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Why Choose Topper Manufacturing Racks?
What is Galvanizing?
Hot-dip galvanizing (HDG) is the process of coating fabricated steel by immersing it in a bath of molten zinc. There are three fundamental steps in the hot-dip galvanizing process; surface preparation, galvanizing, and inspection (Figure 1).
Surface Preparation
When the fabricated steel arrives at the galvanizing facility, it is hung by wire or placed in a racking system which can be lifted and moved through the process by overhead cranes. The steel then goes through a series of three cleaning steps; degreasing, pickling, and fluxing. Degreasing removes dirt, oil, and organic residues, while the acidic pickling bath will remove mill scale and iron oxide. The final surface preparation step, fluxing, will remove any remaining oxides and coat the steel with a protective layer to prevent any further oxide formation prior to galvanizing. Proper surface preparation is critical, as zinc will not react with unclean steel.
Galvanizing
After surface preparation, the steel is dipped in the molten (830 F) bath of at least 98% zinc. The steel is lowered into the kettle at an angle that allows air to escape from tubular shapes or other pockets, and the zinc to flow into, over, and through the entire piece. While immersed in the kettle, the iron in the steel metallurgically reacts with the zinc to form a series of zinc-iron intermetallic layers and an outer layer of pure zinc.
Inspection
The final step is an inspection of the coating. A very accurate determination of the quality of the coating can be achieved by a visual inspection, as zinc does not react with unclean steel, which would leave an uncoated area on the part. Additionally, a magnetic thickness gauge can be used to verify the coating thickness complies with specification requirements.
Coating Benefits
Hot-dip galvanizing provides a number of benefits to the steel it protects. The metallurgically-bonded zinc-iron alloy layers not only create a barrier between the steel and the environment, but also cathodically protect the steel. The cathodic protection offered by zinc means the galvanized coating sacrifices itself to protect the underlying base steel from corrosion.
The tightly adhered coating, which has bond strength of around 3,600 psi, is also extremely abrasion-resistant, as the intermetallic layers are harder than the base steel (Figure 2). However, even if the coating is damaged, zincs sacrificial action will protect exposed steel up to ¼ inch away.
In addition to the cathodic protection offered by hot-dip galvanizing, there are a few other characteristics of the coating which provide longevity. First, reaction in the galvanizing kettle is a diffusion process, which means the coating grows perpendicular to the surface, ensuring all corners and edges have at least equal thickness to flat surfaces. Furthermore, the complete immersion in the zinc bath provides total coverage of the steel, including the interior of hollow structures.
Finally, the zinc coating naturally develops an impervious layer of corrosion products on the surface, know as the zinc patina. The patina, cathodic protection, complete coverage and all of these other features, provide hot-dip galvanized steel with a long, maintenance-free service life. Thjavascript:void(null);e time to first maintenance for hot-dip galvanized steel can be seen in Figure 3.
Source: Galvanizeit.com
Fit For Your Business: Hard-Working Tundra Upfits.
“If you are in need of a heavy-duty truck rack that will withstand harsh environments, then a Topper Rack might have something for you. Topper Manufacturing Racks are made of high strength steel and are hotdip galvanized after fabrication to provide a rust-free,abrasive-resistant finish. They are one of the most heavy-duty commercial truck racks on the market. Topper Manufacturing offers two types of rack fits for the Toyota Tundra. This is determined by whether the consumer uses a cap over their truck bed or works out of the vehicle without one. Whether seeking a Floor Mount Topper Truck rack or an Over the Cap Topper Truck Rack, the rack is rated for a payload capacity of 750 lbs. Topper Manufacturing Racks are known to outlast the vehicle they are mounted to.”
As seen in Modern Work Truck Solutions – March 2020 Issue.
Why Topper Racks are Galvanized.
STURTEVANT, WI – Topper Manufacturing (www.toppermfg.com), manufacturer of all steel galvanized commercial van and truck racks explain why galvanizing their steel safari type rack is a must.
