basket

gold dandelion · Senior Member

basket

Possum3 · Guru

GD, I notice that you are in WA, perhaps if you advise the district that you need to find a metal fabricator, some one may be able to make a recommendation - otherwise I suggest you look up metal fabricators in Google or some other search engine.

-- Edited by Possum3 on Monday 4th of October 2021 11:15:59 PM

peatop · Senior Member

Yeah given it's a specialty type of thing you probably need it fabricated, so give some thought as to what it's to carry and then look at the material that best suits it's construction, wire grating, expanded mesh(catwalk) or maybe just perforated steel.

gold dandelion · Senior Member

thanks, they are all too busy in my area,

oldbloke · Guru

Just "fix" some type of mesh under the A frame. A frame then forms the side of the basket as you call it.

Mike Harding · Guru

I can't help with a source but I suggest it needs a lid, following traffic will not appreciate a log suddenly appearing at speed from under your caravan.

Possum3 · Guru

Mike Harding wrote:
I can't help with a source but I suggest it needs a lid, following traffic will not appreciate a log suddenly appearing at speed from under your caravan.

In NSW & SA - unless firewood, etc is tied/secured a severe penalty may be incurred, more so if it causes death or injury. Uncovered loads - Demerits, penalties and offences - Roads - Roads and Waterways Transport for NSW

yobarr · Guru

Mike Harding wrote:
I can't help with a source but I suggest it needs a lid, following traffic will not appreciate a log suddenly appearing at speed from under your caravan.

I like Neil's suggestion of a mesh under the "A" frame,with maybe a cargo net as a simple "cover"? Cheers

watsea · Guru

Making a mesh basket is pretty easy as long as you have a source of mesh. I made a mesh roof basket with a piece of (slightly) damaged concrete reinforcement mesh, purchased from a reinforcement supplier. It was cheap. Cut mesh to transportable sizes for bringing home.

Cut pattern for basket at home. Bent mesh using hammer (hitting) against timber block for squareness. Tube welded to top.

You could also make a basket using mesh panels and fastening the panels together, like gabions that hold rocks.

Maybe you can get rock gabion panels from a supplier or perhaps a hardware.

I will try to attach a pic of my roof basket. Currently it hangs from the ceiling in my garage

oldbloke · Guru

yobarr wrote:
Mike Harding wrote:
I can't help with a source but I suggest it needs a lid, following traffic will not appreciate a log suddenly appearing at speed from under your caravan.
I like Neil's suggestion of a mesh under the "A" frame,with maybe a cargo net as a simple "cover"? Cheers

Agree, must be secured and old net is what I have. Personally I wouldn't be carrying too much on the A frame, adds to TBW..

What I suggested is fairly common. That's what came with our van. I reckon the ally mesh from a security door would be good. About 50mm grid.

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Bobdown · Guru

gold dandelion wrote:
Anyone know if anyone makes/sells mesh baskets I can put on the A-frame of my van, for wood and a few loose items.
thanks

Hi Robert,

I made a wood basket out of some weld-mesh to fit between rear bumper and van, really easy. Retreat wanted $900 for a diamond mesh heavy duty one.

Fits quite a few pieces of wood but not too much weight-wise, probably $30, a few clamps and some silver spray paint.

Cheers Bob

PeterD · Guru

If you install a basket to carry odds and ends, make sure you use secure straps to hold the bits in there. Some of our fellow caravan club members went to one of the van weighing and check sessions. One of them has one of those baskets welded between the draw bar members. He thought he would get through without any adverse comments until the copper spied the basket and the bungee cords across the top of the load. He was politely informed that an inspector would not consider the load to be secured when he is using bungee cords.

dabbler · Guru

I have a firewood box on the TD draw bar in front of the main storage box. It's angled on the sides so it doesn't interfere with turning and manoeuvring Frankly it doesn't hold much and I carry my clean firewood in the ute tub. It's good for firewood I collect though.

oldbloke · Guru

deleted

-- Edited by oldbloke on Tuesday 5th of October 2021 03:56:03 PM

oldbloke · Guru

bdown wrote:
gold dandelion wrote:
Anyone know if anyone makes/sells mesh baskets I can put on the A-frame of my van, for wood and a few loose items.
thanks
Hi Robert,
I made a wood basket out of some weld-mesh to fit between rear bumper and van, really easy. Retreat wanted $900 for a diamond mesh heavy duty one.
Fits quite a few pieces of wood but not too much weight-wise, probably $30, a few clamps and some silver spray paint.
Cheers Bob

LOL Good job.

Whenarewethere · Guru

oldbloke wrote:
yobarr wrote:
Mike Harding wrote:
I can't help with a source but I suggest it needs a lid, following traffic will not appreciate a log suddenly appearing at speed from under your caravan.
I like Neil's suggestion of a mesh under the "A" frame,with maybe a cargo net as a simple "cover"? Cheers
Agree, must be secured and old net is what I have. Personally I wouldn't be carrying too much on the A frame, adds to TBW..
What I suggested is fairly common. That's what came with our van. I reckon the ally mesh from a security door would be good. About 50mm grid.

I have a bronze coloured door in the garage picked up from a council clear up years ago. Still haven't decided if I have a use for it!

oldbloke · Guru

Sell it to a grey nomad that needs to make a tray for fire wood and hoses.

bomurra · Veteran Member

Hi Robert,

Have you tried the manufacturer of your van, or your chassis. They should be able to assist you.

Regards

Bob.

gold dandelion · Senior Member

thanks for all your help, I like Bob Downs idea, might run with that, then if they fly out they won't damage my under van, Ha Ha.

Old and Grey · Senior Member

Hi GD,

Rhino rack make a 2100mm x600mm.

I brought one of Ebay as new second hand for $100

Regards Grey

Bobdown · Guru

Old and Grey wrote:
Hi GD,
Rhino rack make a 2100mm x600mm.
I brought one of Ebay as new second hand for $100
Regards Grey

That's no good Grey, everything will fall out coz you put it on upside down...........lol smile

Actually, it looks a bit wide, maybe a jack-knife hazard, handy for your boat trailer though.

Old and Grey · Senior Member

Bobdown wrote:
Old and Grey wrote:
Hi GD,
Rhino rack make a 2100mm x600mm.
I brought one of Ebay as new second hand for $100
Regards Grey
That's no good Grey, everything will fall out coz you put it on upside down...........lol
Actually, it looks a bit wide, maybe a jack-knife hazard, handy for your boat trailer though.

Hi Bobdown,

These dam mobile phone things, Turn it this way, that way, Still comes out side ways, or upside down. never mind, 22,000km on this trip zero over board. The trailer has 2 x J clamps that hold it to the A frame the rest is held in place by rachet straps.

I should have added that our van has a factory inhouse build extended A frame of 300mm by Jayco. Lock to lock the rear of my GX 200 can not make contact with the basket.

I found out the hard way a few years back with a 1200mm x 900mm basket. cost me an $800 excess for a new rear bumper and light, in the bumper. me bad.

Grey

Possum3 · Guru

I was just driving down the street and saw several abandoned "Shopping Trolleys". I then noticed a small half size one, didn't measure it but I would guess by its shape it would fit a draw bar perfectly. There were larger ones there as well where the "Hinged back" (to allow trolley stacking) would fit as a cover/lid to a smaller basket. Ipso facto if you could obtain some mangled trolleys about to be dumped, or fish one out of a river - Bob's your uncle, Mary's your aunt.