I know different country to most of insurers on here, but what would the view be taken on the following option available..

scenario : transportation of a standard olympic barbell. Approx 7ft long in a car. It is too long to fit in the boot only.

Option 1 - fold rear seat down, it goes through the cabin. Likely to have other equipment in the boot also

Option 2 - mount a securely fastened at each end tube onto a standard roof rail by bolting a bracket through the rail and into the tube. Thus it is firmly fixed outside the vehicle and cannot move. Seat backs remain in place with equipment in boot.

I have a friend hoping to start a personal and team fitness business next yr and he is looking at vehicle options, but short of a transit the above options are only way i can see to move it around.

Would there be any insurance issues with either method?

Cheers

An Estate Car, and on the Roof Bars (Cross Bars) a 3 Meter Pipe Carrier, Cut down or left as bought, use inserts at both ends to be sure the bar or bars being carried do not slide.  Secure Locks on the Rack.   & Also Blacked Out Tinted rear Windows.

http://demarvan.co.uk/pipe-carriers

Then the Business / Commercial Insurance required for transportation of Equipment and covering his needs.

 

Maybe a Double Cab Pickup and a rolltop bed cover.

Then the vehicle is very useful for carry more equipment if ever needed, Rowing Machines, Bikes etc etc.

 

EDIT.

Keep it simple,

quick to load and un-load,

ie a professional looking set up.

Edited 7 April, 201610 yr by GoneOffSKi

"Olympic standard barbell" - I presume this is the plain bar that the weight discs are attached to? If so, then it should slide down between the passenger seat and the B post.

Yup standard bar. Im liking that roof set up though, id like for him to not nees seats dropped as swmbo has a colleague whose son was killed when his toolbox came forward from the back of his golf van...

It would also give him a more professional looking setup than just a load of gear stuffed into a car..

Should also add... hes looking at saloons at the minute, passats superbs mostly. But a standard car set of roof rails would still work with this. And, given i know a 2.4m length of timber will fit in the octavia from dash through to parcel shelf, this would work fine - no over hang of the bumpers... ive sent him your link george

Decided to give you a best answer george, not always sure whether your replies are being sarcky or cynical but credit due - youre bob on with the above and me buddy likes the idea too

One caution on the pipe carriers is that the specific one and it's end doors would need to be made for the intended purpose of transporting a solid rod, as with any free movement back or forward inside, it could under hard braking be like a roof mounted spear. If carrier is slightly longer then the bar itself, I would want a bit of wood the shape of the carrier to make it a perfect fit with no movement at all possible.

The Golf toolbox story is a sad and scary one. I remember the issue of unsecured objects in boot being brought up years ago on something like old old Top Gear (but was some other show) and showing in crash tests loose jacks etc being able to breach the rear seats when locked in their normal position. The best advice being to never have anything loose of course, but second to that something I have always done is leave all rear seat belts fastened despite no one sitting in them. In the tests on that show, it made one hell of a difference and stuck with me to this day.  

Interesting note on the seat belts..

My intention for him if the option sat well once he gets a vehicle, was that we would make up a couple of "end covers" for the bar to fil it out, stop it rattling and fill the end voids. Also only get the 2.5m carrier - as its only then got 6inches to fill at each end rather than 2.5ft... also reinforce and fix the front end cap closed - make it rear load only, so less risk of it becoming an improvised missile launcher..