Topper Manufacturing is a line of commercial all steel van and truck racks and equipment. All Topper Manufacturing products are hot-dip galvanized after fabrication. This is necessary for Topper Manufacturing to guarantee that their product line of racks will outlast the vehicles they are mounted to.
Hot-dip galvanizing is the process of immersing fabricated steel or iron into a kettle of molten zinc. While in the kettle, iron in the steel reacts with the zinc to form a bonded alloy coating. There are major benefits to galvanized steel. All benefits prove true and are the reason that Topper Racks are the strongest rack available in the industry today.
Topper Manufacturing Racks are manufactured with the end benefits of initial low cost and the lowest long term cost. Galvanizing Topper Racks is most often less expensive upon initial purchase than alternative protective coatings. Also, when galvanizing is deemed higher cost initially, the long-term life that galvanizing gives the steel weigh out the initial cost in durability. Topper Manufacturing is able to offer their products at a reasonable purchase price with little to no maintenance in the products life time. Another benefit of using galvanized steel for Topper Racks is that the process is very reliable and predictable in its outcome. Galvanized finish steel is rust free and abrasive resistant. Galvanizing gives steel a life expectancy of 50+ years and provides complete protection because during the process, every part of the item is bonded by the zinc. The complete protection allows for automatic protection of the steel. The steel item can be scratched, dinged or dented without the needing any maintenance or repair. The entire item is bonded by the zinc. The galvanized coating is the toughest coating to be applied to steel.
Information cited from:
Hot-Dip Galvanizing. (n.d.). Retrieved January 31, 2017, from http://www.galvanizeit.org/corrosion/corrosion-protection/hot-dip-galvanizing
10 Real Benefits of Galvanized Steel, (n.d.) Retrieved March 3, 2017, from
http://www.gaa.com.au/index.php?page=10-benefits-of-galvanizing
Article Highlighting Topper Manufacturing Rack Available for Mercedes-Benz Metris Cargo Van
STURTEVANT, WI – Topper Manufacturing (www.toppermfg.com), manufacturer of all steel galvanized commercial van and truck racks designs and manufactures a topper rack that utilizes the roof of the new Mercedes-Benz Metris Cargo Van.
In a new article published in WORK TRUCK MAGAZINE Topper Manufacturing shares the new rack developed for the new 2018 Mercedes-Benz Metris Cargo Van. A solid combo of an upfit as consumers remain increasingly concerned with performance, safety and the costs incurred when driving and working out of a van every day.
The Metris offers the space and performance of a larger vehicle while utilizing the fuel economy and price point of a midsize van. To fall in suit with the benefit driven consumer, Topper Manufacturing designs an all steel safari type rack for the new Mercedes-Benz Metris Cargo Van that is durable and cost efficient to compliment.
Topper Manufacturing racks are heavy duty racks. The cargo carriers have been known to outlast the vehicle that they are mounted on. With the racks constantly outlasting the vehicles that they are mounted to and the cost effective price point and durable strength, upfitting the 2018 Mercedes-Benz Metris Cargo Van with a Topper Rack is a great compliment.
Topper Manufacturing offers Heavy Duty Ratchet Straps
STURTEVANT, WI – Topper Manufacturing offers Ratcheting Racks Straps that can be placed anywhere along the bottom square tube of their all steel, galvanized van and truck racks. Topper Ratcheting Rack Straps include 7 foot retractable tie down straps, durable double J Hook, ladder rack adapter plate and mounting hardware.
Topper Manufacturing is a line of commercial all steel van and truck racks and equipment. All Topper Manufacturing products are hot-dip galvanized after fabrication. Galvanizing is a proven method of providing a rust free, abrasive resistant finish to steel. Because of the galvanizing process, Topper Manufacturing Safari Type Racks are known to outlast the vehicles that they are mounted to.
The Topper Ratcheting straps have 2000# restraint capacity and a 676# workload capacity. The ratcheting straps are fast and convenient to use. They automatically retract and can be permanently mounted to the Topper rack. Topper Manufacturing Part Number for the Ratcheting Rack Strap is 1CB001.
