Dumpmapper

Hauling & loading · · 4 min read

Containing Brush with a Cargo Net

Branches spring out of a bed unless they are cut, stacked, and netted or tarped. A cargo net helps only when the brush is already trimmed to the bed.

Tags: brush · cargo net · yard waste

Cut it down to the container

A limb that sticks out past the sides will escape a net and can strike another vehicle. Cut branches to a length that fits inside the bed or trailer, with butt ends pointing the same way so the pile can lie down. Strip long whips. Do not arrive with a tree still shaped like a tree and expect a net to shrink it. Ask the site about length limits before you cut, so you are not cutting twice. Leaves and grass belong in containers or bags the site accepts, not in a net that sifts them onto the road.

Net, tarp, or both

A cargo net holds springy brush that a loose tarp cannot grip, and a tarp stops leaves and sawdust that a net lets through. For a mixed pile of branches and leaves, use both: stack the brush, net it, then cover it if dust or leaves will blow. Hook the net to real anchors all the way around. A net hooked only at the corners will open in the middle. Push down and attach. If the pile is taller than the rails, it is too tall. Remove a layer. Height is how brush hits bridges, signs, and the scale-house roof.

Unload without flinging sticks

Unhook the net from the side, not by throwing it into the lane. Watch for a branch under tension. It will jump when the net releases. Pull limbs off in the direction the attendant wants, usually onto the brush pile and not into the travel path. Shake the net out in the bay so you are not carrying half the tree back home in the mesh. If the site refused long limbs, take them home and cut them. Do not snap them off against the gate.

Before you go

  1. Cut brush so it fits inside the bed with no side overhang.
  2. Stack limbs in one direction and net them to real anchors.
  3. Add a tarp if leaves or dust can sift through the net.
  4. Release the net carefully and unload onto the brush pile only.

Throwing a net over an uncut tree that still hangs past both taillights.

Questions people ask

Will a net satisfy an uncovered-load rule?

Ask the site. Some accept a net for brush and still want a tarp. Read the fee sheet or call.

Can thorny brush go in the same pile?

Ask. Some sites want thorny material separated. Either way, wear gloves and keep it inside the net, not draped over the sides.

Search Dumpmapper by ZIP code or city, then call the site before you load the truck. Hours and accepted materials change.

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