VAN manufacturers are coming up with some ingenious ways of transporting long loads nowadays.
Overhanging loads – what you need to know
- Up to 1m – no markings required
- 1m – 2m – ends must be clearly visible
- 2m+ – 3m – reflective marker boards 400mm to 1700mm off the ground
- Over 3m – reflective marker boards, driver’s mate and notification to Police required
Take the new Vauxhall Vivaro and Renault Trafic for example.
There is a little flap in the bulkhead near the floor and another underneath the passenger seat so that in the long wheelbase versions, loads up of to 4.1 metres can be carried – that’s 13 and a half feet in old money!
Use a proper roof rack
But no matter how much the van makers try, there are always going to be odd times when you need that little bit extra for a lo-o-o-o-ng load. And in that case, there is only one solution – tie it on the roof.
It’s a pretty obvious ploy but before you leg it off to Tesco’s for a ball of string and some double-sided sticky tape, there are one or two things about roof-mounted loads that we ought to make you aware of.
Let’s look at the safety aspect for a start. If you don’t use a proper roof rack – and there are plenty of van users who don’t – then you are risking big trouble in the event of an accident.
If your load happens to be a bundle of pipes, they will shoot forward in the event of a prang and possibly spear any poor passer-by who happens to be in the vicinity.
If they are hurt, or even killed, then expect to have the book thrown at you by the law, followed by a knock on your door from a lawyer representing the injured party in a civil compensation case.
Believe us, you REALLY don’t want to go there.
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