I was looking at the instructions (http://www.roverparts.com/Instructio...adder_8-13.cfm)that came with the roof-rack ladder that I bought from atlantic british and it is NOT calling for rivets or bolts. It just says to drill a pilot hole and screw what looks like sheet metal screws directly into the back hatch. What are your thoughts on this? Am I fine with just the screws or should I rig up some bolts? I have never used a rivet gun before so I don't know the pros and cons on that method... Any advice would be appreciated!

 

My van has a rear ladder and it is simply scewed in with sheetmetal screws. No problems with it after a couple years and some VERY heavy loads going up and down it.

 

Assuming that the Non-oem is the same as oem from an installationstandpoint, then you should be fine using the sheetmetal screws. I did mine that way it is very solid, and I just used a regular power drill. Just be sure it is perfectly lined up before you do it because once its in, ITS IN!

 

I've never seen how one of these is installed, but it looks like there is a bracket at the top of the ladder that fits over the top of the door and the screws just keep it from moving around. If that's the case thenit looks like it should hold just fine even without any screws in there. SoI say screw it , no bolts needed.

 

mmm, using sheet metal screws instead of rivnuts and bolts...........not my idea of a solid fixing, but each to their own.

 

I went ahead and mounted it and it looks like it will remain solid... didn't take long at all. Thanks for all the feedback!