Ladder and the kayaks

CountingFireflies · September 08, 2011, 11:13:21 AM

Well we're well into our epic adventure, and we've started to have some issues with the kayaks. The kayaks were originally on the roof of the tow-behind jeep, stacked on top of the roof top tent. However, the additional weight and cornering has caused the rack and roof structure to flex and bend. We may have done some permanent damage :`( So, it's time to get the kayaks off the jeep and strapped to the bus. We have an '89 MCI 102. My wife's suggestion is to build a hoist on the back roof, and dangle them off the back, and quite frankly, I can't find a better solution. So, what are you doing to carry those kayaks on the bus?

I have also seen conversations about roof racks for the bus. Is there a manufacturer or fabricator that has a good design for ladders? I think if I had better access to the roof, I could utilize that space.

Thanks.
Chris
www.countingfireflies.com

Slow Rider · September 08, 2011, 03:30:32 PM

Hi Chris,

Hopefully Jack will give us the definitive answer as he is our resident kayak expert. But so far it sounds good to me

Frank

Barn Owl · September 08, 2011, 04:26:29 PM

I am having a similar dilemma except 90% of the time I don't pull a toad. In addition to a pile of bikes I would like to take I also have two Ocean kayaks (14' each), Canoe (16'), and a sunfish (14' @ 130lbs + sails/mast), and a snark with the same problems as the sunfish. I borrow a trailer from my father but I can either take bikes or boats, not both. If I could move the kayaks and the canoe to the top of the bus that would be great. I prefer something that is not too elaborate, dangerous, or complicated. Anyways, looking forward to the possible solutions.

Lin · September 08, 2011, 07:34:58 PM

The old Wanderloges used to have heavy duty racks along the whole roof. Maybe you could do something like that, or find an old Wanderloge to take one off of. I think that they reinforced the roof with diamond plate though.

Iceni John · September 08, 2011, 07:48:23 PM

Do you have opening roof hatches / ventilators? The two on my bus are big enough for me to get through them onto the roof, but if I were more rotund it could be a tight fit! I won't put a ladder on the back, because that makes it too easy for others to get up onto the roof - when I put PV panels up there I don't want unwelcome visitors going up there. I will also put a walkway of 12"-wide diamond-tread aluminum along the spine of the roof, to stop me sliding off if it's wet and to better distribute the load.

As for roof racks, the sister bus to mine was recently on Craigslist, and it had a huge roofrack fitted on it. I couln't tell if it were custom-made or something stock, but it looked large enough to easily carry several canoes or kayaks.

John

Lin · September 08, 2011, 08:03:11 PM

We use a ladder like this one and really like it.

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&sugexp=gsih&cp=13&gs_id=19&xhr=t&q=telescoping+ladder&pq=telescope&gs_upl=&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&biw=1539&bih=941&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=12569319473115736131&sa=X&ei=EoNpTt-cNc_QiAKzxtWzDg&sqi=2&ved=0CHcQ8gIwAw

white-eagle · September 08, 2011, 08:24:59 PM

i bolted an aluminum rail to each side roof support. on top of the aluminum racks, i mounted 3/4 in. plywood. so i have a wooden roof rack to bolt to, or hook to, or mount things on. the center of it is just above the roof crown. We tapped holes into the aluminum rail to bolt the plywood into. originally, it was so i could change antenna every time a new one came out, when we were selling them. also, i planned to carry a couple extra inventory items on the roof.
since we no longer do that, i have a mounting place for the tv antenna, satellite antenna, Internet antenna, etc. if i buy a new model that has a different footprint, just a few new holes in the plywood, not the bus. It's about 12' long, between the A/C units, and about 5 ft wide.
i carry a telescoping 12' ladder to get onto the roof. Strong enough to hold me while i carry things up or down and around.

i guess you could carry anything not taller than a satellite antenna, about 15"

Barn Owl · September 08, 2011, 09:55:27 PM

I bought one of those telescoping ladders similar to the one Lin linked to. I love it and marvel at how much I use it. Prior to buying one I hadn't been taking a ladder on trips thinking I didn't need one, and besides a ladder is bulky and the Gorilla ladder I had took up a lot of space. Well on my first big trip I had to get on my roof three times. Once to change a clearance marker light, then at a car wash I knocked a vent cap off with a pressure wand hose, then an a/c fan motor need a squirt of lube. I got creative and managed to get on the roof climbing from bumper to mirror to rain gutter and cb antenna etc. Well on that last trip back down I missed a foot hold and fell flat on my back. My head missed a fire ring by only inches. I finally got the scare I needed to decide the price of a portable ladder was cheaper than paralysis or death. The only thing you need to be careful with on these telescoping ladders is not to put a dent in one of the tubes, because the tight tolerances will not allow for it.

CountingFireflies · September 12, 2011, 09:04:06 AM

Quote from: Lin on September 08, 2011, 07:34:58 PM
The old Wanderloges used to have heavy duty racks along the whole roof. Maybe you could do something like that, or find an old Wanderloge to take one off of. I think that they reinforced the roof with diamond plate though.

Great lead! I found this bus searching and love the rack. The bus isn't bad either

http://busesandmore.com/buses/1987-MCI-MC9-Party-Bus.shtml

I like how the rear ladder folds up to allow access to the engine.

So do you think they reinforced the roof where they attach the roof brackets? Also, where the ladder attaches to the rear cap, is there a structure behind it to bolt to? I've not removed that rear cap and peeked under it.