Van Roof Racks

Van Roof Racks, Crossbars & Ladders

A van roof is the most contested real estate in the build: solar wants it, the fan wants it, the air conditioner wants it, and so do your boards, bikes, and boxes. That's why we sell modular 8020-based racks from Unaka Gear Co. instead of a fixed platform — you position crossbars where your roof appliances aren't, and change the layout later when the build changes. The line covers Mercedes Sprinter 144"/170"/170" EXT, Ford Transit 148" medium and high roof plus 148" EXT, and RAM ProMaster 136"/159"/159" EXT, in Standard, Premium, and Premium Light Bar configurations. Around the racks we carry the parts that make them useful: flush-mount deck panels, High Bar kits that build a second level over your A/C, ultraslim solar bars, acrylic wind fairings, T-nuts and button head screws by the each, and side-mount and rear ladder systems to get you and your gear up there safely.

How to Choose a Roof Rack & Ladder Setup

1. Standard, Premium, or Premium Light Bar

The tier decision comes down to how much you're mounting and whether you want integrated forward lighting.

  • Standard — the value rack: adjustable crossbars, straightforward install. Sprinter 144 from $1,100; Transit 148 $1,100 (148 EXT $1,200); ProMaster 136 $1,150, 159 $1,200, 159 EXT $1,250.
  • Premium — full-length rails with more mounting positions and accessory compatibility. Transit 148 $2,000 (EXT $2,200), ProMaster 136 $2,000 / 159 $2,150 / 159 EXT $2,250.
  • Premium Light Bar — Premium plus an integrated front light bar section. Sprinter 144 $2,100, 170 $2,400, 170 EXT $2,600; Transit 148 $2,000, 148 EXT $2,200.

If you already run Diode Dynamics or TYRI lighting, we stock the SS5, Stage Series and Hyperion mounting kits so the lights land where they were designed to.

2. Don't buy a rack if you only need a crossbar

Plenty of builds need two bars over the roof and nothing else. Options:

  • Sprinter Low Profile Crossbar Kit ($70) — brackets mount directly to your OEM Sprinter rail, with adaptive holes for 8020-style bars or round bars via U-bolts. Crossbar not included.
  • Cross Bars — Sprinter / Transit / ProMaster ($80–$95) — individual bars to add to an existing rack.
  • Standard roof rail adapter brackets — for Sprinter (set of 2, $40), ProMaster ($42, or the 8020 adapter set at $40), Transit ($61; the 148 EXT rear set is $56).

3. Solve the roof appliance problem before you order

This is the mistake we fix most often: someone buys a rack, then a MaxxFan or a 14"x14" A/C, and discovers the panels don't fit around them.

  • Solar Bars ($140) are ultraslim and come in three profiles for exactly this: standalone/large panels (~100 W+), small panels that fit around a fan, and the smallest panels to fit around an A/C unit.
  • Deck Panels ($150–$250) are true flush-mount panels — black powder-coated aluminum that keeps your 8020 crossbar slots usable. Large is 33" x 17.5" x 1.5" for spanning long gaps; Medium is 25.25" x 17.5" x 1.5" and is the most versatile, fitting beside a MaxxFan; Small is 33" x 9" x 1.5", sized to run alongside an RTX 2000-class A/C.
  • High Bar CrossBar Kit ($395, 72") builds a level above your A/C or fan so decks, solar, and kayaks can span the whole roof. Bracket kits come in 4" ($150) and 7.5" ($160) heights, with a center support bracket ($65) for long spans.

4. Mount solar the way you'll actually service it

We stock stainless top-mount brackets (set of 4, $22) and flush-mount solar brackets in 10 Series ($27) and a heavier version ($65). Top-mount is easier to service and gets airflow under the panel — panels run cooler and produce better. Flush-mount is lower, quieter, and looks cleaner. If you live in high wind or you're chasing every mpg, add the Acrylic Wind Fairing ($210): 0.22" black acrylic, form-fitted for Sprinter, Transit or ProMaster, with five laser-cut 1/4" 5052 aluminum brackets, powder coated. It cuts wind noise and drag, and the bracket set is what keeps it rattle-free.

5. Ladder: side mount or rear mount?

  • Side-mount ladders get you up fast and stay out of your rear door swing. Unaka V2 ladders have aggressive grip step face plates and Easy Mount holes in the rungs for accessories: Sprinter V2 $900 (Wheel Wrap version also $900), ProMaster V2 $800, Transit V2 $850, Transit medium roof $850. The Sprinter V2 now works with OEM Sprinter rails using the adapter kit ($75) — no full rack required. Transit standard roof rack owners need the ladder adapter ($80).
  • Rear ladder systems are for people carrying things. The Sprinter Rear Ladder System Base Kit ($1,600, driver or passenger side) is a modular platform: add the Ladder Extension ($210), Easy Step ($195), fold-down steps ($150), MOLLE panels ($95–$105 with RotoPax or carriage nut hardware kits), or the Tire Carrier ($400). The design minimizes taillight obstruction, keeps the license plate visible, and stays clear of backup sensors — which is where cheaper rear carriers get people ticketed.

6. Hardware is not an afterthought

Everything in the 8020 ecosystem lives or dies on T-nuts. We stock 15 Series double T-nuts, 10 Series economy T-nuts (25-pack, $21), slide-in stainless and offset-thread T-nuts, flanged button head cap screws in stainless and black stainless, end caps, splice plates, tie-down kits, and narrow crossbar connector kits. Buy spares. You will drop one on the roof and watch it go down the gutter.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to drill my roof? Not on most of these. Sprinter, Transit, and ProMaster racks use bracket sets that mount to factory roof rail locations or existing threaded points, and the Sprinter Low Profile Crossbar Kit mounts straight to the OEM rail. Follow the bracket instructions and use the specified hardware and sealant — every hole you don't drill is a hole that can't rust.

Can I put a rack over my MaxxFan or air conditioner? Yes, that's what the High Bar kits are for. They build a second level above roof appliances with 4" or 7.5" bracket heights, so decking and solar can span the roof continuously. For staying at rack level instead, use Small deck panels alongside the A/C and the fan-specific solar bar profile.

How much weight can these racks carry? Two numbers matter and they're different: static (parked) capacity is high, dynamic (driving) capacity is lower and is limited by your van's roof, not the rack. Check your vehicle's roof load rating and remember dynamic load includes the rack itself. Distribute heavy items over crossbar-supported spans, not the middle of a deck panel, and remember a rooftop A/C is 49–89 lbs on its own before you add anything.

Will a roof rack kill my fuel economy? Somewhat — everything on a van roof does. The two things that reduce it most are keeping the profile low (flush-mount solar, low-profile crossbars) and running a wind fairing. The fairing also addresses the noise, which for most owners is the bigger daily annoyance.

Which ladder works if I don't have a roof rack? The Sprinter Side Mount Ladder V2 with the OEM Rail Adapter Kit ($75). That combination was added specifically so people without a full rack could still get a proper ladder. Transit owners with a standard roof rack use the $80 ladder adapter.

Are pre-order items real ship dates? Yes — pre-orders list expected ship windows on the product page and carry presale pricing (typically at least 15% off). If a date matters to your build schedule, call us and we'll tell you what the current run looks like rather than guessing from the page.

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