If you need to transport things like building materials, boats or construction equipment, then having a ladder rack over the bed of your pick-up truck can prove invaluable. Such racks also add to your vehicle's aerodynamic drag, however, plus they can get in the way when loading certain cargo items, and they make your truck look like ... well, like a work truck. That's why Donny McCall invented the Invis-A-Rack. It's an aluminum ladder rack that can reportedly support up to 500 pounds (227 kg) when in use, but that folds away in seconds when not needed.
The Invis-A-Rack installs on a truck's existing bed rails using an integrated clamping system and theft resistant bolts. According to the manufacturer, one person can manage the task in about ten minutes, without having to do any drilling. It consists of four main housings, which the rack components quickly fold up and out of when it's load-carryin' time. The system also includes utility boxes, for storing bungee cords and cinching straps.
The rack is compatible with a fairly wide range of American and Japanese trucks, which are listed on the company website. The Invis-A-Rack is available in six- and eight-foot (1.8 and 2.4 meter) long models, both of which are priced at US$699.95. Accessories including bike holders, canoe and kayak mounts, and front and rear extension arms are in the works.
To see how the system works, see the video below.
Your step-dad is a carpenter, but obviously not an architect or engineer.
You\'d surprised what just an open(expanded)metal ramp-gate on a trailer can do.
My friend called me the other day and was amazed with the mileage drop he was experiencing bringing a little flatbed back across the country.
I told him to take the ramp-gate off and lay it down.
He did and his mileage went back up to right at normal.
On the highway, I have run trucks both ways and aerodynamic drag is far worse than weight(of course!).
I\'m sure that this pays for itself pretty quick if you do much highway driving, especially compared to the over-the-cab models.
With fuel costs going up, every MPG counts.