A ladder rack comprising: a first assembly 200 and a second assembly 300 configured to be mounted on a top of a vehicle 400, the first assembly 200 and the second assembly 300 being operatively coupled to a connecting rod 102, wherein the first 200 and second 300 assemblies are configured to move between a first, raised position and a second, lowered position,wherein each of the first 200 and second 300 assemblies comprises: a support member 202 configured to be fixedly secured to the vehicle 400, the support member 202 having a first end 204 and a second end 206; a load carrying member 210 configured to be slideably engaged with the first end of the support member 202; an actuation member 218 having a first and a second end, the first end of the actuation member 218 being connected to a drive rod 223, the second end of the actuation member being connected to the load carrying member 210, the actuation member 218 being configured to enable the load carrying member 210 to move with respect to the support member 202; and the drive rod 223 being coupled to the connecting rod 102; wherein the ladder rack system further comprises: an extension rod 250 coupled to one of the drive rods 223 of the first 200 and second 300 assemblies; an elongated handle 104 secured to the extension rod 250, the elongated handle 104 being configured to aid in the raising and lowering of the first 200 and second assemblies 300; a coupler 106 for securing the elongated handle 104 to the extension rod 250, the coupler 106 including a slot that interacts with a pin 116 on the extension rod 250 to limit the rotation of the handle 104 when first 200 and second assemblies 300 move between the first, raised position and the second, lowered position; and wherein the first assembly 200 further comprises a downwardly extending arm 224 attached to the load carrying member 210 and configured to lower the first assembly from the second, lowered position to a third, fully extended position. a first assembly 200 and a second assembly 300 configured to be mounted on a top of a vehicle 400, the first assembly 200 and the second assembly 300 being operatively coupled to a connecting rod 102, wherein the first 200 and second 300 assemblies are configured to move between a first, raised position and a second, lowered position,wherein each of the first 200 and second 300 assemblies comprises: a support member 202 configured to be fixedly secured to the vehicle 400, the support member 202 having a first end 204 and a second end 206; a load carrying member 210 configured to be slideably engaged with the first end of the support member 202; an actuation member 218 having a first and a second end, the first end of the actuation member 218 being connected to a drive rod 223, the second end of the actuation member being connected to the load carrying member 210, the actuation member 218 being configured to enable the load carrying member 210 to move with respect to the support member 202; and the drive rod 223 being coupled to the connecting rod 102; a support member 202 configured to be fixedly secured to the vehicle 400, the support member 202 having a first end 204 and a second end 206; a load carrying member 210 configured to be slideably engaged with the first end of the support member 202; an actuation member 218 having a first and a second end, the first end of the actuation member 218 being connected to a drive rod 223, the second end of the actuation member being connected to the load carrying member 210, the actuation member 218 being configured to enable the load carrying member 210 to move with respect to the support member 202; and the drive rod 223 being coupled to the connecting rod 102; wherein the ladder rack system further comprises: an extension rod 250 coupled to one of the drive rods 223 of the first 200 and second 300 assemblies; an elongated handle 104 secured to the extension rod 250, the elongated handle 104 being configured to aid in the raising and lowering of the first 200 and second assemblies 300; a coupler 106 for securing the elongated handle 104 to the extension rod 250, the coupler 106 including a slot that interacts with a pin 116 on the extension rod 250 to limit the rotation of the handle 104 when first 200 and second assemblies 300 move between the first, raised position and the second, lowered position; and wherein the first assembly 200 further comprises a downwardly extending arm 224 attached to the load carrying member 210 and configured to lower the first assembly from the second, lowered position to a third, fully extended position. an extension rod 250 coupled to one of the drive rods 223 of the first 200 and second 300 assemblies; an elongated handle 104 secured to the extension rod 250, the elongated handle 104 being configured to aid in the raising and lowering of the first 200 and second assemblies 300; a coupler 106 for securing the elongated handle 104 to the extension rod 250, the coupler 106 including a slot that interacts with a pin 116 on the extension rod 250 to limit the rotation of the handle 104 when first 200 and second assemblies 300 move between the first, raised position and the second, lowered position; and wherein the first assembly 200 further comprises a downwardly extending arm 224 attached to the load carrying member 210 and configured to lower the first assembly from the second, lowered position to a third, fully extended position.