Another Van Board Racking System.

Hi Guys,

Just thought that I would share what a mate and I did for a board rack in my LWB hiace.

We used: 12m Galvinized steel pipe (26mm) and 24 clips. Sort of looks like a mini scaffold. Also needed are 4 small steel base plates to weld onto the vertical pipes and then bolt to floor, and 4 U joints though which are welded to the upper internal wall panels.

Dimentions:

verticals: 4 x 1200mm
verticals(board partition): 8 x 747mm
horozintals: 4 x 1200

The vertical rack slots allow for 5 boards 750mm wide and 2 more can go on the top 1450mm total width. I personlally have a hole in the cargo cage to allow for a 3400mm SUP to fit on the top most level.

On the floor 6 sails fit between the wheel arches.

The best thing about using piping and bolts is that its modular and can be readjusted in higher lower and more bars can be added or removed in a matter of minutes as long as you have cut some spares.

The whole thing comes out in 3-5 minutes, but once installed is solid with no rattles.

What I would do differently, or even just to make it even easier is to have hinges of the bases front and back, so it opens to the sides and make the cargo area available, sort of like a gate. Not to hard to do but only go the idea after we installed it. Easy retrofit though.

booms and masts go down the sides out of the way. Might put some hooks on later so its all off the floor.

Still needs padding. I will post final pick with padding and or any changes if I make them.

Here's my version that I did a few years ago, just for those WA trips when you have a rental van. I had a post on here showing it ages ago, but who cares.

My version is immune to rust, and probably a bit cheaper. Not as strong though, for sure.

Any more photos KA360???

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FormulaNova said..

KA360 said..

Here is my version for the windsurf family-no covers,no rust and no tying down needed.Van seats 6 people with plenty of leg room.
Its greatest feature is that the kids are over 2m behind the driver for a peaceful drive.

Man, it'd be great to have a van you can stand up in. How high is that thing!

How do you fit 6 people in? 2 bench seats?

its not a van its a bus

WOW, well done!

I bought it at a Pickles auction in Perth. I knew it was meant to be with the graphics ,the wave with the gust of wind.Got it for $26k with 65,000km +$1k freight to Adelaide and $180 for a flight to pick it up and drive back to Canberra.The following week its brother was up for auction,same graphics but 1 year newer and 50,000km but duel rear wheels.I bid on it too,thinking I could double my money if I bought it back to the east coast.I stopped bidding at $27k,it sold for $27,100. I later sold the wheelchair hoist for $1500.
I have had it for over a year now and still can't believe its mine.

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Mark _australia said..

Jermaldan, ingenious as we all seem to go flat racks. I like it
Only suggestion - screw a bit of vacuum hose on each bolt protrusion. One day you will climb in and cop it...or wettie / rashie etc catches on it

Yeah, I am planning on making up up some padding using some foam, cable ties and duct tape. I was thinking of covering the screws with a rubber bot cap.

Currently there are 5 gaps, but once I pad the poles and fit all the boards Ill get a better idea on the space required to have the boards in without bags. I will then just use a maillot and knock it across so there's a snug fit. I will only really know once all the boards are in. I think I will get 6 in at the end of the day.

Akim, that van is awesome and the way you have angled the boards is genius! I am now wondering how much space that potentially saves.

Total cost materials is around $250 assuming you have access to a friendly welder that can weld the clips in.

Most metal engineering places will be able to provide offcuts and all the necessary parts needed, including cutting the pipes to size. This will take them 10 minutes total. They can also supply clips as well. Speak to the boss and say you will pay cash. The welding is a little more time consuming so they may not be interested in doing that. That said, they may feel this could be something one of their apprentices might be able to do to practice their welding. It will all depend on how reasonable they are.

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KA360 said...
I bought it at a Pickles auction in Perth. I knew it was meant to be with the graphics ,the wave with the gust of wind.Got it for $26k with 65,000km +$1k freight to Adelaide and $180 for a flight to pick it up and drive back to Canberra.The following week its brother was up for auction,same graphics but 1 year newer and 50,000km but duel rear wheels.I bid on it too,thinking I could double my money if I bought it back to the east coast.I stopped bidding at $27k,it sold for $27,100. I later sold the wheelchair hoist for $1500.
I have had it for over a year now and still can't believe its mine.

Better than porn. Is it a LWB SPRINTER?

What's the space measurement between the verticals?

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KA360 said..

keef said..


its not a van its a bus

It was a bus for the handicapped, now its my sportscar, my windsurfing limo.

.....so it's still a bus for the handicapped

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theDoctor said..

KA360 said..

keef said..


its not a van its a bus

It was a bus for the handicapped, now its my sportscar, my windsurfing limo.

.....so it's still a bus for the handicapped

Well, certainly not handicapped by choice! Although I suspect there's not enough room left for a kite though... its pretty full.

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jermaldan said..

Carantoc said..


That is a lot of work to hold one board, one sail, one mast and one boom.

Couldn't you just have bought a Nissan Micra ?

Given that there is no emotion to indicate seriousness I will provide a serious response. I only used that gear to size the gaps at the workshop. Once I pad it all up I will put the rest of the gear in.

I wasn't going to say anything, but I thought that after paying for that boom, you could only afford the one sail, mast and board.

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FormulaNova said..

jermaldan said..

Carantoc said..


That is a lot of work to hold one board, one sail, one mast and one boom.

Couldn't you just have bought a Nissan Micra ?

Given that there is no emotion to indicate seriousness I will provide a serious response. I only used that gear to size the gaps at the workshop. Once I pad it all up I will put the rest of the gear in.

I wasn't going to say anything, but I thought that after paying for that boom, you could only afford the one sail, mast and board.

Yeah the boom hurt... a lot!

just remember no van is complete without a longboard........

I'm going to compete with Formula Nova for the light-weight racking system. Nothing slows a van down like excess weight. The racks are made from 19 by 42mm pine with glued and screwed plywood gussets. After the glue set I removed the screws. The whole rack system weighs less than a Tabou Rocket. Longboards? Once I get those chaps on I can fit a longboard in in about 3 seconds

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Ian K said..

I'm going to compete with Formula Nova for the light-weight racking system. Nothing slows a van down like excess weight. The racks are made from 19 by 42mm pine with glued and screwed plywood gussets. After the glue set I removed the screws. The whole rack system weighs less than a Tabou Rocket. Longboards? Once I get those chaps on I can fit a longboard in in about 3 seconds

Ahhh, Ian, you didn't take note of my flimsy cheap light weight construction method!

Some electrical conduit and 6 lengths of pine. I figured I could even make a replica in Rockingham Bunnings next time. My mates will probably try it next trip to WA, because I unfortunately lost/left behind the last one. It needed replacing anyway as interference fit conduit in timber works, (with screws as well!) until you need to pull it apart again! Next version gets slightly bigger speedbores so I can pull the thing apart again.

I only resorted to this 'travel rack' because when you get 3 guys sharing a hire van, all the equipment gets dumped on top of mine! This way you can fit in 6 boards, a bunch of sails, booms, masts, and other odds and ends, and my stuff still doesn't get crushed.

I would swap it for KA360s van though... or even Jermaldan's ;)