Cargo Securement Assurance

[Ronbrink]

When towing with a truck, the majority of ‘stuff’ brought along on a camping trip or road adventure is conveniently stowed within the various holds of the Oliver and bed of the TV. However, even though my former crew cab Silverado 1500 had a storage box under the rear seat, it was mostly used to accommodate service tools and supplies for the truck and thus, found myself utilizing the rear floorboards and seat as additional cargo space when traveling. There’s peace of mind knowing cargo carried in the bed of a truck is adequately secured, not so much for that behind the front seats! All one needs is something going on from behind when something tragic is happening up front, no bueno! We’re required to wear seatbelts for good reason, proper securement of vehicle interior cargo should be of equal importance. I would be interested in learning how owners with trucks/SUVs safely carry their cargo within.

My awareness of cargo securement was heightened recently with acquisition of a converted cargo work van as my TV; specifics are detailed in a forum post last October under ‘Towing an Oliver’ and entitled ‘2019 GMC Savana 2500 Cargo Van’, if interested. Unlike service utility work vans that generally have a partition or cargo net, along with containment shelves and boxes, to secure cargo and ensure personal safety; conversion and passenger vans are more designed for ‘people’ cargo. In the aforementioned forum post, I addressed cargo containment, but cargo securement was still under consideration. Here is what I did to address the subject matter:

Maiden voyage to Texas Oliver Rally, Inks Lake SP; cargo contained, but not secured!

DC CARGO E-Track system components were obtained via online purchases from Tractor Supply. Each of the Buyers Products boxes were fitted with six of these brackets, three at the top of each end. A 1/4” x 8” aluminum backing plate was used to attach and strengthen these mounts.

Backing plate cut to size, holes drilled and tapped for mounting bolts.

Containment boxes prepped for backing plate and E-Track bracket installation.

Super Sliders affixed to bottom of containment boxes for ease of handling on interior carpet.

Three E-Tract rails fastened to deck to accommodate securement straps. Aluminum plate at floor level is runway for folded e-bikes. This box was slid rearward once back box was removed for storage at COW Barn. It primarily contains items typically kept in the TV with additional storage space, as needed, a trunk per se. Ratchet straps best used for non-towing vehicle use.

 

Box securement once e-bikes are deployed. Wider Cam straps best used for e-bikes and subsequent box securement when traveling. Rear box is for camping ‘stuff’, forward as a truck and more ‘stuff’.

Driver’s side box securement using ratchet straps.

View of e-bikes ready for ‘takeoff’ on runway!

Cam strap securing e-bike.

Ratchet straps for spare propane tank, generator and other needs.

 

Items too long for the containment boxes are stowed behind at side panel. 

Oliver-mounted hoist used to transfer box at storage facility.

TV moved forward to enable box positioning. Cam straps used for the lift.

Containment box lowered onto platform cart.

Liking the modular containment storage.

Edited December 14 by Ronbrink

[Tom and Doreen]

It was nice to meet you at the Texas Rally!   You've come up with some really clever ideas, nice work! The crane is impressive as well! 

[Steph and Dud B]

Smart. Nothing heavy in our back seats except the impact wrench and torque limiting extensions, which are under the front seats to contain them in an impact. 

I once saw a guy killed by the small red steel toolbox in the bed of his pickup. He went head on with a tri-axle dump truck at about 50 MPH and his toolbox flew through the truck cap window and rear truck window, hit him in the head, then kept going through his windshield and dented the hood of the dump truck just below its windshield. The pickup driver was killed instantly. The truck driver was lucky it didn't get him, too.

(The cause of the accident was an impatient small car that passed the dump truck in the fog, then cut in front of him and braked hard when she saw the oncoming pickup. This caused the rear tires of the empty dump truck to skid out and the dump truck crossed the center line into the pickup. The car driver kept going but called 911 to say she had witnessed an accident. She was charged with vehicular homicide.)

[jd1923]

2 hours ago, Tom and Doreen said:

It was nice to meet you at the Texas Rally!   You've come up with some really clever ideas, nice work! The crane is impressive as well! 

You too Tom! Didn't we meet at the dump station upon leaving? Too bad it wasn't a few days sooner!

I met Ron at the Rally and what a pleasure to meet this Southern Gentleman! Can I say @Ronbrink is a nut? 🤣 Or perhaps a pack rat?! Love the guy and I know we've learned a lot from each other on this forum, long before meeting in person.

There is NOBODY more prepared than Ron, though I must say, I have not yet met Steve! 🤣 @ScubaRx Hoping we will run into each other soon. I have the first week of Feb open to get down to Quartzsite, or points between!

I prefer to pack a bit lighter than Ron, and Steve, but their mods are the tops! EXCELLENT well-presented post here. Thank you Ron, for posting ALL your great work! I've copied more than a couple of your mods.

[topgun2]

1 hour ago, jd1923 said:

There is NOBODY more prepared than Ron, though I must say, I have not yet met Steve! 🤣 @ScubaRx Hoping we will run into each other soon. I have the first week of Feb open to get down to Quartzsite, or points between!

I'm guessing that ScubaRx might take this as some sort of challenge.  I'd also bet that he'd win.

Bill

[jd1923]

16 minutes ago, topgun2 said:

I'm guessing that ScubaRx might take this as some sort of challenge.  I'd also bet that he'd win. Bill

Likely not a fair competition! Ron has only had 4 years with his Oliver, me a poor little 18 months now.

Steve is the original Oliver Pioneer! 😂

Edited December 14 by jd1923

[Ronbrink]

21 hours ago, Tom and Doreen said:

It was nice to meet you at the Texas Rally!   You've come up with some really clever ideas, nice work! The crane is impressive as well! 

Your Oliver really enhanced our campsite view, take care!

[Tom and Doreen]

On 12/14/2024 at 1:31 PM, jd1923 said:

...Didn't we meet at the dump station upon leaving? Too bad it wasn't a few days sooner!

It was great to meet you too, and yes it was at the dump station!  Hopefully we'll see you at the National Rally!?