Ladder/Cargo Rack vs. Original Rack Question

[MikeNN]

Hello. I'm new here & have no idea if this is the right place for this question, but here goes.....

I have a 1994, 4 door Explorer that has the original factory installed luggage rack. Said rack states it can hold 100 pounds

My problem? I want to carry a boat that weighs 140 pounds

My question? Does anyone have any idea if the original rack is capable of safely carrying 140 pounds, or are those weight limits set in stone?

Also, does anyone have any idea if there's a ladder rack that fits my particular make & year?

Thanks in advance for any help

 

[boggs1227]

well if that rateing is for just 2 racks ( front and rear) then goto a junk yard and buy another rear ( adjustable type) rack .put one in the middle of the roof evenlly spaced from the other 2 and that should distribute the 140lb of weight better . or hell go buy another one and have a total of 4 racks on the roof .

i bought 2 (adjustable rear type rack) from pull-a-part for like $ 20 ( $10 each) re-painted them with fusion flat black .

 

[solitary ogre]

this is what i did for my 2 kayaks each weigh about 60 pounds.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=240189

 

[MikeNN]

Just thought of something.....

I can just take the crossbars off & lay the boat directly on the roof of the vehicle. The roof should easily hold 140 pounds, right?

 

[Willard]

Just thought of something.....

I can just take the crossbars off & lay the boat directly on the roof of the vehicle. The roof should easily hold 140 pounds, right?

No, you really need something between the roof and what you are carrying. The whole idea of the roof rack is transfer the load to the sides of the roof where it is strong rather than have it in the middle.

140 pounds may be a bit much. I had a 20' aluminum extension ladder on mine (~50lbs. max) and it was starting to flex some.

And I do have a little experience about the strength of the roof itself too...at a party once there was about 5 girls dancing on top of my explorer, successfully bending the roof all the way in. It popped out when they got off, except the headliner didn't But hey, the bent headliner was worth it

 

[MikeNN]

Thanks Willard & everyone else who responded

But, remember, this is a boat, it will extend beyond both sides of my Explorer a few inches. It's not dead weight on one spot. It's distributed in a 12 foot long, 56 inch wide boat. The weight will actually sit on the sides of the Explorer with no weight sitting in the middle

I'm thinking of putting a rubber mat like "thing" on top then lay the boat on top of that & strap it down

What do you guys think?

 

[Willard]

I say if you want to try it, see if it feels good to you. If it doesn't, do something else. But it would be worth a try.

I did kind of forget about it being a boat. The only thing I would worry about it my paint under it, but you said something about a mat so that will take care of that.