Topper prides themselves on the fact that their racks are Built to Last. Topper Racks are also, Built to Protect.
ABOUT TOPPER MANUFACTURING For more than thirty years, Topper Manufacturing has been making commercial cargo carriers. All Topper manufacturing racks are made of high strength steel and hot-dip galvanized after fabrication for a rust free, abrasive resistant finish. Topper Manufacturing Racks are the only rack in the industry to outlast the vehicles that they are mounted to. Topper Manufacturing offers powder painting after galvanizing. www.toppermfg.com
Topper Manufacturing is a proud member of the NTEA
Topper Manufacturing Van Rack appears in Beloved Christmas Movie, “Home Alone.”
Topper Manufacturing, all steel van racks make an appearance in Home Alone. Remember the Christmas vacation robbers that young Kevin had to outwit while his parents accidentally left him home alone. They drove around in an older Dodge Ram Van upfitted with a Topper Manufacturing Rack. We couldn’t be more proud to see our van rack in the hilarious, heartwarming holiday flick.
Topper Manufacturing Racks are Built to Last and Built to Protect.
Topper Manufacturing is a line of commercial all steel van and truck racks and equipment. All Topper Manufacturing products are hot-dip galvanized after fabrication. Galvanizing is a proven method of providing a rust free, abrasive resistant finish to steel. Because of the galvanizing process, Topper Manufacturing Safari Type Racks are known to outlast the vehicles that they are mounted to. Topper prides themselves on the fact that their racks are Built to Last. Topper Racks are also, Built to Protect.
A call came into Customer Service thanking Topper Manufacturing for producing such a quality, durable rack. The end user’s commercial van had been involved in what insurance companies would call an “act of nature.” A tree had fallen straight onto the end user’s van due to high winds and an aging tree. Fortunately, the vehicle was upfitted with a Topper All Steel Galvanized Rack. The tree landed on the rack first and there was no damage to the vehicle at all. The rack withstood the fall and the end user was able to report to his job site that same day with no down time.
Topper Manufacturing Van Rack on ProMaster Van appears in Mega Block Buster, “Black Panther.”
Topper Manufacturing all steel van racks makes an appearance in Marvel’s Black Panther. Topper Manufacturing All Steel Van Racks could not be more honored to be used as a heavy duty prop in this movie!
Topper Racks has a new dealer in Tennessee
STURTEVANT, WI – Topper Manufacturing (www.toppermfg.com), manufacturer of all steel galvanized commercial van and truck racks has a new dealer in Music City.
Topper Manufacturing is pleased to announce a new Topper Racks dealer location available in Nashville, Tennessee.
Creech Ladder (www.creechladder.com) has been upfitting commercial vehicles since 1986 in Nashville, Tennessee with expert knowledge and superb customer service. As suppliers of ladders, tool boxes, van and truck racks and equipment, Creech Ladder is an excellent addition to the Topper Racks dealer network.
Bruce Burrow, Jr., Owner at Topper Manufacturing states, “We are excited to have a well-respected dealer in Tennessee available for our end users. We are working closely with the team at Creech Ladder to create a knowledgeable, seamless customer experience form point of interest to point of purchase.”
Topper Manufacturing racks are heavy duty racks. The cargo carriers have been known to outlast the vehicle that they are mounted on. With the racks constantly outlasting the vehicles that they are mounted to and the cost-effective price point and durable strength, upfitting any commercial van or truck is a top choice.
ABOUT TOPPER MANUFACTURING
For more than thirty years, Topper Manufacturing has been making commercial cargo carriers. All Topper manufacturing racks are made of high strength steel and hot-dip galvanized after fabrication for a rust free, abrasive resistant finish. Topper Manufacturing Racks are the only rack in the industry to outlast the vehicles that they are mounted to. Topper Manufacturing offers powder painting after galvanizing. www.toppermfg.com
Topper Manufacturing is a proud member of the NTEA.
