so I'll be considering other options.

 

[doublevan2]

OUCH ! I agree I'll be looking for other options -

 

[DosMars]

I was curious about those, too and recently contacted FieldVans.

They said it's called the "Cab Rack" and it's $2k installed or $1,850 plus shipping if you want it delivered to you.

That's quite a bit more than I'm looking to pay for that functionality, so I'll be considering other options.

Thanks for that info, it's good to have a number. I'm a week in, still waiting for an email response from Field and Aluminess. Must be nice to be too busy to get back to prospective buyers!

Anyone know what a fully opening zippered window goes for?

 

[Orv-SMB]

I made one for my E-250 out of the basket from a hitch rack and some drip rail mounts. It's maybe not the prettiest but it's definitely functional.

 

[DosMars]

Heard back from Aluminess and Field Vans:

Hi Mark,
Unfortunately, that is not one of Aluminess' products. We are currently only manufacturing a line of products such as bumpers, roof racks, rear door storage, racks, and ladders. Although we are not making these at this time, I can ask our engineering team if this is something currently in the works.
Thank you for reaching out to Aluminess!
Best Regards,
Alissa Webster | Customer Service
Aluminess


Hello Mark, thank you for reaching out to us.

Yes we carry the cab mini basket. you are looking at $2,000.
It only works with the extended body Ford van with a pop top.

Your pop top should already have a zipper front window and screen built into it. If it does not, we would need to replace the complete canvas. You are looking at $2,600 for the upgrade.

Regards,

Peter
Field Van

Love that rack, but at $2,000 for the rack and another $2,600 for new canvas, I'm going to have to look at other options.
If I can get a good look at that rack, I think I can mock it up and have our welder weld it together.
I'm going to check with the marine canvas guys and see if they can come up with a fully zippering window they can swap out. New canvas would be nice, but swapping out that window or installing a zipper around it to provide access should be doable.

 

[dbhost]

So I am looking at universal roof rack / cross bars and baskets.

The Arksen 30x50x6 basket is as best as I can find the most likely to fit the bill, but it needs crossbars to mount to and will extend over the front of the cab when installed, maybe not a horrible idea but maybe it is... https://amzn.to/3DGSUNt

You are going to need like I said some rails to attach to. No idea if this would work but here are some universal roof rack rails / cross bars. https://amzn.to/3DEV0NM

 

[doublevan2]

Not sure what your present cab roof looks like but am sure you are aware of possible wind resistance / noise whistling, etc., can ruin a quiet ride - I'd try to keep it low to the roof with "rails" if possible -- I had thought of doing similar but new CCV top pretty much cancelled that idea !

Somehow - maybe fabricate something close to what you envision - and test drive a bit to see what happens ? Be sure it's tied down tight !