Making the vehicle fit the job

Today’s vehicular workhorses often need to be personalised for the specific use to which they are
going to be put.
The range of products available can turn a plain, poorly-equipped vehicle into one that is uniquely set up to do a specific job. From the ubiquitous towbar and roof-rack to ute decks, canopies, undertray sliding toolbox, cargo barriers, deck liners, to shelving for vans there’s a solution for every storage or transport problem. 
Canopies
A common problem with canopies is being able to load and unload cargo in wet weather without water entering the wellside. One range, Crown, overcomes this with all-weather commercial windows and rear doors which incorporate a rain channel to drain water away from canopy openings. These are specifically designed for high use applications, typical of most tradespeople who are using their canopies in working applications every day.
There is also the choice of fixed, sliding and side opening windows, and with options for animal mesh and rotating ventilation systems.
Crown canopies are manufactured by Fully Equipped in Hamilton. Made from heavy duty fibreglass, they are ideally suited to commercial or off-road use, or where heavy loads are carried on roof racks.
Cargo Barriers and load securing systems
In the work environment it is an employer’s responsibility to ensure every risk relative to employee safety is minimised or eliminated. Company vehicles such as vans, station wagons and hatchbacks carrying product are categorised as workplaces and are therefore subject to the same safety requirements.
A cargo protection barrier is therefore an essential safety item for anyone carrying luggage in a van with an open cargo area.
Products such as the Milford Cargo barrier from Mofac Vehicle Systems are available in New Zealand, suiting nearly all types of vehicle likely to require one.
Hayman Reese offers a wide range of cargo protection barriers. These offer occupants
more protection than older style barriers and state of the art technology ensures they are safer and easier to install and remove. Each barrier is rated to comply with both the Australian Design Rules (ADR) and
New Zealand standards.
Cargo bars are designed to hold boxes drums and heavy cargo. Best Bars’ Save-A-Load bar is the only cargo bar of its kind. It combines a safe, simple design with reliability and strength. Its ultra high-friction rubber pads enable it to grip any surface, even bedliners.
Its hydraulic pump has a pressure-limiting valve that protects the walls of the vehicle.
Core-Trax tie-downs offer the ultimate in flexibility for securing wellside loads. Each tie-down system consists of two track mounts, which can be mounted anywhere in the wellside, and adjustable load locks which attach along the mounts. Made from strong aviation alloy, each tie-down system comes complete with its own mounting hardware.
Deck liners
For protection against scratches, scrapes, dents and spills, Tuf Dek utility liners are made from high-impact resistant, super-tough polyethylene, moulded to the shape of the wellside.
Tuf Dek liners can be supplied with the Tuf
Lok load separating system which offers a number of pre-moulded separation points to allow the load carrying space of the wellside to be maximised.
Spray-on deck liners are a well-respected system of cargo protection. Offered in New Zealand by Speedliner, spray-on liners create a sound dampening, non-slip surface designed to keep cargo stationary, and protect against damage to the deck.
The product can be sprayed over fibreglass, plywood and all metals, making it ideal for all manner of work vehicles.
Roof racks
Today’s roof racks are high-tech items designed for work and leisure.
Fully Equipped offers the Prorack and Rola roof rack systems. Prorack “Sportsman” bars are an aerodynamic roof rack system with low wind noise and profile. These flexible and sturdy roof carrier systems are compatible with most Prorack accessories including ski holders, kayak holders, bike holders and fishing rod holders.
Rola heavy-duty roof rack systems are the new generation. Individually designed for each vehicle fitment to maximise strength, safety and function, their super strong alloy crossbars minimise drag and wind noise.
A comprehensive range of trade accessories is specifically designed for serious commercial applications, including ladder rack systems, conduit carriers, ladder pegs, ratchet tie downs, aerial mounts, shovel holders, pipe clamps, beacon plates and luggage trays.
Rhino-Rack roof racks are another long-established product on the market, distributed by Mofac Vehicle Systems. The extensive product range is a ‘virtual one stop shop’, offering something for everyone, from the recreational sportsman to the hardest tradesman or the toughest four-wheel driver.
Best Bars also distribute and install a diverse range of roof rack systems and accessories, specialising in Rhino-Rack products.
Shelving
Developed for tough Australian and New Zealand conditions, the Rak-A-Van shelving range features a vast array of bins, trays, and specialist storage units allowing the system to be ‘tailored’ to suit any trade. Storage for items such as gas welding sets, LPG bottles, oil containers and service manuals are easily catered for alongside the containment of tools, nuts and bolts.
While layouts well suiting these trades and others are available as standard kits ‘off the shelf’ it is Rak-A-Van’s unique ability to ‘mix’n match’ that sets the system apart from others on the market.
Fully Equipped offers a diverse range of shelving systems from modular designed storage bins for safe storage and quick retrieval of small parts such as nuts and bolts, through to the Weather Guard range of shelving units, cabinets, drawers, cylinder racks and spool racks.
Roll-out drawers which fit into utes, cars and vans are a relatively new product being offered by Vehicle Smart Drawers.
The bottom drawer can hold up to 400kg, with the second carrying half that load. Smart Drawers’ appeal lies in its removal of the need for stretching, or for crawling into the cargo bay to retrieve items, thus reducing the potential for injuries, strains and sprains. In addition, it saves wear and tear on the cargo area, a common problem when equipment and tools are being slung around.
Tufboxes
Bolted to the floor of the wellside, generally behind the cab, Tufboxes offer weatherproof and key-secured storage for valuable tools and belongings.
Made from super tough structural foam plastic that tolerates extreme environmental temperatures without discolouring, cracking or warping, these boxes are widely used
by light commercial and recreational vehicle owners to carry and store equipment and belongings.
Ute decks
While aluminium alloys are used extensively in the heavy truck sector, flat decks for utes have generally been manufactured from steel and wood.
But this is old technology. Alloy decks are considerably lighter, more durable and better looking than steel and wood ones and do not rust, warp, splinter or need painting.
Best Bars’ heavy-duty alloy ute decks are modular, using custom alloy extrusions for most components. Weight savings with alloy are substantial. The Best Bars decks typically weigh around 80kg for a single cab ute, compared with up to 185kg for a factory wellside deck and as much as 240kg for a steel and wood one.
As well as the obvious gain in payload capacity, this results in reduced wear and tear on the ute chassis, suspension, rear axle and tyres. On a two-wheel-drive ute the saving can amount to as much as 10 percent of the total vehicle weight, which can even result in fuel savings.
Undertray sliding toolbox
The Best Bars undertray sliding toolbox is a great place to securely store gear you want to keep off the top of your tray. It can be fitted to all Best Bars’ heavy-duty, alloy ute trays, excluding some double cab models.
The toolbox measures 1830mm in length x 800mm wide and 150mm deep. It is manufactured from galvanized steel and is capable of carrying loads up to 400kg. It is fully sealed to keep your belongings safe and dry.