Storing Elastic Trailer Cargo Nets - Any User-friendly Techniques?

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

Surely I would not be Robinson Crusoe thinking that handling these trailer cargo nets are a PITA. What user-friendly ways have you come up to store and install these nets without having to spend half an hour untangling all the hooks prior to use?

I have thought of tying off each side's hooks with some twine. Or possibly bagging each single side's hooks in bag with a drawstring.

The transport authorities here frequently have blitzes on people taking loads of branches to the dump. I ratchet strap or rope tie the branches down. A blue plastic tarp is then thrown over the top of the branches. The tarp is then further secured by using the trailer cargo net. All this is repeated when I bring a load of mulch from the council dump home.

Any tips or tricks that work for you?

Kind regards
Lionel

[theelms66]

The net a have has the four corner hooks in yellow,the others are black that way one can tell where to start. Mark your corner hooks, see how you go.

[trout1105]

Have you thought of getting a mulcher so that you can use your own trimmings as mulch so that you don't have to take them to the tip and then bring mulch back [thumbsupbig]

[Blknight.aus]

I use a sand bag or pillow case with these.

sew a loop of rope to the bag, hook the hooks onto this so the net makes a kind of basket.
feed the bottom of the basket into the sand bag or pillow case, leave the loop with the hooks outside of the pillow case.
run a bit of cord around the neck of the bag to keep it all in place.

if you paint the corner hooks or get the different colour ones when its time to put it into use
undo the cord (I like to have a heap of excess length for this bit) tie it to one corner hook and the corner of your trailer.
stretch the diagonally opposite corner into place
stretch the hook with the cord into its final place
work your way around the trailer and anchor the rest.
You may need to do the remaining 2 corners first if you're going near the limits of the net.

[W&KO]

I just use a tarp the same size as trailer, leaves gaps between tarp and side of trailer when loaded, never had an issue, come to think of it never seen a blitz in Brisbane.

[Saitch]

I hang mine up in the shed on two hooks. It still hates me, though! :wallbash:
162950

[Lionelgee]

The net a have has the four corner hooks in yellow,the others are black that way one can tell where to start. Mark your corner hooks, see how you go.

Hello The Elms,

The two nets I bought have red corner hooks. To cover the trailer I have to join the nets side by side.

Having the corners marked does make things easier while untangling the mess. Two red hooks hopefully marks a good place to start to sort out the rat's nest.

However, the red hooks do not prevent the rat's nest forming.

Kind regards
Lionel

[gavinwibrow]

Hello The Elms,

The two nets I bought have red corner hooks. To cover the trailer I have to join the nets side by side.

Having the corners marked does make things easier while untangling the mess. Two red hooks hopefully marks a good place to start to sort out the rat's nest.

However, the red hooks do not prevent the rat's nest forming.

Kind regards
Lionel

Thinking laterally, what about a piece of say 6" poly pipe with a couple of holes for 2 hooks at each end, then roll up?

[scarry]

Have you thought of getting a mulcher so that you can use your own trimmings as mulch so that you don't have to take them to the tip and then bring mulch back [thumbsupbig]

I mulch everything here,branches,lawn trimmings,etc.

The occasional thing that is left over such as the end of a palm frond ends up in the wheely bin.

Although i have just about felled every palm tree as i hate the bloody things.

All the larger logs are kept for fire wood.

But a good petrol mulcher is needed such as a Greenfield.

[Hoges]

I finally worked out (slow learner) it was easier and quicker to remove all the hooks from the net and store the net and hooks in a couple of green Woolies bags. It takes less than a minute to unravel and spread over the load...the hooks are then easily attached as required....

[ramblingboy42]

get el cheapo blue plastic tarp and roll the net up in the tarp, it's still soft enough to then fold up to stow.

reverse the procedure when putting it on

simples

[Blknight.aus]

another one I'm just going to calmly steal from the guy on the construction yard adjacent to where I was today.

piece of poly pipe with a cap on one end and a hole with a rope pulled through the cap on one end. The rope has a hook one one end and he had an eye splice on the end outside the tube. Slots cut into the open end for the hooks.

clip the hook from the rope to the middle of the net and pull it into the tube, place the hooks in the slots then put the cap on the top. (you may need to feed the net in a little)

[Don 130]

I bought enough newborn baby socks to put over the hooks. It stops them catching on the net. Spread it out then pull the socks off as you attach the hooks. stuff the socks into one or two socks to store them while the net is in use. I also store my cargo straps in socks. (bigger ones)
Don.