Racks, surfboards and gear

[Woodjoints]

Howdy folks. New here. I do not yet own a Maverick. I own a Vanagon Westfalia with a "franken motor" and my mechanic is retiring. I am debating whether or not to get a Maverick Hybrid (when that becomes possible again). I've been in contact with a few dealers. One dealer I called, when I asked if I could see a Maverick, replied, "Oh, you mean the Unicorn?" I was like, "What?" He said, "We call them that because no one around here has ever seen one."

As recently as a couple weeks ago I was on the Ford Transit Forums seriously considering that vehicle. The MPG was always a concern for me and now.....are you kidding? I threw that idea out the window.

RE the Maverick I'm not sure how I'd carry all my gear with such a small pick up.

I am recently retired, live in a city, surf a few days a week and we go on about three camping trips a year (wife and daughter). I do woodworking and make surfboards as hobbies.

I was hoping that the Yakima HD rack would hold my boards (and lumber) in the high position (boards extending over the cab) and then I could lower it and put a cargo basket on it to hold extra gear when we camp, without all the gear extending above the cab (killing MPG). I don't think the bed alone is big enough for all our camping gear. But it seems that the "low" position of the rack is barely under the cab height and a basket would still sit above the cab. Amirite? It seems the adjustable aspect is kind of a waste on the Maverick.

I also looked at the mid height rack, but it seems a loaded cargo basket would still be above the cab...and I could not carry boards on them anyways. Or if I put a basket on it would surfboard on top of the basket clear the cab?.

The only solution I could think of is having the removable roof top rack AND the low profile bed rack for mounting a basket. I'm wondering how stable the removable roof top rack is? Two or three surfboards at 80 mph? Could they carry a load of 2x12s?

Finally are the low racks compatible with a Retrax tonneau cover?

Thanks for any feedback.

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[The Weatherman]

Howdy folks. New here. I do not yet own a Maverick. I own a Vanagon Westfalia with a "franken motor" and my mechanic is retiring. I am debating whether or not to get a Maverick Hybrid (when that becomes possible again). I've been in contact with a few dealers. One dealer I called, when I asked if I could see a Maverick, replied, "Oh, you mean the Unicorn?" I was like, "What?" He said, "We call them that because no one around here has ever seen one."

As recently as a couple weeks ago I was on the Ford Transit Forums seriously considering that vehicle. The MPG was always a concern for me and now.....are you kidding? I threw that idea out the window.

RE the Maverick I'm not sure how I'd carry all my gear with such a small pick up.

I am recently retired, live in a city, surf a few days a week and we go on about three camping trips a year (wife and daughter). I do woodworking and make surfboards as hobbies.

I was hoping that the Yakima HD rack would hold my boards (and lumber) in the high position (boards extending over the cab) and then I could lower it and put a cargo basket on it to hold extra gear when we camp, without all the gear extending above the cab (killing MPG). I don't think the bed alone is big enough for all our camping gear. But it seems that the "low" position of the rack is barely under the cab height and a basket would still sit above the cab. Amirite? It seems the adjustable aspect is kind of a waste on the Maverick.

I also looked at the mid height rack, but it seems a loaded cargo basket would still be above the cab...and I could not carry boards on them anyways. Or if I put a basket on it would surfboard on top of the basket clear the cab?.

The only solution I could think of is having the removable roof top rack AND the low profile bed rack for mounting a basket. I'm wondering how stable the removable roof top rack is? Two or three surfboards at 80 mph? Could they carry a load of 2x12s?

Finally are the low racks compatible with a Retrax tonneau cover?

Thanks for any feedback.

https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/m...r-with-truxedo-and-angry-elephant-rack-setup/

 

[Delbert]

Lots of folks working on it. Check the threads.

 

[SkeeterB]

Thule roof racks and vertical hitch extender. Any tonneau will work. Picture is from before I got the Thule's but you get the idea.

 

[Big Kahuna]

I do a lot of surfing/camping and my issue is that I want to keep my camping gear secure while I'm surfing. I have a tonneau cover but even with racks I won't fit all my camping gear inside.

The answer for me will be a canopy/topper and I'll throw rook racks on top. Then I can double stack plastic bins and all my camping gear, it will be secure and I can lock the canopy AND I can carry my SUP and surfboards on top.

I hate the look of the current canopies though so waiting for the one from ARE that is supposedly in development.

If it doesn't come out in time I'll have to get ladder racks and make due for the summer.

 

[gofoilCorey]

I am having the same problem with windsurfing gear so I am building my own cap. I'm waiting on my september order to arrive to get final dimensions but it is going to be mid to full cab high extruded aluminum and diamond plate cap water tight seals everywhere. There will be 2 cargo net shelves in the upper section, 1 for sails and 1 for a board, the board will be strapped in and hang out a door in the plexi window. Gate will be up an lockable and will hold the normal cap door closed. secure and leaves room for gear below locked in while i'm on the water. I cant wait to build it. Im also going to put boat cleats on the top for tying more boards to the roof. Including an extra brake light as required.

 

[Woodjoints]

One thing I never learned to do and wish I had was welding. Congrats on ordering your truck. I'm on a list to get on the list. Post photos when you finish the cap.

 

[Woodjoints]

I do a lot of surfing/camping and my issue is that I want to keep my camping gear secure while I'm surfing. I have a tonneau cover but even with racks I won't fit all my camping gear inside.

The answer for me will be a canopy/topper and I'll throw rook racks on top. Then I can double stack plastic bins and all my camping gear, it will be secure and I can lock the canopy AND I can carry my SUP and surfboards on top.

I hate the look of the current canopies though so waiting for the one from ARE that is supposedly in development.

If it doesn't come out in time I'll have to get ladder racks and make due for the summer.

Agree with you about the look of the toppers on the Ford website. I was trying to think of a way to avoid a topper so I don't have to crawl into the bed to retrieve gear. Also, without a topper you could haul oversize objects, although I guess that wouldn't be a daily occurance and I could just remove the topper if necessary.

I might have to brainstorm a way to make cross bars on the Yakima (or other) high racks to put a basket or box below the boards.

 

[Jah.]

Hitch mounted carrier rack out back . they can carry up to 500 lbs and no impact on mpg .

 

[Big Kahuna]

Someone posted about a new ladder rack adjustable height that also will fit a tonneau for $580 or so. Looks interesting. Have to search for it again.

 

[Woodjoints]

Please post when you find it. I'm keeping notes.

 

[Maverickman74]

One thing I never learned to do and wish I had was welding. Congrats on ordering your truck. I'm on a list to get on the list. Post photos when you finish the cap.

Attach jumper cables to a battery(preferably not in a car) then lightly touch the positive and negatives together. Sparks will fly. However, you can now say that you have welded. Thats all it is. 2 or 3 batteries wired in series(i think maybe its parallel) will get you a decent weld with stick weld type welding rods. Everything above that is just more finesse and fancier machines. Its all easy to do. I would say a baby could, but it cant. Also if you are a Frankenstein and are afraid of fire, there may be an issue aswell.

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