If you’re
someone who is always doing DIY on your property, goes sailing on a regular
basis or uses their vehicle to transport pallets-worth of business items,
chances are you’ll be used to adapting your car to cope with these
eventualities or have a truck on hand to help. However, not all of us have the
luxury of owning a large van or have a friend with one on stand-by to help us
transport our oversized cargo. Although tricky and potentially dangerous, there
are a few things you can do and, in this blog, we provide some tips for hauling
large items when you only have a regular-sized car.
Get a tow bar
Perhaps one
of the easiest and safest things you can do when transporting large items with
your car is to tow it. Invest in a tow bar for your car and you can tow a
trailer full of items, a boat, caravan or construction equipment such as
smaller diggers or excavators. Whether you opt for a fixed towbar or a
detachable towbar, this doesn’t have to break the bank either but you do need
to be aware of towing weights with a standard driving license:
● If you passed your driving test on or
after 1 January 1997, you can drive a vehicle and tow a trailer together that
doesn’t exceed 4,250 kg.
● If you passed your test before 1
January 1997, you can drive a vehicle and trailer combination of up to 8,250
kg.
Strapping to the roof
If your
items are large but aren’t too heavy, consider strapping these onto the roof of
your car, especially if the weather is good. The roof of the car never gets
used, so whether it’s furniture, a boat or old mattress, this area can be
utilised for transportation. But be careful when strapping things on with ropes
and harnesses - always triple check they are secure before setting off.
Hire a van or phone a friend
If you’re
struggling with towing or strapping items to the roof, why not remove all the
hassle and hire a van for a day? Or else ask a friend with a van for help. It
doesn’t cost a lot to hire for a day or two, and may not cost anything to use a
friend for help, but it’s polite to pay for petrol and/or treat them to a gift
as a thank you!
Abnormal or wider loads? Use an expert haulage
company
Light
haulage is certainly doable for a vehicle, but what if you’re looking to haul
something a lot bigger and heavier than anticipated? This is where a haulage
comes in. From abnormal loads to heavy haulage, haulage companies are trained
and equipped to deal with a whole range of items safely no matter how big.
Using an expert haulage company will definitely
save you money in the long-run, and will save you a lot of stress and hassle
also. For ultimate haulage solutions and affordable rates,
contact
D &
D Transport
in Nottingham today for advice and more information today.
