Roof Racks most have

Also when we are dry camping and need to add water, we carry it in a 5 gallon bag, then hang the bag from the unistrut so it can drain into tank in the mh. Dusty

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Drain INTO tank in the mh? HOW? Seems awkward

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ron.dittmer wrote:
If you can live without the roof rack and ladder, I advise to continue doing so.

When we special ordered our rig new in 2007, I required the roof rack and ladder placed inside the rig in pieces, not installed on the motor home. I didn't want them, but wanted the option to install them later if I changed my mind. I am so glad I did that. Eight years stored in our basement, I am now thinking it's time to sell them.

Here is our rig without the rear ladder and roof rack.


Here is another rig, same brand (different floor plan) as ours with the ladder (folded up to access the storage compartment) and roof rack.

Here is a better picture. I just don't see any value in them.

ron.dittmer wrote:

DrewE wrote:
unless some think they're decorative or something.

The look reminds me of a swimming pool ladder. :) Not exactly the look for my taste.


Some people like to hang chairs and bikes off the ladder. For those people, a full-wall ladder-like rack would be stronger and more versatile.

We have a 24' '03 Itasca with a ladder like that, it also has a fiber glass roof.
I built a pair carriers, much like roof top carriers for cars but fastened to the fiber glass roof, to carry my 17' Kevlar canoe that weights 47 lbs.

I temporally fasten a piece of unistrut to the top flat part of the ladder to drag the canoe up to the roof.
Also when we are dry camping and need to add water, we carry it in a 5 gallon bag, then hang the bag from the unistrut so it can drain into tank in the mh.

Dusty

kitejunky1 wrote:
Thank you everyone for your replies I've decided I will not be adding roof racks to my RV I will be buying a cargo rack and adding supports in order to carry my surfboards via the trailer hitch thank you so much

They sell little bolt-on class-III hitch duplication thingies so you have the main hitch dead center, and one on each side for additional strength and even more important, stability. If I find a picture of an example, I will post it.

Thank you everyone for your replies I've decided I will not be adding roof racks to my RV I will be buying a cargo rack and adding supports in order to carry my surfboards via the trailer hitch thank you so much

ron.dittmer wrote:

DrewE wrote:
unless some think they're decorative or something.

The look reminds me of a swimming pool ladder. :) Not exactly the look for my taste.

I do have a ladder like that, and I find it pretty useful for maintenance and cleaning and such. Yes, it does have the looks of a swimming pool ladder, though seemingly not nearly the sturdiness of one. But it is far more convenient than dragging out an extension ladder (and finding someplace safe to lean it up) or buying and keeping a 10 or 12 foot step ladder.

I also have a "roof rack", which is little more than a kick rail a few inches above the rooftop and winding around the outside of the back several feet of the roof. That's what seems utterly useless and pointless to me; I can't imagine any situation where I'd want to tie anything onto my RV's roof (and risk puncturing it, and raise the overall height and clearance requirements even more, and make a top-heavy vehicle even more top-heavy....)

The wife is always right.
Just ask her.

This time I will 100% agree with your wife.
Roof fabric is not a sturdy base to be moving things on.

DrewE wrote:
unless some think they're decorative or something.

The look reminds me of a swimming pool ladder. :) Not exactly the look for my taste.


In all fairness, I can see some benefit to having a ladder for a rare emergency like if a tree branch damages a vent cover that you thought was closed....things like that. But I figure that's when it's time to drive somewhere for a proper repair.

Some people like to hang chairs and bikes off the ladder. For those people, a full-wall ladder-like rack would be stronger and more versatile.

kitejunky1 wrote:
I'm trying really hard to afford to buy it towed vehicle and when that happens yes I'll put the roof racks on that vehicle but for now I need to figure out how to get all my standup paddle boards and surfboards on the back of my class C's, above I'm going to get a cargo rack and weld some on up on it to hold the boards hopefully that was her fight until I can afford to get a car to tow behind my thanks for all the advise

Something similar to this rack might be a better option. I thought about using this idea, but at 12.5' the Porta-Bote would stick up too high above the roof.

Before we bought the CRV, we were toadless too. Folded, the Porta Bote is thicker (7" at its widest) than any SUP I've seen. We used the emergency exit window to load the Porta Bote into the motorhome.

-Michael