Why
have a cargo barrier and what is the best cargo barriers?
Part of travel safety is to secure your load and that includes items such as
luggage, cooking gear, recovery gear, portable refrigerators, toolboxes and
any other equipment stored in the rear of your motor vehicle. The force of
an impact from a frontal collision or a roll-over can see unrestrained cargo
in the rear of a vehicle hurtling forward or on top of both passengers and
driver resulting in injury or death.
Cargo barriers are available for passenger
wagons, hatchbacks, panel vans and 4WD/SUV
vehicles. Some cargo barriers are designed to
be used in more than one position eg: can be
moved forward when the rear seats are folded
down creating more cargo space. Other design
features are compatibility with child seat
restraints, carrying portable refrigeration and
for drawer storage systems.
Most cargo barrier mounting systems fasten to
existing bolt holes where rear seatbelts have
been removed and the bottom mountings fasten to
the seats out floor extensions. Some designs
feature a split system dividing the back cargo
area in half and can also provide a top shelf
for lighter gear.
Some brand names for cargo barriers are Milford
Cargo Barriers, Hayman Reese New Generation
Cargo Barriers, Black Widow Cargo Barriers, 4WD
Systems Cargo Barriers and Ausguard Cargo
Barriers. Cargo barriers are also available at
ARB, 4x4 stores and eBay.
If for some reason a cargo barrier is unsuitable
for you, Milford have a Safety Net design or a
Protecta Net design to cover or restrain
lightweight gear carried in the back of all
vehicles. Milford also have Gear Safe bag which
can be strapped in the back of the vehicle or on
the passenger seat.
A
good cargo barrier will have the following features:-
Compliance with Australian Standards
No need for drilling of extra holes
Powder coated steel mesh
Means of escape for a small child such as a an ‘access’ window in the
barrier or provision of a small hammer to break the glass
Rounded frame that moulds to the cargo area with little space for
objects to get through
Compatibility for your needs such as half piece systems or a full one
piece system
Compatibility for any side air bag feature on your existing vehicle
Although not designed as a roll cage, cargo barriers have been known to help
prevent the roof collapsing in completely in the event of a roll over of the
vehicle.
If your are considering the installation of a cargo barrier perhaps it would
be timely to also consider if you need a roller drawer storage system
because if you are in the market for the roller drawers the cargo barrier
will need to be compatible.
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