Thread: Carrying loads on a Ute - should this be tied down

Modern Vehicles are designed for the occupants to survive moderate front, side and rear impacts. There's nothing specific in ute design to protect the driver and passengers from an unsecured load which is why they should be tied down. In terms of actual risk, I guess it depends on distance of trip and max speed you intend to travel and whether there was a gap between the tiles and the back of the cab (I note you said middle of the tray). Even at 60kph if you hit something then the tiles could form one side of a human spam sandwich.

Yep, agree with Bob. If you stop suddenly that's 646kg of energy stored in that load. (I know it's not 646kg. It's the weight x speed x decelleration x friction co-efficient x wind speed x phase of the moon etc. but you get the idea) Pretty sure you can be done for having an unsecured load as well.

If you have anything in the rear of the tray, it must be covered by a tarp or a cargo net, that is the rule. But obviously some things need to be restrained with tiedowns or straps or whatever as well

Keep a cheap cargo net behind the seats.

I've found that my 'planned' loads are generally heavy and/or bulky things and I take the appropriate strapping/tie-downs.

However, more than once I've been voluntold with a light load by SWMBO, such as a load of tree clippings, a few cardboard boxes of household items, etc., etc. These often don't lend themselves to straps and anything 'flying off' such as loose leaves, bits of paper, make you a valid target for the local constabulary.

Hence the cargo net, which can be used in conjunction with straps if necessary.

Wouldn't make any difference to the safety of your pallet of tiles, but does meet the requirements of the law should you meet a cop on a bad mood.

I should have pointed out I did have a cheap cargo net over it.

I think if the tiles moved the net would have offered zero residence.

The fine in NSW for an unsecured / uncovered load is about $650 plus 2 - 4 demerit points. The cops are all over the tradies etc with this and have been told from a plumber that the copper was even going to charge him per item which was a lot as it was just pvc fittings in his tray.
One of the local farmers here got done for a small bale of hay in his tray as well.
You will find a lot of the suppliers now won’t even load you unless you have the appropriate vehicle and tie downs and load cover gear as they get caught up in the Duty Of Care crap if there is an incident.
It is not necessarily about your load shifting but more about if you were in an accident what projectiles will be launched from your vehicle, I fail to see how a bit of shade cloth changes anything but you have to play the game or pay the fine

Take a bit of a look at the tradies getting around and you will see the covers and ties in place.

Originally Posted by Skew ChiDAMN!!

voluntold

Love it! That one's just been added to my vocabulary.

Originally Posted by Arron

I have a Toyota Workmate cab-chassis Ute. Yesterday we went to buy some tiles. The tiles were bought out by a forklift on a wooden pallet and the pallet was placed in the middle of the tray. I noticed that the tiles were secured to the pallet in a very robust manner.

The tiles weighed 646kgs, adding up the information on the packets.

It was only after the Ute was loaded that I realised I didn’t have any straps to secure the load down. The consensus seemed to be that I shouldn’t worry about that - that the load wasn’t going to shift - and that I should just drive home.

I am new to Ute ownership. What do other people make of this? What would they do and what is the law?

you were lucky to get the tiles home without:

1. Running into a copper looking to make his daily "unrestrained load" quota.
2. you didn't have to make a full on emergency stop between the tile place and your place.
3. you didn't have a crash.

as BobL said

Originally Posted by BobL

Even at 60kph if you hit something then the tiles could would form one side of a human spam sandwich.

While covering the tiles with a cargo net or sheet will possibly allow you to avoid an "unrestrained load" ticket, I have to query the strength of the tie down points within the Workmate's tray itself.
Locally (Alberta, Canada) the "standard" tie down strap is rated at 4500 kg.
I would want to see what load the ute tray's tie-down points are rated for before commenting too much further

Reminds me of when we (myself and couple of mens shed blokes) went to pick up a 600kg combination machine. It was on wheels and with a bit of mucking around a couple of ropes and pulleys and great deal of huffing and puffing we managed to get it onto an 8x4 dual axle trailer. The other blokes were not bothered if I didn't tie it down, "j. . we're not going far (about 16km~) just chock the wheels" one of them said "it won't go anywhere". "No way" I said and applied 2 x 2400 kg rated ratchet straps.

Loading
All loads must be positioned and secured in compliance with the National Transport Commission’s guidelines, available at ntc.gov.au The first step in making sure you can safely carry any load is to select the appropriate vehicle and correctly position the load. Loads must not be placed in a way that makes the vehicle unstable or unsafe.

Loads must be secured on a vehicle using an appropriate load restraint method:

• to prevent any part of the load hanging or projecting from the vehicle in such a way that it could injure a person, damage property or cause a hazard to other road users
• to prevent any part of the load being dislodged or falling from the vehicle.

I don't go anywhere without load restraints which are rated and in good condition, the above is lifted from my copy of the Victorian Bus and Truck Handbook, but it is pretty much the same around Australia.

Mick.

Originally Posted by ian

you were lucky to get the tiles home without:

1. Running into a copper looking to make his daily "unrestrained load" quota.
2. you didn't have to make a full on emergency stop between the tile place and your place.
3. you didn't have a crash.

as BobL said


While covering the tiles with a cargo net or sheet will possibly allow you to avoid an "unrestrained load" ticket, I have to query the strength of the tie down points within the Workmate's tray itself.
Locally (Alberta, Canada) the "standard" tie down strap is rated at 4500 kg.
I would want to see what load the ute tray's tie-down points are rated for before commenting too much further

Yes, the whole tray is disappointingly flimsy. Plastic locking mechanisms and thin, flexy aluminium side walls.
The tie-off points on the sides are short lengths of steel tube but held on with pressed steel brackets which wouldn’t take much to bend. Even if the tie-off points were strong you can’t tighten tie-down straps much because the side walls are so flimsy. Nonetheless there is nothing different about it - same thing everyone else has.

Originally Posted by Arron

Yes, the whole tray is disappointingly flimsy. Plastic locking mechanisms and thin, flexy aluminium side walls.
The tie-off points on the sides are short lengths of steel tube but held on with pressed steel brackets which wouldn’t take much to bend. Even if the tie-off points were strong you can’t tighten tie-down straps much because the side walls are so flimsy. Nonetheless there is nothing different about it - same thing everyone else has.

could make for an interesting cross claim against Toyota.
"Toyota supplied me with a knowingly defective vehicle, to wit: the tie down points supplied are not rated to allow restraint of the allowable vehicle load."

do you want to lodge a complaint to the ACCC ?

Arron

I think there are two aspects with restraining loads. The first is compliance with the law, but the second, much more importantly is common sense safety. In principle the law says the load should be restrained. Loose objects are restrained by a cargo net. Here an object should not be able to be withdrawn through the restraining net. Cheap nets are close to worthless. The net is intended to keep objects in the vehicle if you hit a bump and not much more than that.

Larger solid loads should be restrained by straps or chains. I don't think ropes are legal anymore and I don't think a net is required for a solid load. The load should also be positioned so it cannot shift forward either by virtue of being up against a headboard or restrained by blocking timber of sufficient size. Steel trays have considerable strength for a ute sized load. Aluminium trays and associated tie down bars are more flimsy and have questionable strength. Their primary advantage is that they are cheap.

There are more regulations about overhang front and back and at the sides of course.

Regards
Paul

Originally Posted by Bushmiller

I don't think ropes are legal anymore.

Regards
Paul

This is commonly believed but wrong, ropes are legal, like most things its not simple though. Last time I had cause to check the load restraint guide it was over 150 pages long, then certain companies will impose their own regulations that differ again.

Cheers Andrew