Best ladder rack for a ute in Australia

Short answer

The best ladder rack for a ute is a Wedgetail Trade platform with the ladder lock kit on an EGR Gen 2 canopy or Caddy Storage service body, because the ladder then runs the length of the tray; Commercial Max, Oval Steel canopy racks and Trade Max crossbars cover the utes Wedgetail Trade does not list. Wedgetail Trade has a warranty of 5 years and is rated 100 or 150 kg dynamic per fitment, 100% off-road with no derating, and static is 3.5 x dynamic. Every rack is made in Bayswater, Victoria, Australia.

Specs from Wedgetail product data, updated 15 October 2026.

Top pick

Wedgetail Trade with the ladder lock kit

Mounts on

Canopy or service body, over the tray

Wedgetail Trade warranty

5 years

No wind deflector

Trade Max crossbar kits and the Technician ladder rack

The shortlist

1. 
   Top pick

   Wedgetail Trade on a canopy or service body

   The Wedgetail branded trade platform, in powder coated aluminium with glass reinforced nylon. On a ute it is listed for the EGR Gen 2 canopy on the D-MAX RT and BT-50 Gen 3, and for a Caddy Storage service body on the Ranger T6.2 dual cab, with a service body kit for extra cabs too. It takes the ladder lock kit, the Technician ladder slide adaption kit and ladder buffers, and includes a wind deflector.

   Rating

   100 or 150 kg dynamic (350 or 525 kg static), 100% off-road

   Warranty

   5 years

   RRP inc GST

   $1,795 to $2,055

   Vehicles

   3 models, 3 solutions

   Add

   Ladder Lock Kit $100

   Add

   Technician Ladder Slide Adaption Kit, Contains 6 X Buffers, 4 X Side Straps $265

   Add

   Wedgetail Trade Ladder Buffer X 4 $80

   Shop Wedgetail Trade
2. 
   Service body, most utes

   Commercial Max service body platform

   Galvanised steel, powder coated, listed for single, extra and dual cab utes with a Caddy Storage service body, the widest ute list of the ladder options. Ladders go on with the Safeclamp ladder clamp pair, and the roller brackets help loading from the rear. Its warranty is the shortest of the picks.

   Rating

   100 kg dynamic (350 kg static), 100% off-road

   Warranty

   1 year

   RRP inc GST

   $1,155 to $1,225

   Vehicles

   8 models, 28 solutions

   Add

   Safeclamp Ladder Clamp Pair $375

   Add

   Double Roller Bracket And Rollers $270

   Shop Commercial Max
3. 
   On a canopy

   Oval Steel canopy rack

   Zinc electroplated steel, powder coated, made as combination and canopy racks for ARB classic, Ascent and EGR canopies on the Ranger, HiLux, D-MAX, BT-50, Triton, Navara, Colorado and Amarok. Ladders mount with the Commercial Max and Oval Steel Safeclamp ladder clamp pair and roller brackets.

   Rating

   100 kg dynamic (350 kg static) on most fitments, 100% off-road

   Warranty

   5 years (3 years on 4)

   RRP inc GST

   $2,675

   Vehicles

   8 models, 33 solutions

   Add

   Safeclamp Ladder Clamp Pair $375

   Add

   Single Roller Bracket And Roller $190

   Shop Oval Steel
4. 
   Short, light ladders

   Trade Max crossbars on the cab

   Crossbar kits at a lower price than a platform, with a lower rating. On a ute they mount on the cab roof, so they suit a short ladder that fits the roof length. Add a roller kit for loading. Trade Max crossbar kits do not include a wind deflector.

   Rating

   50, 70 or 100 kg dynamic (175, 245 or 350 kg static), 100% off-road

   Warranty

   5 years

   RRP inc GST

   $305 to $1,175

   Vehicles

   10 models, 15 solutions

   Add

   Single Roller Kit To Suit Trade Max Bar $190

   Shop Trade Max

Ute ladder racks by range

The Technician ladder rack is the other Wedgetail ladder option; see Technician. Like Trade Max crossbar kits, it does not include a wind deflector; every other Wedgetail rack does.

