Thread: Transporting panel products home

I buy from three places... two a building supplies companies and when in a pinch (or out of hours), Bunnings.

Using the trailer, on the back of the old HSV warhorse, I tow single sheets, 5 sheets or 25 sheets using this very simple trellis. The builder companies always shout at how brilliant this simple solution is.

It's just bog standard MGP10, notched and slotted together. The ends sit over the sides of the trailer and the whole lot is simply strapped down with three ratchet straps (the thick ones Bunnings always seem to have on special). Three is my being paranoid.

It is super easy. The trellis is simply flipped onto the trailer and when at the loading bay I flop the sheets on. If I'm by myself, I'll use the Gorilla Gripper to carry the thicker ones.... https://www.gorillagripper.com/ the straps and grippers are in a zip-up shopping bag kept in the boot.

A super bonus is that I can toss the handsaw and circular saw (and track) into the trailer/boot... and cut them up on site! (or back at home, to make them easy to carry) You can see the marks where I've made a billion cuts. Rough pre-cutting them outside on the trellis saves on dust inside too.

One can also carry longer MGP supplies on top of the load too. Rather than just the front/back of the trailers sides supporting them, they sit flat and dont flop around.

My trellis is made in a manner that allows it to be disassembled for storage, but I don't bother with that now.. it's just left outside

The extra braces on the left are for supporting the cuts of smaller pieces.

It will mean one needs to buy a second hand trailer ($350) but it's a lot cheaper than a van!!! (which I did consider, but it felt it was a single-use purchase and terribly wasteful).

IMG_20190131_112235.jpg IMG_20190131_112228.jpg

Post two... more thoughts....

-- The trellis is ~2500 long and ~1300 wide. The overhang saves the edges
-- It keeps sheets flat. Refer to BobLs post #3 to see the wicked bend!
-- I use a fold of thick cardboard on the edges where the straps hold it all down. Saves damage.
-- It is low and easy to load up. No lifting!

If you are prepared to buy a ute, why not simply buy a trailer? (second hand on gumtree, all the time!)

For lifting, there are many forms of "gorilla gripper" variants. Another option is to make/buy a removalists strap: https://www.ebay.com.au/p/Forearm-Fo...HVP/9011023932

The GG's are excellent.

That's really cunning. I can see me duplicating that in the future, particularly now that I have access to a trailer.

In Victoria at least, you can not legally have a load beyond the rear of a trailer.

Unable to put in a link to the Vicroads.vic.gov.au Rear over hang for Cars and Trucks in Victoria.

Originally Posted by DaveVman

The only ute (with tub) that I can find that has more than 1200mm between wheel arches is the VW Amarok

Forget between the arches, just rest on them and the top of the tailgate.

Originally Posted by ian

Not sure about Brisbane, but in Melbourne, I believe that a full sized US pickup truck counts as a commercial vehicle and attracts a much higher motorway toll than a standard car, or car plus trailer.

In Victoria ANY CAB-CHASSIS vehicle up to 4.5 tonne is classed as a light commercial for toll purposes - even Commodore and Falcon utes. It is ridiculous.

But if you register with one of the NSW toll road companies with reciprocal arrangements with the Victorian toll road companies you only pay car rates as NSW has only cars and heavy vehicles. Victoria has cars. light commercials and heavy commercials.

Originally Posted by Handyjack

In Victoria at least, you can not legally have a load beyond the rear of a trailer.

Unable to put in a link to the Vicroads.vic.gov.au Rear over hang for Cars and Trucks in Victoria.

https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/~/me...nvictoria.ashx

Can't find the Canberra one.

Originally Posted by woodPixel

https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/~/me...nvictoria.ashx

Can't find the Canberra one.

Canberra will essentially say the same as the NSW document, and NSW won't be much, if any, different to Victoria. The road rules were harmonised about 20 years ago.

Here you go https://www.ntc.gov.au/Media/Reports...DDEFE53C0).pdf
everything you didn't want to know

WA regs

The load should balanced across the length and width of trailer and preferably be kept within the confines of the trailer.

Rear projection depends on load distribution but the projection should never exceed 1.2m.

Max width is 300mm wider than width of trailer, up to 2.5m wide without a permit.
Long drawbar trailers are very attractive so on my 2.4 x 1.5 trailer with the long drawbar I can easily project over the front by 1.2m so same to the rear by the same for a max length of ~4.8m.

On my van roof rack I can carry lengths of 6.4m so full length 6m PVC pipes are a common load
Even though I have done it occasionally, I can't quite carry the 6.5m steel lengths..
The cargo bay easily fits 2.4 x 1.2 m sheets standing on their edge.

One of the best things I've done is install full cargo bay length tie down rails along both long walls. There are two on each wall - one half way up the wall and one up near the ceiling.

If stock is thin enough eg 100 x 50mm I can carry lengths up to 3m on the cargo bay floor diagonal, and 3.3m going corner to opposite lower corner and 3.6 m by opening a small door in the cargo barrier between the front seats and allowing the object to protrude though into the cabin. Of course 'Im not carrying anything that heavy - usually Al rod or tube this way. It saves mucking about on the roof rack.

the document at the link in post #24 says that WA is different to the rest of AUS.
in WA you can overhang the rear of the trailer, but not elsewhere in Australia.


.

I have a Peugeot Partner Van with a 3 Bar Rhino Rack configuration on top.

Inside I can carry 1800 x 1200 sheets but full sheets go on top

So, I'll need to construct a simple removable frame for the front and back of the trailer. This will let me put the long 5.4m MGPs with the ends at the rear of the trailer and the longer ends overhanging the front (of the trailer) over the boot....

There is no way Im putting roof racks on the HSV!!!

Laws, when created, probably had a simple reason, but that reason no longer makes any sense. Stupid solutions like this annoy the hell out of me.

reminds me of this allegory: https://workingoutloud.com/blog/the-...h-a-new-lesson

Originally Posted by ian

the document at the link in post #25 says that WA is different to the rest of AUS.
in WA you can overhang the rear of the trailer, but not elsewhere in Australia.

When I look at the doc in your #24, I see that there's a section "

MAXIMUM LENGTH OF PROJECTIONS STICKING OUT OF THE VEHICLE

" and a row in the table for "

Rear overhang – single axle group trailer

" that doesn't explicitly say you can't overhang, but there's a way to calculate the permissible amount, which like WA includes measuring from the axle to the front of the trailer (that would have to be the front of the tow hitch, wouldn't it ).

Gentlemen, I am ENGAGING THE BUREAUCRACY!

I'm writing an email to ask a direct question. Wish me luck!