Can you pack your vehicle….properly?
So, it’s finally here; summer. I’ve been waiting a long time for this. It’s time to get out my camping equipment and head out on vacation. Planning how you’ll pack your vehicle is just as important as planning the vacation itself.
By the time I had my first station wagon, we had 2 small kids. This meant for any day trip, we had to bring the stroller, maybe the highchair, diaper bag, toys and you name it. It was a real trick to pack things well. It’s like doing a challenging jigsaw puzzle sometimes.
During my travels I’ve seen vehicles piled so high inside that they must have used a shoe horn to get the last item inside. What about the driver’s visibility out the rear window? What if one of those items jarred itself loose that it came forward and hit the driver in the head, let alone any passenger? When driving at high speeds, a simple item such as a knapsack could injure someone if it came loose.
Some helpful suggestions for packing would be to keep the larger and heavier objects in the trunk or at least behind the last row of seats in a station wagon or van. Take the time to plan where each object can go so nothing is above the top of the rear seat. If you’ve got more items than your vehicle can handle, use a rooftop carrier. Be sure it’s properly secured before leaving. Put smaller items in a duffle bag so they stay secured during sudden changes of speed or direction.
Keep a cooler handy so on long trips you can have easy access to the juice, pop, water and snacks. If you’ve got room, use the floor behind the front seat to put larger items that won’t move around, such as that cooler. Don’t ignore the front of the vehicle. Having your maps at the ready, but secured, for your navigator to use. Secure all loose items so they don’t create distractions for you.
The bottom line is that packing properly is a skill. Take the time to plan it before doing it. Now, go and enjoy your vacation!
Great post Scott, as a retired fire fighter I would also add that anything that could fly around in an accident can be a deadly projectile. Make sure that you use a cargo net or bungee cords to tie things in the cargo area, don’t put anything like bbq sticks or golf clubs inside and loose. Ensure pets are secure behind a cage or with their own seat belts on if possible. I also try to make sure my cell phone and glass breaker are tethered close to the driver’s seat so they don’t bounce out of reach if I ever need them. It was proven on Myth Busters that any punch type object even a screw driver can be used to break the glass if you need to. Make sure your water and maps are easy to get by a passenger, keep your first aid kit stocked up and drive safe.
Great advice Shanyn! Thanks for the comment.