Help!

I have an E-250 service van with a ladder rack installed.

From day #1 when the van gets up to speed.

The roof viberates loudly. Sounds like a combination of driving on the rumble strips of the berm, and sawing thru paneling with a sabre saw.

Not a wind whistling sound.

I have tried loosening the ladder rack, tightening the rack, installed a piece of rubber on the rack mount between the rack and the roof lip. Loaded with one ladder, two ladders and no ladder, no overall change...

I tried duct tape on the leading edge of the front crossbar... no change

Currently driving with earplugs, so I am OPEN for Suggestions!

Thanks,
M2racing

 

...Welcome to Ford Truck Enthusiasts!

See you on the boards. ….

 

Try taking the rack completely off. If that helps then I'd suggest taking a good look at the rack for rust holes. We have a very nice rack that does not make noise, but it's an expensive one. Two bars and mounts are over $300. The other thing to look for is make sure there aren't "grip strips" on the roof. I had a '92 that someone had put them on and they would make noise at highway speeds.

 

THX pfogle
No Rust.

Brand Spanking NEW.
It done it on the way home from the dealer, I should have turned around and took it back.

 

Basically it is drag ripping the van apart at speed because the roof rack is not aerodynamic. That "noise" can actually pop spot welds on the body members. The better quality roof racks are not square tubing as on a truck, but, round tubing with wedge shaped runners. What you might try is lowering it so it is closer to the roof.

 

Here is the ladder rack, it does not have the hydra lift it is the standard lift.

http://www.masterack.com/htm/slidedownladder.htm

I spoke with a rep. at Leggett & Platt and ge had never heard of this problem.

 

You should not be having problems with that ladder rack. Have you tried to drive without it installed to see what happens. Is it possible, a part or the whole rack is on backwards, don't discount that possibility. I have watched drunk people install them and one guy practically totaled a brand new Escort.

 

try having someone in the rear of van put pressure on the inside to see if the bond between the skin and support beams are broken
this may be the noise and be agravated by the tubulance
caused by the new racks

 

FOUND IT !!!

YEAH!!!

I parked next to another E250 yesterday, asked the driver

I: "Do you have a loud noise with your ladder rack?"
He replied, " Not now, and it ain't your ladder rack."

I: "Oh yeah, well what is making the noise?"
He: "Have you had the windshield replaced?"

I: "No, It's brand new and has made the noise from day one."
He: "I had that problem after I had the windshield replaced. They didn't seat the rubber gasket around the window in fully, and part of it was loose along the top. I see on yours the same thing."

I: "No that's not it, It's comming from the center of the roof and sounds like it is going to rip off."
He: "I'll bet you a 100 bucks that is it"

We pressed the gasket into place and I was off.

Now I owe somebody a 100 bucks.

Thanks, Everyone for thier Help.
M2Racing

 

Wow, great story and easy solution. :-)