WEATHER GUARD® Improves Ladder Rack Systems for Better On-the-Job Performance

Crystal Lake, IL – Knaack LLC announces improvements to the design of its roof-mounted ladder rack equipment used on commercial vans and minivans. The new design features enhance the unit’s durability while making it safer and easier for one person to load, transport, and unload ladders, as well as other oversized items carried on the roof racks. The design modifications pertain to the WEATHER GUARD® Quick Clamp Ladder Rack and the Nissan NV Ladder Rack units.

Improvements to the Quick Clamp Ladder Rack include modifications to the mounting plates and the front rails to protect ladders when loading and unloading; beefing-up the clamp mechanism for added strength and longer life; and improved engineering of the gas springs with a tougher exterior case to withstand wear, and internal brass bushings that prevent strip-out. The improved models are now available for both full-size vans and minivans. Key attributes of the Quick Clamp Ladder Rack include:

• Ladder Hooks on the front end of the side rails have been extended and angled outward for easier loading of ladders in tight places
• Long lasting design utilizes 3/16″ extruded aluminum rails, and stainless steel gutter clamps and hardware
  •      Anti-wear protection on clamps helps protect ladders during transport
• Adjustable sway braces for easy ladder change out
• WEATHER GUARD® Van Solutions trademarked RED TIPS show the world that you work with the highest quality equipment available

The design modifications to the Nissan NV Ladder Rack pertain to the EZ-GLIDE® System in order to improve weight distribution that meets current Nissan requirements. The EZ-GLIDE® System allows for one-person loading and unloading of ladders with the use of an ergonomic drive arm. A hydraulic cylinder provides a smooth, quiet, and effortless descent and a zero-impact drop that reduces noise and equipment wear. The improved models are now available for both standard height vans and high-roof vans. A video demonstration of this mechanism and other Nissan NV storage options can be viewed at:  http://www.weatherguard.com/van_storage_equipment/van_nissan_solution.php

Given the significance of these design and performance improvements, part numbers have changed as follows:

Quick Clamp Ladder Racks                                                  

Old #                            New #

Single Quick Clamp Rack Mini                223-3                            223-3-01

Dual Quick Clamp Rack Mini                  224-3                            224-3-01

Accessory Cross Member                      233-3                            233-3-01

Single Quick Clamp Rack                       234-3                            234-3-01

Dual Quick Clamp Rack                         236-3                            236-3-01

Quick Clamp Ladder Rack Replacement Parts

                                                                        Old #                            New #

Gas spring                                            856                               856-01

Passenger side handle                          7577-3                          7577-3-01

Driver side handle                                 7578-3                          7578-3-01

Passenger side rail                                7830-3                          7830-3-01

Driver side rail                                       7831-3                          7831-3-01

Driver side rear rail                                7833-3                          7833-3-01

Passenger side rear rail                         7835-3                          7835-3-01

Nissan NV Ladder Rack

                                                                        Old #                            New #

EZ-GLIDE® System (standard)              261-3-01                        261-3-02

EZ-GLIDE® System (high-roof)              262-3-01                        262-3-02

Adaptor Kit                                           32-8944             2507