earbrass Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 I bought a new 2014 a week ago. I live in Hawaii and intend to put a roof rack on to carry surfboards and my outrigger canoe. However, I learned that the only rack available is designed to mount on the Transit Connect roof side rails, which I don't have. I further learned (unhappily) that Ford wants more than $600 apiece for the rails, which strikes me as price gouging. It is a strip of metal with bolts. How expensive can that be to make? Further, why sell the rails separately? It's not as if you can do anything with only one of them. So, in order for me to have a surf rack I must first pay about $1300 to get the rails, then several hundred more for a rack.Does anybody have any suggestions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SHEP Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 Try American van , They have some options. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
windguy Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 @earbrass - welcome to the forum. congrats on your new van. please share a pic when you have a chance. Do you have a van or wagon? Which island are you on? Regarding roof racks, I feel your pain. I scoped this out before ordering and your estimated costs are spot on. Pricing is absurd. I also have the need to occasionally but boards and gear on top so I'm looking for a good option. I was pissed I couldn't add this option when ordering a van model. See the link below for a discussion on roof racks on this forum http://fordtransitconnectforum.com/topic/2406-roof-attachment-points-on-2014-transit-connect/ Below is the link to the company I think SHEP is referring to. http://www.americanvan.com/ladder-racks/full-size-van?p=2 Also Try Vantech http://www.vantech.us/J-Series_c21.htm Most of the ladder type racks I've seen so far are for Gen 1 TC's but I haven't looked in a while. Please keep us posted on what you find. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bikinchris Posted January 15, 2015 Share Posted January 15, 2015 (edited) You could look for a ladder rack. They are not very high priced. I am waiting for either Thule or Yakima to wake up and make an adapter to mount their rack on a TC. It's a piece that should take about an hour to engineer and cost a few cents to make. Edited January 15, 2015 by bikinchris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertlane Posted January 15, 2015 Share Posted January 15, 2015 Ford isn't alone in the pricing of the rails. On the Dodge Grand Caravan, you cannot add factory roof racks after the fact - they have to be factory installed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob248 Posted April 20, 2015 Share Posted April 20, 2015 The Ford dealer would charge about $520 per rail [$1040 for the pair] for my 2014 TC Van. It's the same roof rail available as factory option for the TC Wagon only, not the van. And the dealer would not install the rails, because they wouldn't remove and re-install the headliner. At American Van, I ordered Van-Tech "Universal Roof Track" - 6' length, for $180/pair, [also available in 4' and 5']. Installation was $150. Total for roof track w tax and installation parts $356. The rails fit in the groove of the roof. The installer had to drill new holes for the roof track, factory holes didn't match the track. Then buy Thule Podium Foot Pack #460, and Thule Fit Kit 3101, and Thule Bars [make sure the foot pack is square or round to march the cross bars]. Just installed the Thule rack today, fits the rail perfectly. Ready for windsurfing, SUP, and saved plenty of moolah. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G B L Posted April 21, 2015 Share Posted April 21, 2015 Nice Job. Looks like that will be my Rack solution Hope the Wind Surfing is great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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