Joshua Bourlet was on the verge of starting his own metal fabrication business in his hometown of Binalong after recently finishing his apprenticeship in Boorowa.

But on Monday, while on the way to pick up a new welder with his girlfriend Louise Magee, the 23-year-old was killed when an excavator bucket fell onto his ute from the trailer in front of him on Lachlan Valley Way about 10 kilometres from Boorowa.

Family friends remembered the "born and bred Binalong boy" as a loveable "ratbag" with a "big heart and a beautiful smile" who was still close to all his childhood friends.

After finishing his boiler maker apprenticeship at Corkhills Engineering in Boorowa Mr Bourlet worked briefly in Canberra before deciding to return to his hometown to start a business out of his late father's garage.

Mr Bourlet's father Greg was well-known in the town before dying from cancer in 2013.

Binalong's Kim Dawe said she had known Mr Bourlet since he was a baby and his death brought back the tragedy of his father's death for the closeknit communities of Binalong, Yass and Boorowa where he had lived.

"You've got three little villages who will be very devastated," she said.

Mrs Dawe said Mr Bourlet took his father's place on two Yass to Binalong Bash car rallies in the car Greg Bourlet owned with Mrs Dawe's husband Wayne, and David Bonnette.

"He kept his dad alive for a lot of us because he was so much like him, we feel like we have lost Greg all over again," she said.

"Every time you'd see him he'd just walk up and give you a cuddle and a kiss, for his age he was just so open hearted."

Another family friend Binalong's Libby Elliot said Mr Bourlet was mature for his age and knew what he wanted.

"It was just this freak accident, you keep saying if only he was two minutes later or had to go to the loo before he left he would have been fine, but you can't think like that," she said.

Mr Bourlet grew up with her son Graham Elliot who was just one month older and although the two separated for a time when Mr Bourlet's parents separated and he moved to Yass for high school they remained close.

"They've always done everything together, they went to [primary] school together," she said.

Binalong Brahmans rugby league president Ben Spencer said Mr Bourlet had only recently sent out the flyers and business cards for his Bourlet Engineering business and was on his way to pick up his welder at the time of the crash.

He said Mr Bourlet had become a "major part" of the senior team after beginning his first season with the club.

Players would pay tribute to their teammate after training on Tuesday night and at their next home game against the Condobolin Rams on April 30 when they would wear black armbands.

"The boys have taken it pretty hard, we have a lot of local blokes this year and Joshy has been a local bloke since he was born," he said.

"Everyone is close in town, everyone knew and was good mates with his dad… so it's definitely rattled the town, it's just a huge shot it really hasn't sunk in for a lot of people yet."

"He's got a lot of father figures in town who... took him in as their son and supported him."

Friends said Mr Bourlet was close to his family including his mother Margie who lives in Nowra, five siblings and grandparents Norm and Colleen Bourlet.