How to make an informed decision on buying or building your own glass transport rack.
Purchasing: Commercially made glass transport racks come with a price tag that reflects the material used such as aluminum or steel, design features, and manufacturing costs. While the initial cost might seem higher, manufactured racks are often more cost-effective in the long run due to durability for repeated use and less need for modification from job-to-job.
Building Your Own: Building your own glass transport racks may seem to be a cost-saving option initially as it allows you to control expenses by sourcing materials and assembling them yourself. But hidden costs such as time spent on design, modifications for differing sized sheets of glass, sourcing appropriate materials, and labor often add up, potentially building the rack yourself more expensive in the long run.
Purchasing: Opting to purchase ready-made glass transport racks saves valuable time and labor costs. Engineered commercial glass racks are designed for efficiency and ease of use, requiring minimal assembly or customization before they can be put to work. Some manufacturers will even install them for you. This lets glaziers focus their efforts on core business activities rather than using valuable time and resources to design and build glass transport racks.
Building Your Own: Building your own transport rack(s) demands a significant investment of time and labor. From designing the rack, procuring materials, and assembling and installing the final product, the do-it-yourself approach can be time-consuming and costly while becoming a distraction that takes away from other essential tasks and projects.
Purchasing: Ready-made glass transport racks are engineered to meet industry standards for quality and durability when it comes to transporting valuable pieces of glass using a van or pickup truck. Manufacturers often use high-grade materials such as aluminum extrusions and commercially made rubber padding along with precision engineering techniques to ensure each rack is strong enough to transport glass safely and without damage. Additionally, purchased racks are built to withstand the elements while requiring no maintenance. Ready-made glass racks typically come with warranties, offering peace of mind to contractors regarding their investment.
Building Your Own: The quality and durability of a do-it-yourself transport rack can vary widely depending on the skill of the builder and the materials used. While most contractors probably have the skills to construct level, sturdy racks, many necessary features such as padding, load securement, and installation require access to specialized parts, equipment, and manufacturing processes. Commercial manufacturers have an edge because they draw knowledge from years of experience building racks for glass.
Purchasing: Off-the-shelf glass racks offer built-in customization and adaptability to satisfy a wide range of transport needs. Including a choice of rack sizes to accommodate different sized sheets, securement options, accessories, and features allowing contractors to select the most suitable solution for their needs. Purchased racks are often designed to be compatible with shop carts and dollies and equipment such as forklifts or cranes, enhancing their usefulness between the shop and jobsite.
Building Your Own: Building your own glass rack provides the opportunity for complete customization to meet specific requirements. Glaziers can tailor the design, dimensions, and features of the rack according to their preferences and the unique demands of each project. However, achieving the same level of adaptability as commercially available glass racks may require extensive design and engineering expertise.
Purchasing: Most glass racks, like the ones we build, undergo rigorous testing to ensure optimal safety standards, guaranteeing that glass is securely transported with the minimal risk of accidents or injuries. Additionally, purchased racks comply with industry safety regulations, offering glaziers peace of mind regarding their team's well-being. Professional installation of the rack, or at least vehicle specific hardware further reinforces safety, as it ensures proper attachment of the rack to the vehicle, minimizing the risk of detachment during transit. Moreover, built-in features such E-track and cargo straps provide an extra layer of protection, safeguarding both the glass and workers from potential damage or accidents.
Building: It’s critical that safety considerations are carefully addressed when building glass transport racks. The weight of the rack and all cargo, including passengers and tools, must not exceed the vehicles GVW and cargo must be secured according to FMCSA regulations. An improperly built rack, or cargo that isn’t secured properly could result in an accident during transport, or worse, injury or death which may leave the owner and/or builder of the rack liable.
Explore the benefits of our premium glass transport racks and make an informed decision.
