Ladder rack apparatus and method

A method of securing a ladder having a plurality of rungs and at least two opposing side rails on a ladder rack, comprising:

• placing a first portion of the ladder on a first rung grip with the first rung grip located adjacent to a first rung of the ladder;
• placing a second portion of the ladder on a second rung grip with the second rung grip located adjacent to a second rung of the ladder, the second rung grip coupled to a movable carriage on the ladder rack;
• moving the carriage with respect to the first rung grip to bring the second rung grip closer to the first rung grip;
• and
• gripping the first and second ladder rungs between the first and second rung grips to secure the ladder on the ladder rack.

A ladder rack for a vehicle having a roof, comprising:

• a ladder pivot;
• an arm coupled for rotation about the ladder pivot;
• a carriage coupled to the arm for sliding movement therealong;
• a first rung grip coupled to the carriage;
• a second rung grip located a distance from the first rung grip, the distance variable to compress at least two rungs of the ladder between the rung grips by sliding the carriage along the arm;
• the arm and the carriage pivotable via the ladder pivot from a stowed position substantially above the roof of the vehicle through an obtuse angle to a loading and unloading position substantially beside the vehicle.

A method for loading a ladder upon a vehicle, comprising:

• loading a first portion of the ladder upon a carriage, the carriage being located substantially between the vehicle and the ladder;
• loading a second portion of the ladder upon a rung grip;
• and
• rotating the carriage from a first position substantially beside the vehicle through an obtuse angle to a second position substantially on top of the vehicle, the ladder in the second position being located substantially between the carriage and the vehicle.