Although we were not very clear about how this summer would be or if we could enjoy the holidays, the arrival of the “new normal” has given us a glimmer of hope. Everything can change, but for the moment it seems that we will have the freedom to take the carand move throughout the Spanish territory.
At this time, the car is one of the preferred means of transport, and this year, this trend is expected to increase by the ravages caused by the virus and e l fear of contagion. If this is your option, it is important that before you hit the road you make a good forecast and organization of the trip. In most cases, traveling by car involves traveling several hundred kilometers, carrying twice as much weight, suffering the consequences of traffic jams, and all this tests the resistance of the vehicles, demanding greater effort and performance.
One of the most common problems when taking a car trip appears when loading luggage. The weight you carry depends on whether or not driving is more or less easy, since the greater the load, the more the balance will increase in any maneuver, and that produces an increased feeling of instability.
Here we leave you a series of tips on how to organize and place your luggage so that the trip is safe at all times and you can take advantage of all the available space:
- The first recommendation is that you check the vehicle manufacturer’s specifications in relation to the gross weight and the maximum loads that the car can bear, especially on the roof, axles, trailer capacity, etc.
- Once you are clear about the weight, you should try to put all the luggage only in the trunk and you must have some maintenance tools like car pump, car polisher, car cover and things like that. The load should be distributed evenly: the heaviest packages first in the foremost area, and the largest and most stiff suitcases at the bottom, the rest of the load on top.
- To minimize the movement of the load, we will tie the luggage with fasteners or nets to the tie-down points of the trunk.
- All objects that may be sharp are recommended to cover them with a blanket to avoid causing damage in case of braking.
- A high resistance separation net can be placed between the boot and the rear seats so that the luggage cannot reach the occupants in the event of being projected in an emergency maneuver.
- If the trunk space is insufficient, use chests, preferably with a lock and an aerodynamic shape. It is important to note that these objects increase vehicle instability, reduce engine power, and extend the stopping distance. Assessing the option of putting a roof rack in the car may be a good idea.
- In no case carry loose objects inside the passenger compartment or in the rear tray. They impede the vision of the driver and become high risk factors in the event of a collision or braking: flying objects increase their weight up to 50 times during an accident at 50 km / h.
- Before starting the trip, check and secure the load and fasten the seat belts in the rear seats, even if there are no passengers, to prevent the passage of luggage from the boot to the passenger compartment.