The road trip you’ve been planning for all year has finally arrived. Time to load up your gear and hit the open road. The only problem is, you seem to have too much stuff. Instead of putting your luggage and other items in the trunk, it has turned into some twisted game of Tetris. That’s why we’ve put together this handy list of trunk-packing tips. Follow these and you’ll never have to leave anything behind again.
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Ditch the Suitcases
We aren’t suggesting you don’t pack clothes and toiletries, just what you put them in. Hard-shell suitcases aren’t very flexible and take up a finite amount of space. Using duffel bags allows you to form your bag somewhat to the space you have available. This is even more beneficial if you aren’t filling up your suitcase.
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Pack Heavy Items First
It’s important to pack heavier items first. One reason is you don’t want a heavy item crushing lighter items beneath it. Packing heavy items first means that you won’t end up with squashed and damaged gear. A second trick, when you put those heavy items in, try to get them pushed as far forward as possible. This will prevent the heavy items from quickly moving forward if you have an emergency braking situation.
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Keep Your Cooler Handy
Long road trips are easier if you don’t have to stop for drinks and snacks all the time. If you can, try to keep your cooler handy, not buried in the trunk under other items. This way, if you need a drink or snack, you can get to it without unloading your entire trunk.
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Organize Before You Load
If you simply load things up as you bring them to your vehicle you’ll quickly run out of space. What you should do is lay everything out on the ground outside your car. This will give you a clear picture of what you are working with and can help you with your real-life game of Tetris.
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Plan Your Packing for Your Arrival Time
Calculating your arrival time is fairly easy but people often forget to pack properly. If you are arriving at a campsite after dark you’ll need to bring your tent out first. If it’s buried under a mountain of other items, you aren’t doing yourself any favors. You’ll also want to make sure your flashlights and lanterns are within easy reach.
If you are arriving around dinner time make sure you have your kitchen gear, gas burners, or whatever cooking equipment you’ll be using handy. Hungry, road-weary travelers need to be fed before you settle in.
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Pet Care Considerations
If you’re bringing the family dog along you’ll want to be sure the food and water are accessible without moving anything. Don’t bother bringing your usual food bowl and gravity water setup. Fido will be just fine with collapsible food and water dishes for the weekend and it will save space as well.
Staying focused on packing properly will make the trip better. Follow these six tips and have a great vacation.
Image courtesy of Pixabay.com
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