Transporting multiple prisoners in the same squad car is a rare practice these days, and for good reason. Protecting those in front from those in back is challenging enough; even when everyone is belted and handcuffed, multiprisoner transport adds the requirements of protecting them from each other and preventing any conferring and conspiring. Thus, under normal circumstances, each prisoner gets their own transport vehicle.
That leaves a lot of unused backseat space, though – space that could be used to transport some of the growing assortment of equipment and gear officers carry in their daily activities. That load keeps increasing – tactical equipment, less-lethal weapons, first aid gear and more – but you certainly can’t keep potential weapons or high-value items within an arrested passenger’s reach.
To make use of that valuable space, Setina – the original creator of police vehicle partitions and a manufacturer and upfitter for law enforcement vehicles for more than 60 years – developed its Transportation “Max” (Trans Max) single-prisoner transport and interior cargo storage solution for crew-cab pickup trucks. The Trans Max creatively converts the half of the backseat not occupied by a prisoner into secure storage space with shelving and a drawer to hold key items, protected from the prisoner by a sturdy polycarbonate divider wall.
The Trans Max’s availability has now been extended to police SUVs.
“We got a lot of feedback on the Trans Max, and people loved it, but they may have purchased it for their trucks back when supply chain issues were making SUVs hard to get,” said Brett Ware, Setina’s national sales manager. “They used it and liked it, but now they’re able to get SUVs. So this extension has really been customer-driven – it’s something they’ve been asking for.”
KEY FEATURES CARRY OVER
The Trans Max for SUVs retains the same key features that distinguished the crew-cab version, including a large, heavy-duty cargo drawer; integrated storage for radios and electronics; an aluminum driver’s-side door panel; and, on some models, an included prisoner transport seat with the company’s center-pull Smartbelt restraint system. Optional features can include an upper storage deck, passenger-side door panels, and side and rear window barriers.
Setina
The Trans Max for SUVs retains the same key features that distinguished the crew-cab version, including a large, heavy-duty cargo drawer; integrated storage for radios and electronics; an aluminum driver’s-side door panel; and, on some models, an included prisoner transport seat with the company’s center-pull Smartbelt restraint system. Optional features can include an upper storage deck, passenger-side door panels, and side and rear window barriers.
Expanding the Trans Max to SUVs is a logical next step in Setina’s extensive catalog of vehicle solutions. These started with the initial police vehicle partition developed by founder and family patriarch John Setina in 1963 – an innovation that earned the first patent of its type. That grew into offering a range of products that includes prisoner partitions and transport seating, push bumpers and fender wraps, firearm mounting, bike racks, window barriers and cargo storage for sedans, trucks, vans, and mid- and full-size SUVs.
The initial Trans Max for trucks rolled out around three years ago – just about the time COVID-19 and chip shortages were disrupting public safety’s ability to procure many vehicles, SUVs among them. Pickups – generally more used by law enforcement in rural and border applications – grew in popularity as an alternative. On the plus side, they could carry a lot of stuff. The downside, however, was that items could be hard to secure. Even locking cargo boxes in truck beds are left exposed when no one’s with the vehicle, and items in the bed can be difficult to retrieve quickly if a scene goes south.
“Our tag for the Trans Max was ‘a trunk for the truck,’” said Ware. “Trucks are great for law enforcement; they can haul a lot of equipment. You can even put a box in the bed. But a lot of equipment officers carry, no matter what you put it in, it’s not ideal to have it on the exterior of the vehicle. This is a way to bring it inside.”
The SUV version premiered at the 2023 International Association of Chiefs of Police Conference in San Diego. For attendees still being asked to tote more equipment and capabilities around with them each day, it was a welcome advance.
“Our tag for the Trans Max was ‘a trunk for the truck,’” said Ware. “Trucks are great for law enforcement; they can haul a lot of equipment. You can even put a box in the bed. But a lot of equipment officers carry, no matter what you put it in, it’s not ideal to have it on the exterior of the vehicle. This is a way to bring it inside.”
Setina
“We’ve heard for several years now the chatter about officers being asked to carry more and more equipment – it’s been a really big change,” noted Ware. That’s included medical gear like tourniquets, naloxone and AEDs; electronics like computers and drones; PPE and tactical gear; and firearms and less-lethal weapons systems.
The Trans Max for SUVs comes with options that include an upper shelf and a rear partition mount for electronics with a cover that folds forward into the cargo space. Tie-down points help keep things secure. The lower drawer can accommodate most long guns, including standard-length shotguns and collapsible AR stocks. It’s constructed from a steel skeleton and aircraft-grade aluminum to optimize its combination of strength and light weight.
ADDITIONAL SOLUTIONS MAXIMIZE STORAGE
Additional cargo solutions from Setina can also help departments make efficient use of the space behind the transportee in police SUVs. Storage systems can feature multiple tiers and configurations, including an optional third tier for electronics, and designs include durable boxes with advanced locking systems (RFID, keypad, combination and handle key locks). Lower slide-out trays can hold up to 300 pounds. Universal design allows quick installation in any SUV with no drilling.
For a simple option, Setina’s aluminum Easy-Lift Cargo Deck can replace the vehicle’s factory deck and provide secure storage for radios, electronics and other valuable cargo.
All solutions are durably constructed and rigorously tested to ensure optimal performance.
“That’s why the auto manufacturers like us: because everything is well tested,” said company vice president Judy Setina, John’s daughter. “If somebody’s going to put something on one of their vehicles, they want to make sure it’s tested, and we set the standard for it.”
For more information, visit Setina.
