Carrying items on the roof? Is this legal or not?
Discussion
Folks...
I'm currently looking at the logistics involved in transporting a stair lift system from Fife down to Cornwall. The seat/motor assembly is fine, it will safely fit in the back of the car and can be secured down however it's the two sections of aluminium rail that are causing issues. They measure 7ft and 8ft in length and weigh in at 15kg and 17kg each.
I experiemented with putting them in the car, seats folded and poking through between the front seats like this...
...but that creates issues as it's a) unsecured b) creating an obstruction for reaching the gearstick/radio/her boobs and c) in the event of an accident, well... doesn't bear thinking about. Plus, I'd need to stack the two rails on top of each other thus creating more of an obstruction and not to mention having a combined weight of 32kg resting on the centre console. In short, I'm just not happy to do this.
So, I went back to the drawing board...
The new theory being to simply plonk the rails on the roof of the car (I'd use some rubber matting to help prevent them potentially moving) and then safely and securely attach them to the existing roof bars with a couple of hefty ratchet straps and so on. The aluminium rails don't protrude beyond the limits of the car, in fact only one overhangs the front screen by approx 6" and I'm happy then I can have the literally immobile so there is no chance of them moving.
However, in the eyes of the law... would this be acceptable or legally do I need to have the crossbars and then strap the load to this, although that said I'm not sure that the combined weight of the rails is too much for aftermarket cross bars, hence the theory was to sit them directly on the roof and securely attach them to the existing rails.
You input is greatly appreciated.
Dave
I'm currently looking at the logistics involved in transporting a stair lift system from Fife down to Cornwall. The seat/motor assembly is fine, it will safely fit in the back of the car and can be secured down however it's the two sections of aluminium rail that are causing issues. They measure 7ft and 8ft in length and weigh in at 15kg and 17kg each.
I experiemented with putting them in the car, seats folded and poking through between the front seats like this...
...but that creates issues as it's a) unsecured b) creating an obstruction for reaching the gearstick/radio/her boobs and c) in the event of an accident, well... doesn't bear thinking about. Plus, I'd need to stack the two rails on top of each other thus creating more of an obstruction and not to mention having a combined weight of 32kg resting on the centre console. In short, I'm just not happy to do this.
So, I went back to the drawing board...
The new theory being to simply plonk the rails on the roof of the car (I'd use some rubber matting to help prevent them potentially moving) and then safely and securely attach them to the existing roof bars with a couple of hefty ratchet straps and so on. The aluminium rails don't protrude beyond the limits of the car, in fact only one overhangs the front screen by approx 6" and I'm happy then I can have the literally immobile so there is no chance of them moving.
However, in the eyes of the law... would this be acceptable or legally do I need to have the crossbars and then strap the load to this, although that said I'm not sure that the combined weight of the rails is too much for aftermarket cross bars, hence the theory was to sit them directly on the roof and securely attach them to the existing rails.
You input is greatly appreciated.
Dave
As long as it is properly secured, I can't see any infringments with the law on this one. I am prepared to be corrected though!
The only thing you could get done for in this scenario, is driving with an insecure load. How and where they are attached to the car doesn't matter... so long as it's secure.
The only thing you could get done for in this scenario, is driving with an insecure load. How and where they are attached to the car doesn't matter... so long as it's secure.
Go for the cross bars: that way you can secure each length individually and spread the weight out across the width of the roof, rather than trying to secure several pieces as one. Re. weight, you'll be fine: the 850/V70 can carry up to 100Kg on the roof. A set of Halfords roof bars to suit your car is £80, and IIRC are rated to 75Kg.
For the sake of £30, I'd be tempted to just get some roof racks if only to avoid the chance of damaging the roof. I've got these on mine http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am... No affiliation other than being a happy customer.
There's only two sections of aluminium rail or track if you prefer so the plan was to secure each one to either of the Volvo rails so it'd only be one rail secured to one Volvo rail as it were, not several sections. I hear what you chaps are saying about a couple of bits of wood, but to my thinking that's more bits to secure and thus more bits to potentially move/slip/come loose on the road. Roof bars, granted they would be best however if I can avoid buying them for one the want of one trip, then excellent... but if it is necessary to stay legal then so be it. But, if securing the two rails to the two rails is deemed safe and legal, then that's good enough for me plus I'm not really bothered about scratching the roof or whatever.
Many thanks
Many thanks
wurumal said:
For the sake of £30, I'd be tempted to just get some roof racks if only to avoid the chance of damaging the roof. I've got these on mine http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am... No affiliation other than being a happy customer.
That's much better than £80 or the £120+ that Halfords want. Quite tempted to buy these, that way I can stick the bike on the roof and save folding the back seats down too.Thanks for posting that link, much appreciated.
Marty63 said:
I am surprised nobody has asked you to supply photos of item b3
I've had seven private messages so far... mmm-five said:
Can't you fold the front passenger seat flat and have them secured to that?
I thought about that however a) it doesn't fold totally flat and b) it's looking likely that for at least part of the journey (circa 200 miles) I'll have three passengers hence on top is pretty much the only option I think as having them through the centre is just too obstructive for the gearstick and handbrakeJohn D. said:
Can't you just leave the boot open and tie an old hi-vis to the end sticking out? Seems to be common practice 
Nope! I did the same last week whilst taking a decent sized wardrode to the dump. Within about a mile, the amount of diesel reek that back filled the car had almost killed me!Reminds me of the time I replaced my 2000 litre steel oil tank with a plastic one. Put it in the free ads, free to a good home. Bloke turned up an an Astra estate and proceeded to lift it onto the roofrack with his mate! Best of all he lashed it on with some twin and earth he happened to have in the back!!
He travelled 40 miles like that!! At least he was planning to......... I'm not sure if he made it.
He travelled 40 miles like that!! At least he was planning to......... I'm not sure if he made it.
R0G said:
If the load is secured so that in normal driving conditions it does not move, overlaod or interfere in any way with the safe driving of the vehicle then it is legal
It is that simple
That'll do for me chap. It is that simple
There's been several suggestions that I pop a couple of bits of wood across the car, lash them to the rails then lash the starilift rails to them but that just screams "more to go wrong" to me. So, on the basis of the advice given here, I'll wrap the rails in bubblewrap (save any damage to them, sod the car...) and then ratchet each to either of the Volvo's rails and run a couple of additional hook ended straps from each end of the stairlift rails, diagonally across the roof to the opposite side (ie in across formation) to prevent them slipping fore or aft.
I think that should be more than sufficient.
Many thanks chaps
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