Car Packing 101: How to Pack Your Car for a Road Trip
Are you wondering how to pack your car for a road trip so everything fits? Read on to learn the top car packing tips.
Over one-quarter of people find planning and preparation for vacations stressful. The packing is the worse part of the road trip, right?
You probably spend a lot of time worrying about car packing. Asking yourself questions like – how am I going to fit everything in the car? What if something gets damaged or spills over?
Like many things, packing your car effectively is a skill which comes with practice. Our tips can give you the basics of packing your car to get ready for your vacation.
Keep reading to say “bon voyage” to your packing worries. Let’s get started!
1. Start Packing as Early as Possible
Are you the kind of last-minute packer who stuffs everything you can find it a bag and walks out of the door before your vacation?
You need to start planning your road trip earlier if you’re going to remember everything this time. This is especially important if you’re responsible for other people this time.
Of course, it is possible to pack a couple of hours before you depart on your road trip. But, if you want to pack your vehicle in an organized way, you need to start thinking about it a few days in advance.
When you have given yourself enough time, you can layout your clothing and other items on your bed or the floor. You’ll be able to see clearly if anything is missing.
2. Avoid Overpacking
Around 55 percent of us say that we’re over-packers. Two-pairs of socks per day or just one more fancy dress in case of emergency.
It’s great to be prepared. But, when you regularly pack items which you never end up wearing or using, you’ve got a problem!
Remember your previous experience of road trips. You can be tempted to take more than you need.
If you have plenty of space in the trunk, what’s wrong with packing a little extra?
Well, at least you don’t have to drag everything around yourself. But, you could just end up packing your vehicle to the brim unnecessarily.
Just think twice about whether you need a tenth pair of shoes for a week’s trip!
3. Be Prepared for Any Eventuality
You don’t what you are about to encounter on your road trip. That’s part of the adventure!
However, if you find yourself in an emergency you’ll be pleased that you packed for every eventuality.
Take advantage of the areas of your vehicle which can allow you to access items conveniently and quickly. What about the glove box and any space under the seats?
Besides a spare tire, you’ll also need a basic tool kit to deal with minor car problems. Replacement auto accessories, such as car mats, dash mats, and car seat covers,can come in handy, too, especially when traveling with children or pets.
Purchase an emergency road and first aid kit. You could also put together a DIY version if you want to save money.
Just make sure you have the basic essentials. This should include everything from a flashlight to jump cables to work gloves. And perhaps, even a car seat gap filler as well so that none of your things get lost during the trip; we’d recommend getting one from Lusso Gear!
4. Ensure Easy Access for Snacks
Snacks are essential for any successful road trip. Hungry passengers complaining about whether “we’re there yet” can drive you mad!
Sure, you can stop on the way at a diner. But, what if your belly starts rumbling while you’re in the car?
It’s the worse when you have packed a bunch of yummy snacks only to realize that they’re under the rest of the luggage. The only way to get your hands on those potato chips is to unload the whole car.
Make sure you leave the snacks until the last moment to pack into your car. This way you’ll definitely have easy access to keep you content throughout the journey.
Remember, you shouldn’t only pack salty and sugary snacks. Make sure you keep some healthy snacks, such as fruits and nuts as well.
5. Heavy Things First
A good rule of thumb is heavy items first and lighter items last. This depends on the vehicle’s size, but you should put the heavy items near to the door and on the floor of the vehicle.
You don’t want to upset the balance of the vehicle by putting too much weight on the wheels. This could damage your wheels and add to your gas bills.
You’ll also end up squashing your softer items if you place the heaviest items on top of everything else.
Before you pack the vehicle, make sure you arrange everything outside in order of weight and size. This way you can fit everything in like a jigsaw puzzle.
6. Clear the Rear View Mirror
If you only have a small trunk or none at all, you may need to pile items on top of each other on the back seat.
If you do this, the items need to be carefully secured to prevent them from flying to the front if you need to stop suddenly in an emergency. Rope and string may help you!
Items also shouldn’t obstruct the driver’s view out of the rear window. If you have extra luggage that cannot fit inside the vehicle without disrupting the driver, purchase a BestRoofBox to go on top of your vehicle.
7. Position Passengers Carefully
You cannot simply call “dibs” on the best seats in the vehicle. You need to carefully think about how to arrange passengers for the road trip.
The front passenger seat should go to whoever needs it most. This could be Grandma with her bad leg. Does your friend get travel sickness? Looking out of the window can help!
You may also need the person in the front seat to give directions to the driver or just keep them occupied during the tough journey.
You also need to ensure that the person in the middle of the backseat doesn’t obstruct the driver’s view. Put the little one in the spot instead!
Our Car Packing Tips for a Stress-Free Road Trip
Whether it’s your first road trip or you’re an experienced traveler by car, you need to know the right car packing tips to get started.
You’ll quickly regret stuffing your luggage inside your vehicle when you arrive at your destination. Nobody forgives you when the snacks are crushed under the weight of your luggage either.
If you found our packing tips helpful, check out more of the same right here on our website
