Sprinter Van Ladder Mounted Bike Rack: Lolo Racks "Rad Lad" Install on Surco Ladder

The "Rad Lad" ladder mounted bike rack kit from Lolo Racks offers some intriguing functionality - enabling handy folks to convert their rear door ladders into robust bike racks. And the Lolo Racks Rad Lad kit mostly delivers. But being a bit resourceful is definitely required - as we found some custom modification is required.
To be fair, Lolo Racks says this right on the site - the "Rad Lad" isn't customized for every adventure van ladder everywhere. Its made to be generic and so users should expect some required custom modification. And also to be fair, perhaps the Surco ladder we installed on our Sprinter Van isn't the ladder Lolo Racks had in mind when designing the kit. But I still found the improperly sized bolts and lack of nyloc nuts a little annoying. Overall though, the Lolo Racks Rad Lad, ladder mounted bike rack kit is effective and once we got everything worked out I am pretty stoked with the finished/installed product.
Because we used the Surco ladder, which only bolts at the bottom and clips over the door frame on the top, we had to do quite a bit of extra modifications. We added additional bracing to our Surco ladder at the top for additional stability - certainly a weakness in the Surco Ladder, not the Lolo Racks. Once the extra bracing was installed, the ladder felt much more robust, both with bikes mounted and just for regular climbing - so this feels almost like a 'must do mod' for the ladder itself. And definitely a must-do modification (or something like it) if installing Lolo Racks Rad Lad on a Surco ladder.
Links to products:
Lolo Racks Rad Lad: loloracks.com/collections/bik...
Surco Ladder: www.surcoinc.com/Van/Van_Ladd...
U-Bolts: McMaster-Carr Part # 8889T33
www.mcmaster.com/catalog/128/...

[@danielwilson1045]

Genius move with the backing plate to hold down the top of the ladder! I've got the same problem

[@PointsUnknownTV]

Yeah. Learned the hard way, but the fix is holding up well.

[@LoloRacksUSA]

We have since updated the lower bar to be easier to install and have changed the U bolt system and hardware. Install the driver's side bike first, then the other bike. We don't recommend the surco ladders because of those tiny mounting points on top but your plate backer makes it better. Let me know if you want to try the newer equipment.

[@PointsUnknownTV]

Thanks for the updated info. Agreed, I am not super impressed with the SURCO ladder for this application, but price and local availability made it the go-to choice. And with the added reinforcement I feel that it's pretty solid (most of the movement is the door panel sheet metal at the base, top is rock solid). Just completed a couple thousand mile road trip with the bikes, including some pretty rough roads and the system worked great. Overall I am very pleased with the system, as modified.

[@TomFitton]

Any feedback on if there is any wear on the bikes from using this system? I.e. do the handlebars get any rubbing?

[@PointsUnknownTV]

The handlebars do rub in the mounts, but I don't think I'd classify it as "wear". It will eventually rub the coating off (in 100,000 miles or so) - but I'm not worried about it wearing through the metal.

[@TomFitton]

@@PointsUnknownTV thanks!

[@patmosca9925]

Can you open your right-hand side door with the bikes loaded? Thanks

[@PointsUnknownTV]

Great question and no. Once the bikes are loaded both rear doors have to be opened simultaneously (carefully), to access stuff in the back of the van. And it's quite tricky to close them again - but doable. .

[@fleetgt]

He could move the crossbar over or move the handlebar mount to clear the right door easily. The hooks don't need to be at the ends of the bars.

[@PointsUnknownTV]

That's a good point - for initial installation I put the bikes far apart, to balance the weight on the ladder and make loading and unloading bikes easier. But I'll look at squeezing the bikes together a bit more to see if I can get the handlebars to clear the right side door, without making loading impossible. Thanks!

[@fleetgt]

@@PointsUnknownTV sounds good. 10.5" from first hook bolt to next first hook bolt is the dense spacing.

[@PointsUnknownTV]

Yup. Lolo Racks was right. Moved the rack over (12" bolt to bolt) and everything fits perfect. Right side door can now open with two bikes on.👍🚲 🚲 👍