Load carrying is a big part of the daily part of many businesses, but getting the right product to suit your needs isn’t always easy.

John Oxley reports.

As a company grows, so too does its transport needs. But swapping over into a bigger truck or van from, for example, a smaller van or ute, may not be financially feasible – or you may be constrained by lease commitments. The answer may be to increase the versatility of your vehicle’s load carrying ability.
Here are a few options.

Canopies
Utes are great for carrying stuff, but sometimes you want things under lock and key, or out of sight.

The answer is to fit a canopy onto the wellside, and maybe at the same time stacking a roof rack on top of the canopy.

Canopies are usually fairly light in weight, manageable by two people, and can be removed and stored separately if you don’t want to use them all the time.

Two main construction methods are used which enable this light yet strong construction – ABS thermo-formed plastic, often metal framed, and fibreglass-reinforced resin.
However, there are canopies made from sheet metal, and these are a good alternative if strength is the main objective, although there will be a weight penalty. However, aluminium alloy versions are now starting to hit the market, and these combine the best of both worlds, being strong and light in weight.

Two things to remember: don’t exceed the carrying capacity of the canopy if you fit a roof rack, and don’t attach the roof rack to both the canopy and the cab, as these move separately, and this will cause flex and eventually cracks.

Although fixed glass in the sides and front of your canopy makes it stronger and more secure, having opening side windows makes it more versatile. Sliding side windows are the cheapest alternative, and often fit most people’s needs.

However, if you need to access your stuff from the sides of your vehicle, more complex windows which lift up like the rear lift gate to allow you to easier access to the interior might be required.

You can also opt for a canopy with a higher roofline than your vehicle’s cab, with obvious benefits in terms of interior height and stowage space.

Roof racks
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 come 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!

Two things to remember. First, putting more weight on top of the vehicle will affect the centre of gravity, and thus road holding; second, make sure the roof rack is very securely attached.

Load covers
If a canopy is more than you want in terms of its size, weight, and cost, then perhaps you should look at a hard tonneau cover.

These are usually lockable, and they have the advantage that they are easy to use, since they are front-hinged and lift up, often on a gas strut. The better types are also strong enough to support some weight on top, increasing their versatility.

Ensure that they are properly watertight when closed – you don’t want your stuff to get wet – and that water is channelled away when you open it, and doesn’t end up inside.

Interior fitout
When fitting out a van for specific applications, there are a few things you must be aware of.

First, how big a van do you need? Total load space in the rear is something you need to be aware of, as is how much weight the van can carry, and some manufacturers offer the option of heavy duty springs.

Load access is another important feature. Do you need a top-hinged tailgate, or would barn-style rear doors be more suitable? How about sliding side doors? Just one? Or one on each side? There’s not much point paying extra for dual sliding side doors if you’re just going to put shelving over one.

And then you must look at lighting – is the standard factory lighting adequate for your needs, or will extra lighting need to be fitted? And what about floor and wall protection?
Safety screens and cargo barriers are also an important consideration in providing workplace safety for employees.

Tow bars
Do you only require extra load carrying capacity occasionally? Well, maybe a trailer will answer your needs. One way to carry more without actually putting it on your vehicle is by dragging a trailer along.

But before you buy a trailer you must fit a tow bar.

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 intend to tow.

No point in getting a lightweight tow bar and then expecting it will cope with a 3,500 kg trailer.

Summary
Whatever you decide to do, remember that there are a lot of safety requirements involved in increasing the load carrying capacity of your vehicle.

Get expert advice when fitting any load-bearing accessories to your vehicle – it’s a very real need for you to protect your own safety. And you may well find that the experts have a tried-and-tested solution that can end up cheaper in the long run than a backyard special!