Yakima Rail + AA-Racks = 40' Ladder Hauler

JustinsPressureWashing said:

First off, I want to thank @Hansen Painting for this idea as it was his thread from 2022 that made me pull the trigger on this build!

I needed a way to bring large ladders on jobs where I installed Christmas Lights in November/December without having to drag my pressure washing trailer around with me everywhere just to hold the ladders. With the Maverick bed being so short, a bed mounted ladder rack is only good for a small 8-12' ladder. There's also just 1 or 2 companies that make a bed mounted rack that extends over the roof and I did not like the styling at all. It also leaves me with having to find a spot to store it the other 10 months of the year that I do not need it, whereas this option could be removed quickly and stored neatly in the off-season.

It started with an AA-Racks APX2501 bed rack ($469.90 at the time of this post) and a Yakima JetStream System (Yakima Baseline Towers, Clips - due to the Mavericks 'naked' roof, and JetStream Crossbars)($580.00 from RealTruck if you contact Amber and mention that you came to them from the MaverickTruckForum).

I only used one of the Yakima roof rails with the bed rack in its lowest position because the rear roof rail was a couple inches higher than the plane created by the front rail and rack. Hanson Painting put a single roof rail in the rear with the adjustable rack one notch higher than it's lowest setting, but I'm all about lower center of gravity (and I'm also just 5'9" ). This also means that I have an extra Yakima roof rail with towers, clips, directions, and install tool for sale too, so that you don't have to buy a pair like I did.

Overall, I couldn't be happier with how it turned out. I drove around with just the bed rack for a week until the Yakima rails came in and it didn't make a sound going down the road (even at east coast I-95 nighttime highway speeds ). And of course you already know that the Yakima JetStream rails are 100% quiet as well. Now with the ladder pictured, I can start hearing the hum of air by 35mph, but that's pretty unavoidable.

Next up, improving the horrible stock sound system in this truck and trying to find somewhere to hide a big power inverter inside the cab. Happy motoring!

Click to expand...

FischAutoTechGarten said:

Nice to see you not hanging 14' of it beyond the lowered tailgate with just a six inch strip of hi viz tape ... Too much of that kind of thing displayed on theses forums

Glad to see hauling done with bit of care and caution.

Click to expand...

JustinsPressureWashing said:

First off, I want to thank @Hansen Painting for this idea as it was his thread from 2022 that made me pull the trigger on this build!

I needed a way to bring large ladders on jobs where I installed Christmas Lights in November/December without having to drag my pressure washing trailer around with me everywhere just to hold the ladders. With the Maverick bed being so short, a bed mounted ladder rack is only good for a small 8-12' ladder. There's also just 1 or 2 companies that make a bed mounted rack that extends over the roof and I did not like the styling at all. It also leaves me with having to find a spot to store it the other 10 months of the year that I do not need it, whereas this option could be removed quickly and stored neatly in the off-season.

It started with an AA-Racks APX2501 bed rack ($469.90 at the time of this post) and a Yakima JetStream System (Yakima Baseline Towers, Clips - due to the Mavericks 'naked' roof, and JetStream Crossbars)($580.00 from RealTruck if you contact Amber and mention that you came to them from the MaverickTruckForum).

I only used one of the Yakima roof rails with the bed rack in its lowest position because the rear roof rail was a couple inches higher than the plane created by the front rail and rack. Hansen Painting put a single roof rail in the rear with the adjustable rack one notch higher than it's lowest setting, but I'm all about lower center of gravity (and I'm also just 5'9" ). This also means that I have an extra Yakima roof rail with towers, clips, directions, and install tool for sale too, so that you don't have to buy a pair like I did.

Overall, I couldn't be happier with how it turned out. I drove around with just the bed rack for a week until the Yakima rails came in and it didn't make a sound going down the road (even at east coast I-95 nighttime highway speeds ). And of course you already know that the Yakima JetStream rails are 100% quiet as well. Now with the ladder pictured, I can start hearing the hum of air by 35mph, but that's pretty unavoidable.

Next up, improving the horrible stock sound system in this truck and trying to find somewhere to hide a big power inverter inside the cab. Happy motoring!

Click to expand...

wax87 said:

Can I borrow that ladder please??? LOL

Click to expand...

Runabout said:

Nice set up.
I’ll be using a hitch rack set up for rear since I have a tonneau. You say you have one of the Yakimas for sale?
I‘d be interested in that if so.

Click to expand...

JustinsPressureWashing said:

Honestly I wouldn't wish this ladder on anybody lol. If you don't have two people and you're not 6'5", you have to be creative standing it up and talking it down. I have a 3 piece 35' fiberglass ladder that folds to 12' and is MUCH more manageable. Only reason I have this 40' one is because the price was right.

Click to expand...

MakinDoForNow said:

My son carries one of these 32 foot except his has safety stabilizers at top also. He is an insurance adjuster and gets high and steep pay premium if he has anti skid gum sole Velcro on soles. He carries an anti slip wedge to stand and sit on when he is on 6/12-14/12 pitch roofs. This "sumo style" ladder can be set up and operated by one person. He carries it on top of a Nissan Frontier. He sells his ladder every two years and buys a new one and his rack on truck fully supports the ladder to prevent stress damage.

Click to expand...

JustinsPressureWashing said:

First off, I want to thank @Hansen Painting for this idea as it was his thread from 2022 that made me pull the trigger on this build!

I needed a way to bring large ladders on jobs where I installed Christmas Lights in November/December without having to drag my pressure washing trailer around with me everywhere just to hold the ladders. With the Maverick bed being so short, a bed mounted ladder rack is only good for a small 8-12' ladder. There's also just 1 or 2 companies that make a bed mounted rack that extends over the roof and I did not like the styling at all. It also leaves me with having to find a spot to store it the other 10 months of the year that I do not need it, whereas this option could be removed quickly and stored neatly in the off-season.

It started with an AA-Racks APX2501 bed rack ($469.90 at the time of this post) and a Yakima JetStream System (Yakima Baseline Towers, Clips - due to the Mavericks 'naked' roof, and JetStream Crossbars)($580.00 from RealTruck if you contact Amber and mention that you came to them from the MaverickTruckForum).

I only used one of the Yakima roof rails with the bed rack in its lowest position because the rear roof rail was a couple inches higher than the plane created by the front rail and rack. Hansen Painting put a single roof rail in the rear with the adjustable rack one notch higher than it's lowest setting, but I'm all about lower center of gravity (and I'm also just 5'9" ). This also means that I have an extra Yakima roof rail with towers, clips, directions, and install tool for sale too, so that you don't have to buy a pair like I did.

Overall, I couldn't be happier with how it turned out. I drove around with just the bed rack for a week until the Yakima rails came in and it didn't make a sound going down the road (even at east coast I-95 nighttime highway speeds ). And of course you already know that the Yakima JetStream rails are 100% quiet as well. Now with the ladder pictured, I can start hearing the hum of air by 35mph, but that's pretty unavoidable.

Next up, improving the horrible stock sound system in this truck and trying to find somewhere to hide a big power inverter inside the cab. Happy motoring!

Click to expand...

Tucson25Newbie said:

Could you tell me the length of the Baseline crossbars needed for the roof part of your install ? Also what year is your MAV ?

Click to expand...