► Garrick Herbert | Cargo Nets

Secure Load Restraint for Utes, Trailers & Transport

Loose gear can shift long before a vehicle reaches its destination. Garrick Herbert Cargo Nets provide a practical way to restrain suitable loads across ute trays, trailers, service vehicles & transport applications where multiple items need to be contained under one adaptable restraint.

Unlike a single strap that applies restraint along one line, a cargo net spreads coverage across a broader area. That makes it particularly useful for irregular loads, mixed equipment & lighter items that can be difficult to contain individually. The net still needs to be matched to the load, attachment points & transport conditions before departure.

Setting up a complete restraint system? Load Restraint Equipment provides complementary equipment for securing suitable loads, while Tie Downs & Straps can provide more targeted restraint where individual items require their own securing points.

Cover the load, connect to suitable anchor points & check the restraint again before the vehicle moves.

What Are Garrick Herbert Cargo Nets?

Cargo nets are flexible load-containment systems designed to extend across suitable transported goods & connect to appropriate restraint points around a vehicle, trailer or carrying platform.

Their interconnected mesh gives them a different role from an individual ratchet strap. Instead of concentrating restraint along one narrow path, the net can cover multiple contact points across an irregular or mixed load.

That makes cargo nets particularly useful around:

► Ute trays
► Trailers
► Service vehicles
► Maintenance vehicles
► Workshop transport
► Site equipment
► Landscaping gear
► Mixed tools & supplies
► Suitable irregular loads

A cargo net isn't a substitute for assessing the load properly. Heavy machinery, individual high-mass items or equipment requiring dedicated restraint may need additional or different load-restraint equipment.

Why Choose A Cargo Net?

Imagine a tray carrying several awkward items rather than one clean rectangular load.

Running individual straps across every piece can quickly become complicated. A correctly selected cargo net can provide broad containment across suitable mixed loads while adapting to variations in shape & position.

The main advantage is coverage.

A cargo net can be particularly practical when:

► Several suitable items travel together
► Load heights vary across the tray
► Smaller pieces need broader containment
► The vehicle is loaded & unloaded regularly
► Equipment shapes make individual restraint awkward
► A reusable restraint solution is preferred

Where heavy items need moving into position before transport, Material Handling Equipment provides complementary options for suitable workshop & site handling tasks.

Common Applications

Trade Utes & Service Vehicles

A ute tray can change completely between the morning departure & the final trip home.

Tools, parts, materials & site supplies may be added or removed throughout the day, making adaptable restraint useful where the load remains suitable for net containment.

Before driving away, check that the net sits correctly over the load & that every connection is secure.

Trailers Carrying Mixed Equipment

One mower is straightforward. A mower surrounded by fuel-safe equipment, hand tools, containers & landscaping gear creates a different restraint problem.

Cargo nets can help contain suitable mixed loads across trailers where individual items vary in shape. Heavier equipment may still require dedicated restraints independent of the net.

Civil & Maintenance Crews

Site work often means moving equipment between locations rather than unloading once at the beginning of the day.

Cargo nets can suit appropriate maintenance supplies, barriers, equipment & other compatible items carried on vehicles or trailers. Equipping A Civil Road Crew provides additional guidance around preparing equipment for mobile civil work.

Workshop-To-Site Transport

Finished components, equipment & supplies sometimes need to leave the workshop together.

Before loading, separate items that require dedicated restraint from those suitable for broader containment. That prevents the cargo net from being expected to control a load it wasn't selected to restrain.

Landscaping & Property Maintenance

Bulky doesn't always mean heavy.

Suitable landscaping equipment, empty containers & awkwardly shaped supplies can occupy substantial tray or trailer space while remaining difficult to secure neatly with one conventional strap.

A cargo net can provide broad coverage, provided the load & restraint arrangement are suitable.

Seasonal Jobsite Preparation

Busy periods often mean more gear moving between workshop, vehicle & site.

Reviewing nets, straps, anchor points & transport equipment before workload increases can uncover damage while replacement equipment is still easy to organise. Spring Jobsite Prep – Getting Your Gear Ready covers wider equipment-readiness considerations.

