RV.Net Open Roads Forum: Class C Motorhomes: Roof Racks most have (2023)

Topic: Roof Racks most havePosted By: kitejunky1on 06/10/15 05:24pmHello,
I want to add roof racks to the roof of my class C, has anyone done this and how? Can you send pics? The boss (my wife) doesn't want me to damage our new RV. Thanks Andy Posted By: Islandmanon 06/10/15 05:53pmI think your wife is correct, roof rack ruins the look, may get tangled in tree limbs, lots of trouble to climb up the ladder and retrieve stuff. We had one (actually a fiberglass box) on our Class A and it was a hassle to get up there and crawl on the roof, hand stuff down (or toss down), and after awhile just held stuff that was hardly ever used. Became a place to store junk actually. Really think about what you'd put up there and is that stuff you want to put up there really that necessary? Posted By: gotsmarton 06/10/15 06:13pm

kitejunky1 wrote:

Hello,
I want to add roof racks to the roof of my class C, has anyone done this and how? Can you send pics? The boss (my wife) doesn't want me to damage our new RV. Thanks Andy

Listen to your wife. All the mounting screws become potential points for water leaks. Add cargo to it and the wind load will stress those mounting screws even more.

You are better off putting a cargo tray in the hitch.

2005 Cruise America 28R (Four Winds 28R) on a 2004 Ford E450 SD 6.8L V10 4R100
2009 smart fortwo Passion with Roadmaster "Falcon 2" towbar & tail light kit - pictures Posted By: kitejunky1on 06/10/15 06:23pmThanks for the advise i am going to find a aluminum welder and have him build up from the rack to support stand up paddle boards.

* This post was edited 06/10/15 06:34pm by kitejunky1 *

Posted By: aeejbeon 06/10/15 08:37pmAndy:

I can still hear the wise words from my Grandmother, who would offer to whomever (me included)
that happened to be "BENT" on having their own way. Her final advice was usually:

"Do As You Please."

I’d only ask, WHY do you feel you need a roof rack?
They are being omitted as a feature from lots of
recently built coaches primarily in order to reduce costs &... ...
AND because most racks are seldom used. Or so it seems.
I welcome you or others to enlighten me.

Posted By: ScottGon 06/10/15 08:42pmIf I didn't already have that useless thing up there I would never add one.
I noticed many new RV's dont have them anymore. Posted By: Dusty Ron 06/11/15 05:13amYou didn't say what type of roof you have.
Our mh has a fiberglass roof. I added a carrier for my Kevlar canoe.
If you have a fiberglass roof, West Marine has a page on fastening to fiberglass. If you don't find it, I'll try to explain. Posted By: wbwoodon 06/11/15 08:51amGood luck with that. We have kayaks and wife had a paddle board. The last thing I would want to do is to try and get those things up there and down. Also as other mentioned, the potential to cause damage and the chance of water intrusion. Depending on the weight of your boards, look at strapping them to the ladder. Not sure if you will be able to or not. I know my wife's paddled board weighed over 40 lbs. We got rid of it because she decided she wanted an inflatable one and they are lighter. If you are gonna find a welded, get them make something out of steel that can go into your receiver. Have it like an open box and go up 4 or 5 ft. Put them in that strap them down.

Look here for some ideas...

Brian
2013 Thor Chateau 31L
Posted By: kitejunky1on 06/11/15 09:37amThanks that's exactly what I was looking to do. Do you think I should use steel I was thinking that finding an aluminum welder and making it all out of aluminum would be a lot lighter Posted By: mgirardoon 06/11/15 09:51amI was looking to put a rack of some sort on the roof of our Class C motorhome to haul our 12' Porta Bote. Decided trying to haul the 90lb boat up and down the rv ladder would not be fun. I added a crossbars to the roof of our CRV and strap it to that instead. A lot easier lifting the boat 4 feet to the roof of the car vs. 12 feet to the roof of the motorhome.