Topper Manufacturing All Steel, Galvanized Van Racks (#topperracks) appears in new BP Commercial.
Topper Manufacturing Designs All Steel Safari Type Rack for the New Mercedes-Benz Metris Cargo Van.
STURTEVANT, WI – Topper Manufacturing (www.toppermfg.com), manufacturer of all steel galvanized commercial van and truck racks designs and manufactures a topper rack that utilizes the roof of the new Mercedes-Benz Metris Cargo Van.
The new Mercedes-Benz Metris Cargo Van embraces the motto of having “large van capabilities in a midsize van.” As consumers remain increasingly concerned with performance, safety and the costs incurred when driving and working out of a van every day, the Metris offers the space and performance of a larger vehicle while utilizing the fuel economy and price point of a midsize van.
Topper Manufacturing racks are heavy duty and the cargo carriers have been known to outlast the vehicle that they are mounted on. This is because Topper Racks are an all steel construction and hot-dip galvanized after fabrication to create a rusted free, abrasive resistant finish.
The Topper Manufacturing van rack designed for the new Mercedes-Benz Metris Cargo Van comes with 10’ trademarked zig zag side rails and 58” round crossbars. The rack is fastened to the roof of the van using supports and mounting channels. The channels are mounted using the van’s factory mounting position. Installation of the rack requires no drilling into the vehicle. All Topper racks are designed so that the end user can utilizes maximum amount of roof space available.
Why Topper Manufacturing galvanizes their steel cargo racks?
Topper Manufacturing is a line of commercial all steel van and truck racks and equipment. All Topper Manufacturing products are hot-dip galvanized after fabrication. This is necessary in order for Topper Manufacturing to guarantee that their product line of racks will outlast the vehicles they are mounted to.
Hot-dip galvanizing is the process of immersing fabricated steel or iron into a kettle of molten zinc. While in the kettle, iron in the steel reacts with the zinc to form a bonded alloy coating. There are major benefits to galvanized steel. All benefits prove true and are the reason that Topper Racks are the strongest rack available in the industry today.
Topper Manufacturing Racks are manufactured with the end benefits of initial low cost and the lowest long term cost. Galvanizing Topper Racks is most often less expensive upon initial purchase than alternative protective coatings. Also, when galvanizing is deemed higher cost initially, the long-term life that galvanizing gives the steel weigh out the initial cost in durability. Topper Manufacturing is able to offer their products at a reasonable purchase price with little to no maintenance in the products life time. Another benefit of using galvanized steel for Topper Racks is that the process is very reliable and predictable in its outcome. Galvanized finish steel is rust free and abrasive resistant. Galvanizing gives steel a life expectancy of 50+ years and provides complete protection because during the process, every part of the item is bonded by the zinc. The complete protection allows for automatic protection of the steel. The steel item can be scratched, dinged or dented without the needing any maintenance or repair. The entire item is bonded by the zinc. The galvanized coating is the toughest coating to be applied to steel.
Information cited from:
Hot-Dip Galvanizing. (n.d.). Retrieved January 31, 2017, from http://www.galvanizeit.org/corrosion/corrosion-protection/hot-dip-galvanizing
10 Real Benefits of Galvanized Steel, (n.d.) Retrieved March 3, 2017, from
http://www.gaa.com.au/index.php?page=10-benefits-of-galvanizing
How can we guarantee that Topper Racks outlast the vehicles they are mounted to?
Hot-dip galvanizing is the process of immersing fabricated steel or iron into a kettle of molten zinc. While in the kettle, iron in the steel react with the zinc to form a bonded alloy coating. All Topper Manufacturing Racks are hot-dip galvanized after fabrication. The steel side rails, crossbars and other rack components are submerged in a bath of molten zinc. This protects the racks in three ways. It prevents corrosive substances from reaching the underlying steel or iron, it serves as a sacrificial anode (highly active metals that are used to prevent a less active material surface from corroding) and protects the base metal by corroding it before the iron. Topper Manufacturing Racks are known to outlast the vehicles they are mounted to do to the hot-dip galvanizing process. Topper Manufacturing Racks are built to last. Owners can scratch, dent and ding their racks and they are still guaranteed not to rust.