Product Selection Guide

Start With The Loaded Area – Not The Empty Tray

A common mistake is measuring the vehicle while it is empty.

Cargo net selection should consider the actual dimensions of the loaded area, including the height & shape of the goods the net needs to cover.

A useful sequence is:

Load dimensions → Load type → Net coverage → Attachment points → Restraint requirements → Final inspection

The net needs sufficient usable coverage for the intended arrangement without being selected solely because its nominal dimensions resemble the tray size.

Cargo Net Or Ratchet Straps?

The answer depends on what is being carried.

This isn't an either-or decision. A cargo net & individual restraints can perform different jobs on the same load.

For additional securing hardware, Ratchet Straps can complement net restraint where suitable items require more concentrated control.

When A Cargo Net Shouldn't Do The Whole Job?

A net covering the entire tray can look secure while an individual heavy item underneath still has room to move.

That's the distinction between covering a load & adequately restraining every part of it.

Machinery, heavy toolboxes, cylinders, equipment with significant mass & other concentrated loads may require dedicated restraints suited to their weight, shape & available anchor points.

Don't use extra net tension as a substitute for selecting the correct restraint method.

Where loads involve lifting or positioning before they are secured for transport, Heavy Lifting & Rigging Gear covers equipment for separate lifting & rigging applications.

Check The Attachment Points

A strong restraint connected to an unsuitable point doesn't create a strong system.

Before tensioning a cargo net, inspect the attachment locations around the vehicle or trailer. They need to be appropriate for the restraint arrangement & positioned so the net can cover the load effectively.

Avoid improvising around components that weren't intended to act as restraint points.

Pay particular attention to:

► Attachment-point condition
► Net position
► Connection security
► Load movement beneath the net
► Contact with sharp surfaces
► Excess material
► Clearance from wheels & moving components

Once everything is connected, walk around the load rather than inspecting it from only one side.

Don't Ignore Edges, Hooks & Abrasion

Cargo nets live a harder life than their storage size suggests.

They can be dragged across trays, pulled around corners, exposed to dirty equipment & stored alongside sharp tools. Over time, abrasion or damaged components can compromise the restraint.

Inspect the net before use for obvious:

► Cuts
► Fraying
► Worn sections
► Damaged mesh
► Distorted fittings
► Damaged hooks or connectors
► Deterioration around high-contact areas

If its condition raises doubt, don't rely on it simply because it covered the same load yesterday.

The same principle applies across frequently used trade equipment. 7 Signs Your Power Tool Needs a Service Before It Fails on Site looks at recognising deterioration before equipment failure interrupts work.

A Better Pre-Departure Check

Thirty seconds spent around the vehicle can reveal something that wasn't obvious while loading.

Before moving off:

Look underneath the net.
Make sure the load itself is arranged appropriately rather than relying on the net to correct poor placement.

Check every connection.
Confirm hooks, fittings & attachment points are correctly engaged.

Look for gaps.
Smaller objects shouldn't be able to work free through or around the restraint.

Check vulnerable contact areas.
Edges & abrasive surfaces can damage restraint equipment.

Remove loose excess.
Nothing should be able to hang into wheels, moving parts or other hazardous areas.

Recheck during the journey when required.
Loads can settle after departure, particularly over uneven roads or site access.

Expert Tips

Measure the load in its working shape. Tray dimensions alone don't tell you how much net coverage is needed once equipment is stacked above the sides.

Separate containment from restraint. A net can cover suitable mixed items while heavier components may require their own dedicated securing method.

Load deliberately before adding the net. Stable placement makes restraint easier than trying to correct a poorly arranged load afterwards.

Protect high-wear contact points. Repeated abrasion against sharp or rough surfaces can shorten the service life of restraint equipment.

Inspect the connections as closely as the mesh. Hooks, fittings & attachment points matter just as much as the net material.

Keep the net properly stored between jobs. Throwing it into a tray with sharp tools & scrap can damage it before the next use.

Recheck after the load settles. The restraint that was correctly positioned at departure may need attention after travelling over rough access roads.