Buying guide
Van roof rack buying guide: platforms, bars and ladder racks
Short answer
Pick by roof height, wheelbase and what you carry: Trade Max bars for light loads, Wedgetail Trade or Commercial Max platforms for ladders, conduit and pipe, with fit methods matched to each van (OE holes, rails, fixed points). Wedgetail Trade is rated 100 or 150 kg dynamic per fitment, Commercial Max 100 or 150 kg dynamic and Trade Max 50 or 100 kg dynamic on most kits, all 100% off-road rated. Warranty is 5 years on Wedgetail Trade, 5 years on most Trade Max kits and 1 year on Commercial Max.
Facts from Wedgetail product data, updated .
- Light loads
- Trade Max bars, $230 to $1,400
- Ladders, conduit, pipe
- Wedgetail Trade or Commercial Max platform
- Fit
- Matched per van: OE holes, rails, fixed points
- Off-road
- 100% of the rating
Bars, platform or ladder rack
| Option | Suits | Build | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trade Max crossbars | Light loads, ladders on slides | Powder coated aluminium with glass reinforced nylon, or zinc plated steel on rail mount kits | One to four bar kits; no wind deflector |
| Wedgetail Trade platform | Ladders, conduit, pipe and mixed tools | Powder coated aluminium with glass reinforced nylon | Ladder lock, conduit carrier and beacon plate accessories |
| Commercial Max platform | Ladders, conduit, pipe, abrasive daily loads | Galvanised steel, powder coated | Roller, conduit, ladder clamp and boat roller accessories |
| Technician ladder rack | Ladder loading | See the Technician page | No wind deflector |
| Wedgetail Adventure platform | Touring and camper vans | Powder coated aluminium with glass reinforced nylon | Van hexmesh panel and light bar accessories |
The three trade ranges are compared in detail in the tradie roof rack buying guide and Wedgetail Trade vs Commercial Max vs Trade Max.
Roof height and wheelbase
Van racks are listed per wheelbase (SWB, MWB, LWB, SLWB) and roof height (low, mid or high roof), because the platform length and the mount points change with both. A LWB high roof Sprinter and a SWB low roof Sprinter take different racks. Check the badge or the compliance plate before you order, then find the fitment in Find My Vehicle.
Installed platform height is not published yet. If the van has to clear a car park or garage, measure from the roof to the top of the platform rails on a fitted rack.
How the rack attaches to the van
| Fit method | What it means | Drilling |
|---|---|---|
| Bolted to OE holes | Bolts to the van's factory mounting holes | No |
| Fixed points | Attaches to the van's fixed roof mounting points | No |
| Rail utilising OEM fixtures | Rails attach to the factory fixing points | No |
| Rails on OE tracks | Rails sit on the factory roof tracks | No |
| Gutter mount | Feet clamp to the rain gutters on older vans | No |
| Drilled rail mount or rails bolted to roof | Rails bolt through the roof where there are no factory points | Yes |
| Rivets | Rails are riveted to the roof | Yes |
The fit method is listed on each solution. For the mount types in general, see gutter mount vs track mount vs fixed points vs factory rails.
Load, warranty and price
Wedgetail Trade is rated 100 or 150 kg dynamic depending on the van, Commercial Max 100 or 150 kg dynamic and Trade Max 50 or 100 kg dynamic on most kits. Static is 3.5 x dynamic, and every rating holds 100% off-road. The van maker's roof limit also applies, so use the lower figure.
Prices are RRP inc GST: Trade Max $230 to $1,400, Wedgetail Trade $1,795 to $2,570 and Commercial Max $1,155 to $5,200. Warranty is set per solution:
| Range | Warranty | Exceptions | Solutions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial Max | 1 year | 5 years on 1 solution | 211 |
| Oval Steel | 5 years | 3 years on 6 solutions | 143 |
| Trade Max | 5 years | 3 years on 2 solutions | 72 |
| Wedgetail Adventure | 10 years | 5 years on 1 solution | 139 |
| Wedgetail Core | 3 years | Same on every solution | 11 |
| Wedgetail Trade | 5 years | Same on every solution | 60 |
Ladders and conduit
- Wedgetail Trade: ladder lock kit, ladder strap kit, Technician ladder slide adaption kit and the 150 mm top mount conduit carrier.
- Commercial Max: Safeclamp ladder clamp pair, single or double roller, and 100 mm or 150 mm conduit carriers with caps and three brackets.
- Trade Max: a parallel or tapered ladder slide with roller, and single or double roller kits.
- Beacon plates: top mount or side mount on Wedgetail Trade; standard or offset on Commercial Max.
For a plumber's or electrician's van, see heavy duty roof rack for a plumber's van and best ladder rack for a van.
Van model guides
- Toyota HiAce, Ford Transit Custom, Ford Transit, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, Mercedes-Benz Vito
- Renault Trafic, Renault Master, Renault Kangoo, Volkswagen Transporter, Volkswagen Crafter, Volkswagen Caddy
- Hyundai iLoad, Hyundai Staria, LDV Deliver 9, LDV Deliver 7, LDV G10, Mitsubishi Express, Peugeot Expert, Kia PV5, Iveco Daily
134 stockists sell and fit Wedgetail, and van racks are fitted on site at the factory in Bayswater VIC. See where to buy.
Video
Questions people ask
What do I need to know to pick a van roof rack?
The van's make, model and year, its wheelbase (SWB, MWB, LWB) and roof height, and what you carry: how many ladders, conduit or pipe, and how often you load.
Bars or a platform for a plumber's or electrician's van?
A platform (Wedgetail Trade or Commercial Max) if you carry ladders plus conduit or pipe; Trade Max bars if the load is light or mostly ladders on slides.
Does a van roof rack need drilling?
It depends on the van. Most Wedgetail van racks bolt to factory holes, fixed points or factory fixtures; some use a drilled rail mount or rivets where the van has no factory points. The fit method is listed per solution.
What conduit carrier sizes are there?
100 mm and 150 mm for Commercial Max, and a 150 mm top mount carrier for Wedgetail Trade. Each comes with caps and brackets.
What load can a van rack carry?
The rating listed for that van fitment: Wedgetail Trade 100 or 150 kg dynamic, Commercial Max 100 or 150 kg dynamic, Trade Max 50 or 100 kg dynamic on most kits. The van maker's roof limit also applies.
Is a wind deflector included?
Yes on Wedgetail Trade, Commercial Max and Wedgetail Adventure. Trade Max crossbar kits and the Technician ladder rack do not include one.