One of the most important factors to consider when increasing the load carrying capacity of your vehicle is safety, says John Oxley.
First up, will increasing carrying capacity lead to the gross weight of the vehicle being exceeded? Apart from the legal implications (although you’re not likely to get checked by the police – they’re too busy lurking behind their speed cameras), there are both insurance and safety factors to consider.
If you’re in a crash and your vehicle is overloaded, there’s a good chance your insurance company could fight the claim.
Second, putting extra load on the tyres, suspension, and when you try to stop, the brakes, will definitely affect the safety of the vehicle, and may well put you in danger of exceeding the new Health and Safety standards, penalties for which are likely to be quite onerous.
Will adding a roof rack make your vehicle top heavy? Ensure you don’t make driving your vehicle difficult, especially if it’s a ute or van, and particularly when taking tight corners. Apart from the danger to yourself and others, there’s possible damage to consider, and again, insurance implications.
And finally, are the add-ons easy to use, or will you be clambering onto the vehicle’s bodywork or hassling to load while standing on steps or a ladder? We all know how easy it is to slip, especially if you have to use both hands while balancing precariously.
All that said, adding to your vehicle’s load carrying ability can be a good thing.
It may well be that your ute or van is not running anywhere near its full potential, so adding a rack will enable you to carry those extra bits and pieces which might otherwise force you to use a bigger, less agile, and less economical truck.
It may be that you need to carry long items, such as ladders, pipes or plumbing equipment.
Adding a canopy to your ute may enable you to carry items which need to be locked away, and if you choose the right canopy, you’ll be able to add a roof rack, too.
Fitting a roof rack on top of your vehicle is often the simplest and least expensive way of carrying more. But you must ensure they are very securely fastened and especially can’t slide forward or backwards when you’re descending or climbing a hill – or under hard braking.
There are various forms of roof racks.
The first is a simple pair of rails which attaches onto your vehicle’s rain gutters or into special mounting points.
These are best used for longer lighter items, such as surfboards, ladders, or canoes, since they are not designed to carry much weight.
They comes in all shapes and sizes, from less expensive to downright dear, and usually what you pay for is what you get, although sometimes there are “designer” elements which push the price up without really improving function – though they do look better!
At the other end of the spectrum are proper off-road roof racks, often made of aluminium for lower weight. You can also get a roof rack made to sit your own special needs.
Another option is a roof pod. These attach much the same way as a roof rack, but are aerodynamically shaped to cut through the air, reducing wind noise and cutting down on extra fuel use. They’re also secure and weather proof.
Then there’s the clever Load-lid from Utemaster. This fits on top of the wellside, and it’s made of checker plate aluminium that’s strong enough for you to strap heavy stuff on top while you load small items inside.
And don’t forget the trusty tow bar. Using a trailer is much easier these days than it used to be, with many modern utes having technology to overcome trailer sway, and towing weights for braked trailers are getting right up there, enabling you to take a really heavy piece of equipment safely to site without having to get a contractor to do it for you.
Again, though, ensure the tow bar you’re using is from a reputable manufacturer, that it’s properly installed, and that it’s in good condition, and not rusted through from all the times you immersed it in salt water while launching your boat!
There are various types, from custom-made varieties offered by OEMs and vehicle importers through to after-market versions from accessory firms.
There are even types which have a removable ball or neck so you can hardly see where it fits when it’s not in use.
The main thing to remember here is that they MUST be fitted properly, preferably professionally, complete with all the necessary electrical connections. Go to an expert to make sure the tow bar you choose can take the load you intent to tow.
No point in getting a lightweight tow bar and then expecting it will cope with a 3,500 kg trailer.
