Aluminess.

Just FYI… I got your name from Greg White @ Sportsmobile West (Fresno, CA). I am working with Greg on the outfitting of my 2007 Ford E350 EB van. One of the key options that I would like is the Aluminess full size Safari Rack (mounted to the Penthouse Top). I have seen at least one other Ford van with this option… and I am hooked. For your rack to work in my specific case, however, there are a few modifications to consider (listed below in detail). The basic design elements of this rack must support two 19’ sea kayaks, two Kyocera solar panels, five integrated work lights, and one rear mounted video camera system.

I would like to understand the following:

1. Can I order one of your full size Safari Racks with the following modifications (below)?
2. What is the estimated cost of such a rack?
3. Can Sportsmobile take delivery of this rack before the end of July?
4. May I get you and Greg (g.white@sportsmobile.com) to collaborate together in order to fulfill this order?

Here are my specifics:

1. Full size Aluminess Safari Rack (2007 Ford, EB, mounted to Sportsmobile Penthouse Top).
2. Color: Black.
3. Material: Aluminium
4. Load: I personally weigh 250 pounds and would like to be able to walk around on the racks deck (specifically, a 'cat walk' down the sides would be optimal).
5. 5 x work lights (integrated into rack, approximate locations shown in yellow on Figure #1). Figure #2 shows the type/style of lights I would like to have (example: shown mounted on a rack Aluminess built for a Dodge Sprinter).
6. 2 x Kyocera Solar Panels mounted side by side toward the front of the vehicle (see Figure #3).
7. 1 x mount for a Voyager AOC130XP Ultra Performance Observation Camera (located at rear, center), see Figure #4.
8. Elevated mounting location for 2 x sea kayaks. Each sea kayak is 19’ long. My intention is to use a Thule 883 Glide and Set kayak carrying system (Figure #5) for each kayak. Each kayak has to clear (ride above) the light bar mounted on the roof of the van (just behind the front windshield). Dimensions for the Baja Designs light bar can be found in Figure #6.

Special Considerations:

Work Lights

Rack mounted 'Work Lights' (approximate locations represented in yellow, below).

Figure #1:

The type/style of 'Work Lights' I am looking for (circled in red below).

Figure #2:

Solar Mounts

I envision that the solar panels will be mounted side-by-side and as far forward as possible and on top of the racks deck. There are three configurations I am considering (each with increasing levels of customization). I need you to help me understand which of these options is most feasible for you to build for me in the time allotted (end of July).

1. Simply attach the solar panels (represented below in red) to the top deck of the safari rack (preferably rubber mounted) and call it good.
   Downside: During times when there are two sea kayaks mounted above each panel, there is not much chance to make use of these solar panels as they will each be in the shadow of the boats.
   
   
2. Attach the solar panels to the safari rack (same general location as above) except attach them to the top deck of the rack via their own independent set of sliding rails or tracks. The idea here is that each solar panel could then be slid outboard from the center-line of the van when the vehicle is parked, potentially allowing for more direct sunlight to reach the solar panels when the kayaks are mounted to the top. Tracks, similar to those used on sailboats (with detents that allow for spring loaded pull tabs to lock in place) is kind of what I had in mind. There may be better track systems… this is just the type of track system I am most familiar with. The side rails that border the safari rack, adjacent to where the solar panels would have to protrude, would obviously have to allow these panels to be extended outboard.
3. Same idea as #2 with one additional modification. This modification would be to hinge each solar panel at the outboard most edge so that when an individual solar panel is fully extended… the side closest to the centerline of the van would extend out just enough to clear the outer rail of the safari rack and then the panel would tilt upward so that the solar panel itself could be aimed (more or less) directly at the sun. A friction or detent lock could be used to hold the solar panel in this orientation. This would maximize the efficiency of the one the solar panel closest to the sun (and the stationary kayaks would not impede overhead or low horizon sunlight).
   
   Figure #3 (general location of solar panels, red, solar mounts, options 2 or 3 above).
   
   

Note: Kyocera solar panel specs (each): Weight 29 lbs. 56"L x 26"W x 2"H

Also Note: If option #1 is selected (hard mounting the panels to the racks deck), I would like the side rails to accomodate for sliding the solar panels outboard at some point in the future. This would mean that the distance between the top and bottom rails in the location next to the solar panels would have to be 'open' enough so that each of the solar panels would clear if they were to actually move direclty outboard.

Rear facing observation camera

I would like to mount a rear facing video camera to the back, center of safari rack. This would be positioned similarly to most larger RVs.

Figure #4 (mount for a Voyager AOC130XP Ultra Performance Observation Camera)

Kayak Mounts

My expectation is that the Thule kayak mounting system is universal enough such that I can install this kayak mounting hardware to the forward and aft portions of the safari rack (via the rack rails). However, there is one foreseeable issue and that will require a special modification to both the front and rear rails. The issue is that each kayak must clear the light bar (mounted directly above the cab at the front windshield). This light bar is roughly 12” tall (from the top of the van roof). This means that the an additional rail (extension) in both the front and the back of the safari rack will be needed to help get the kayaks up above this light bar.

Figure #5 (Thule 883 Glide and Set mount for kayak - front, universal mount)

Figure #6 (Baja Designs, Soltek, 5-Light, light bar, dimensions)

Thanks