Information cited from:
Hot-Dip Galvanizing. (n.d.). Retrieved January 31, 2017, from http://www.galvanizeit.org/corrosion/corrosion-protection/hot-dip-galvanizing
Topper Manufacturing has don it again!
Topper Manufacturing has taken their philosophy of high strength rust proof steel cargo carriers that have served the needs of contractors for over 35 years, and developed a removable and inexpensive rack for those do-it-yourselfers and weekend warriors that have that occasional need for a rack, but who also use their vehicles for nights out on the town or recreational purposes.
Topper’s new “Handyman” singleside pickup truck rack is the strongest, most durable rack to hit the market. The “Handyman” is constructed of high strength steel and hot dip galvanized after fabrication for a rust free abrasive resistant finish. Galvanized coatings have a proven performance under numerous environmental conditions. During the galvanizing process the galvanized zinc coating literally becomes part of the steel substrate thus; providing the “Handyman” with unmatched protection against damage caused by rough handling at the job site as well as during its service life.
It is also the only rack of its kind that is easily removable. Because the “Handyman” is galvanized all the way through there is no need to seal any of the seams like the similar racks that are only powder coated on the outside. If you fail to seal the competitor’s racks with silicone you will void any warranty. Not the Topper “Handyman.” Just two set bolts on each upright and it is on for work and off for play.
With the unmatched strength and durability of their racks, Topper is undoubtedly on top to stay.
Topper Double Bar Van Rack Provides Top Notch Strength and Durability at a Fraction of the Cost.
Topper Manufacturing has introduced its new double bar van racks. This new van rack mounts to the gutter utilizing Topper’s patented mounting system, and is manufactured from the same high strength steel you come to expect from a Topper rack.
Like all of Topper’s racks, their double bar rack is hot dip galvanized after fabrication for a rust free abrasive resistant finish that is unmatched in the industry. Other coatings, such as powder coatings, damage easily during rough handling on the jobsite. However, galvanized Topper racks have a proven protection against damage by rough handling at the jobsite as well as during its service life. “Because of the long life of the hot dip galvanized coating and its virtually maintenance-free performance, galvanizing is consistently a better value than paint over a structure’s life.” (American Galvanizers Association)
The innovative Topper double bar rack is ideal for those who want the strength and durability of a full size rack at a fraction of the cost. Available with a third center bar for added support, this new rack is ready to handle even the toughest jobs.
Topper Manufacturing makes and markets a full line of van and truck racks, including accessories to make the transportation of your materials easier.
Topper Manufacturing is Doing its Part to Help You Save Money.
With the failing economy and housing market on the fritz more and more every day contractors and professionals in the construction industry are using their trucks and vans for double duty; work and play. Topper Manufacturing has recognized this and designed a full line of racks that are easily removable. They are also doing so without sacrificing any strength or durability, the key components Topper racks are noted for.
It has been long proven that Topper galvanized steel ladder racks and cargo carriers will outlast the competition. Professional contractors and builders have been putting Topper racks to the test for over 35 years without fault. Now with the introduction of the new “Handyman” series of racks, Topper has added flexibility to the tried and true strength and durability of their products.
Professionals in the construction field not only need to be professional in their performance, they also need professional appearance to be conveyed to their potential future customers. By using a Topper rack, it eliminates the risk of a rusted rack sitting on the top of your vehicle ruining your image. While other coatings damage easily during rough handling, Topper galvanized coatings protect against damage caused by rough handling at the jobsite as well as during its service life.
Topper racks seem to be the obvious choice and with their entire line of racks competitively priced (most under the price of a rack that will not last nearly as long) it is no wonder Topper is on top to stay.