Wedgetail Trade ute fitments

The row with no vehicle is the Wedgetail Trade service body combination kit for an extra cab, made for a Caddy Storage service body rather than one ute model.

Why the canopy or service body, not the cab

A ladder is usually longer than a ute cab roof. On a canopy or service body rack it sits over the tray, supported along its length and loaded from the rear or side, and the cab roof stays free. A cab roof rack suits a ladder short enough to fit the roof, and the vehicle maker's cab roof limit applies as well as the rack rating. On a canopy, the canopy maker's rating also applies; the lower figure wins. Canopy mount or cab mount covers the trade off.

How to choose

• EGR Gen 2 canopy on a D-MAX RT or BT-50 Gen 3, or a Caddy Storage service body: Wedgetail Trade with the ladder lock kit.
• Caddy Storage service body on another ute: Commercial Max, or the Wedgetail Trade service body combination kit for an extra cab.
• ARB, Ascent or EGR canopy: an Oval Steel combination or canopy rack. A canopy not on the Wedgetail list (ARB, EGR Gen 2, Maxliner Venture, RSI Evo, Utemaster Centurion, Ascent) is not fitted.
• Short ladder, no canopy: Trade Max crossbars on the cab.
• Ladder plus conduit or pipe: a platform, with the ladder on one side and a conduit carrier on the other. Wedgetail Trade vs Commercial Max vs Trade Max compares the trade ranges.

Securing the ladder

On Wedgetail Trade the ladder lock kit holds the ladder to the platform; how to use the ladder lock kit walks through it. The Technician adaption kit adds buffers and side straps. Whatever the rack, how to strap a ladder to a roof rack covers straps, locks and clamps, and check your state's rules on how far a load may overhang.

If you searched for a Tradesman ladder rack

Wedgetail is a brand created by Tradesman Roof Racks Pty Ltd, and Commercial Max, Oval Steel and Trade Max are sub brands under Wedgetail, so a Tradesman ladder rack today is one of the ranges on this page. For vans see the van ladder rack guide, and for every kind of tradie ute rack see best roof rack for a tradie ute.

Kia Tasman

For the Kia Tasman dual cab the product data lists a Wedgetail Adventure platform and a Trade Max crossbar kit on the cab, and no canopy or service body kit. See the Kia Tasman guide.

Video

Questions people ask

What is the best ladder rack for a ute?

A Wedgetail Trade platform with the ladder lock kit on an EGR Gen 2 canopy or Caddy Storage service body, where it is listed for your ute. Otherwise Commercial Max on a service body or an Oval Steel combination or canopy rack on an ARB, Ascent or EGR canopy.

Should the ladder rack go on the cab or the canopy?

The canopy or service body for most ladders, because the ladder then sits over the tray and the cab roof stays free. A cab rack suits a ladder short enough to fit the roof. See canopy mount or cab mount.

Which ladder accessories fit?

On Wedgetail Trade: the ladder lock kit, the Technician ladder slide adaption kit and ladder buffers. On Commercial Max and Oval Steel: the Safeclamp ladder clamp pair and roller brackets. On Trade Max: the single roller kit.

Is a wind deflector included?

Yes on Wedgetail Trade, Commercial Max and Oval Steel racks. Trade Max crossbar kits and the Technician ladder rack do not include one.

Do I need a canopy for a ute ladder rack?

Not always. A Caddy Storage service body takes Commercial Max or Wedgetail Trade, a listed canopy takes Wedgetail Trade or Oval Steel, and Trade Max crossbars go on the cab with no canopy. See tub rack or roof rack for an open tub.

What load rating and warranty?

Each fitment has one dynamic rating, shown on the pick cards, and it holds 100% off-road; static is 3.5 x dynamic. Warranty is 5 years on Wedgetail Trade, 5 years on most Trade Max kits, 5 years on most Oval Steel and 1 year on Commercial Max.

Where is it fitted near me?

At any of the 134 Wedgetail stockists, which all sell and fit, or at the factory, 7-9 Newcastle Road, Bayswater VIC 3153, Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm. See where to buy.