-Michael

Michael Girardo
2017 Jayco Jayflight Bungalow 40BHQS Destination Trailer
2009 Jayco Greyhawk 31FS Class C Motorhome (previously owned)
2006 Rockwood Roo 233 Hybrid Travel Trailer (previously owned)
1995 Jayco Eagle 12KB pop-up (previously owned) Posted By: ron.dittmeron 06/11/15 10:17amIf 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.

* This post was edited 06/11/15 10:34am by ron.dittmer *

2007 Phoenix Cruiser model 2350, with 2006 Jeep Liberty in-tow Posted By: Bobboon 06/11/15 10:34amWhile I would not be without my rear ladder to access the roof for maintanence purposes, I would not have a roof rack. Too hard to get stuff up/down. Too open to damage from low obstacles. Bobbo and Lin
2017 F-150 XLT 4x4 SuperCab w/Max Tow Package 3.5l EcoBoost V6
2017 Airstream Flying Cloud 23FB Posted By: kitejunky1on 06/11/15 10:38amI'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 Posted By: bukhrnon 06/11/15 11:26am

ScottG wrote:

If I didn't already have that useless thing up there I would never add one.
I noticed many new RV's dont have them anymore.

X-2, wouldn't have it if it hadn't come with it.
You have a MH, but don't have a car??? 2007 Forester 2941DS
2014 Ford Focus
Zamboni, Long Haired Mini Dachshund
You can have my RV, when you pry my cold dead fingers from the Steering Wheel Posted By: Mick9064on 06/11/15 11:29amhttp://rvkayakrack.com Posted By: KristinUon 06/12/15 05:25amWe went inflatable when we bought our C. We love our inflatable SUPs and have no problems with them not being rigid enough. Most people can't fathom an inflatable SUP and imagine trying to stand on an air mattress. Just another thought to throw out there Cheers!
Kristin
2008 Winnebago Chalet 31C
My camping party: me, DH, DS, and 2 DK9s
Our Blog: www.winnieadventures.blogspot.com Posted By: ron.dittmeron 06/12/15 07:49amIf we were to carry kayaks or other such items, I would surely put them on top of our tow vehicle, never on top of our motor home. There are piles of reasons why that is a bad idea. One that makes me squirm most is the inability to inspect the hold-down often enough. Posted By: DrewEon 06/12/15 08:27amMaybe you can get some relatively inexpensive trailer to put the kayaks on for the meantime. Harbor Freight, Northern Tool and Hydraulic, and such places sell utility trailer kits that are pretty inexpensive (or you can find something used), and constructing some manner of racking for a couple of paddleboards shouldn't be too difficult. A trailer of that size generally doesn't require a trailer braking system.

I have a roof rack that came with my class C. It doesn't seem sturdy enough to me to do anything much useful, and provides no protection for the roof membrane should anything be put up on the roof. I have no idea why they bothered, unless some think they're decorative or something. (There are also enough things sticking up from the roof that it's not easy to locate any substantial cargo without running afoul of a vent or what have you.)

Posted By: mgirardoon 06/12/15 12:28pm

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

Posted By: ron.dittmeron 06/12/15 01:02pm

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.

Posted By: Oldmeon 06/12/15 01:31pmThe 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.

Posted By: DrewEon 06/12/15 02:41pm

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....)

Posted By: kitejunky1on 06/12/15 03:13pmThank 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 Posted By: ron.dittmeron 06/12/15 03:27pm

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. Posted By: Dusty Ron 06/12/15 05:45pm

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

Posted By: ron.dittmeron 06/16/15 07:19pmHere is a better picture. I just don't see any value in them.
Posted By: aeejbeon 06/16/15 09:42pm.

* This post was edited 06/17/15 09:39am by aeejbe *

Posted By: aeejbeon 06/16/15 09:42pmAlso 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

--------------
Drain INTO tank in the mh? HOW? Seems awkward