Roof rack help

Those of you with the stock roof rack? Does the rear bar go far enough back that I could lean a ladder on it then on the back tailgate. I have transported na large ladder on the roof with some towels between it and the paint but I it still dented a little . Would the roof rack sit far enough back to help?

Below is how it has been done in the past

 

Could just make a support out of 2x4 for cheap

 

and put it in for a temporary thing. not a bad idea

 

I think it would help. The roof rack bars go across probably 4-6 inches I would say from the edge. You could get those surfboard pads that velcro on them too. The bad thing is the roof racks are expensive. The wood support would be way cheaper. I would also be concerned about the height too with the roof rack. Idk if it is tall enough to have the ladder off of the roof. I would have to go out and look at my truck to see.

 

Buy the roof rack and just mount the whole ladder on it. Never mind the tailgate.

 

Ladder rack from harbor freight

 

The factory roof rack will not help you in that situation. I carry a 28 foot extension ladder and they do no good.
A suggestion; don't load the ladder with the tailgate down. With the tailgate up, the front of the ladder isn't sticking up so high.

 

With the tailgate up the ladder will rest on the tailgate and roof rack.