My survey chariot and signage.
Dave Lindell asked how I survey out of a Ford Escape, and I told him that I would take a few pictures and post them… so here they are.
This a close up pic of my drivers side door signage. It’s a magnetic sign that I can pull off if I’m somewhere that I don’t want to be noticed. This is in reference to B.L. Hindmans question of advertising on your survey vehicle.
The full view of my survey chariot.
The back of the “survey shortbus”. I don’t have dividers per se, but everything has a place and it fits. I have more than enough stuff for a solo guy.
Same thing with the robot packed up and prism pole broken down.
My assortment of prism poles, my bi-pod, 8lb sledge, digging bar, a few 3′ and 4′ lath, shovel, machete and belt, 1/2″ and 3/4″ Iron Pipes of various lengths. Also intermixed is various lengths of “McMillans” (1/2″ PVC pipe used for witnesses/line/whatever).
My “little stuff” area. Loaded nails, rolls of flagging in use, punches, 4lb hammer, hand tapes, markers, plumb bob, peanut prism, rasp, channel locks, BanTam radios, etc. My tripod fits perfectly, and my Shonstedt is under that in its case.
And then there is my “other stuff” basket/area. Safety vest, rolls of flagging, TP, cones, carry bucket, lots of extra nails in the bin, 100′ fiberglass chain, sunscreen, bug repellent, etc.It’s not perfect, but I’ve got everything that I need for about 99% of the surveying that I do. And if I need to tote some friends around, it takes me about 5 minutes to shuffle stuff around so that I can put the back seat up.
- 35 Replies
Be Careful out there!
In case of an accident, you have a lot of sharp items pointed at the passenger compartment, that could become missles.
Be Careful out there!
> In case of an accident, you have a lot of sharp items pointed at the passenger compartment, that could become missles.
Interesting… I hadn’t really thought about that. But all the other rigs I’ve been in have had stuff even higher up and uncovered…
It’s something to consider for sure. Thanks.
Only one set of legs? Dang I travel with three.
> Only one set of legs? Dang I travel with three.
I don’t have extra OP’s and such. I have 2 or 3 other sets of legs, I just don’t need them without the OP’s. I do okay with my traversing as I do it now.
Be Careful out there!
I keep all the ‘pointy’ ends toward the back of the vehicle.
I figured if I got in a wreck I’d be less likely to get impaled by my survey equipment.
Be Careful out there!
> I keep all the ‘pointy’ ends toward the back of the vehicle.
>
> I figured if I got in a wreck I’d be less likely to get impaled by my survey equipment.:good:
I do try to get the points nuzzled up next to the flipped seat, but I don’t always remember.
Thanks John.
It can be done…. I have surveyed out of a Jeep Wrangler… I just loaded what I needed for the project that day.
Be Careful out there!
Carl, please take Steve Corley’s warning into careful consideration and get you a screen barrier in place. I helped work an accident one time when a van hit a small pickup. The driver of the van had a mobile service for washers and dryers and had many tools and parts inside the van. When the wreck occurred, almost all of the tools and parts flew past the driver and through the windshield. There was very little of anything left in the van, because everything was strewn in the right of way.
Dear Carl,
Thank you for contacting Davenport Survey Chariot Re-organization Inc. LLC PC. We have reviewed your compartment containing utilities of destruction and other necessary talents for your profession. Our fee will be gratus to organize and clean the CE (Chariot Extremities), including such cleaning as would be needed for the inside. This is a one time deal offered to those individuals who, well, are in need of such care.Feel free to contact us at 1-800-clean that damn truck!
Point those things the other way. we can’t afford to lose a Surveyor to an accident envisioned….
all in fun my friend…:)
It’s a sad commentary on the state of the UK but if you left your vehicle in a public place over here with all that kit visible inside there’s a good chance someone would break in and steal whatever looks the most valuable.
I sometimes use a VW Polo, it’s a small 2 door ‘hatchback’ I can get all the GPS kit concealed in the back end, tripod just fits across the way.
For a real travelling light job, I can pack the GPS receivers and data collector in a small backpack, store the dismantled pole inside the tripod and still have one hand free. A couple of pegs can be lashed to the tripod with shock cords.
I didn’t notice many stakes or any hubs. You must not do much construction staking. Actually, these days I haven’t done much of it myself!
Can you fit a 25′ level rod in there for measuring manhole depths?
Please note the 4 cell flash light that bounced around inside before it found a way out. It was in the rear door pocket.:-(
> I didn’t notice many stakes or any hubs. You must not do much construction staking. Actually, these days I haven’t done much of it myself!
>
> Can you fit a 25′ level rod in there for measuring manhole depths?I’ve got a small bundle of 18″ lath behind my instrument case. And no, I don’t do much staking around here.
I could probably fit a 25′ rod in there should I need to measure a manhole… but I haven’t measured one in several years, so why carry it just to carry it? If I have a project that requires something like that, I’ll carry it that day.
Be Careful out there!
> In case of an accident, you have a lot of sharp items pointed at the passenger compartment, that could become missles.
Please note Porsche “hatchbacks” come stock with tie hooks for bungee netting to contain loose items in the back.
I’ve surveyed out of a Ford Explorer for years. We always kept the rear seat in the upright position to provide a barrier for sudden stops, kept the legs pointed to the rear and kept the rods in pvc pipes attached to the rack on top of the truck. I recently rearranged the equipment to make room for a van style floor drawer. This caused me to have to lay down the seat and I’ve been concerned about the possible consequences ever since. The Explorer is getting up there in mileage so I see a pickup truck in my near future.
We quit using Suburbans and other open type chariots for the very reasons described. In an accident, there is no way to secure all of the spears and missels that surveyors use every day. We’ve settled on using 4wd trucks with steel camper enclosured. Work doors on the sides, and boxes with slots for the deadly items in the truck bed. The instrument is secured in the cab of the truck with the seatbelt, behind the driver.
~ Trent / http://www.geosurvey.com
I had an option on and wanted an identical looking vehicle a few years ago. It was too worn out in the drive train. Too many miles with no service schedule.
Having an interior headache rack of expanded metal will save lives during an accident.
I can just imagine how the laws of physics would be applied to the 8 lb sledge and 4 lb hammer in the unfortunate event of encountering a large “bump” in your travels.
It’d be tough to build a box for that rig to keep things together. Tough also to put a safety screen in there considering how the back seats are situated.
Maybe the safest and most efficient way would be to put together some equipment bags made out of canvas that could be strapped down. Make it easier to completely unload and also keep everything confined and contained.
> I can just imagine how the laws of physics would be applied to the 8 lb sledge and 4 lb hammer in the unfortunate event of encountering a large “bump” in your travels.
>
> It’d be tough to build a box for that rig to keep things together. Tough also to put a safety screen in there considering how the back seats are situated.
>
> Maybe the safest and most efficient way would be to put together some equipment bags made out of canvas that could be strapped down. Make it easier to completely unload and also keep everything confined and contained.Yeah… it’s got me thinking. I may find a way to cut a plexiglass barrier of some sort
to wedge in between the laid down seat and the front seats. Something/anything to stop fast flying debris.Looks good Carl. one of the more unique survey vehicles I worked out of was a ’78 CJ-7. 33″ tires, 304 w/ a 4 speed. Anyways, that company was able to fit a ‘box’ in the back end of that thing, the traffic cones went on poles mounted on each end of the front bumper.
You should be able to cobble together a box / tubes to contain the bigger loose stuff, w/ upper compartments for all that small stuff. As far as a barrier, I’d be surprised if some company doesnt already have something – security barrier or animal control barrier- for the Escape platform.
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