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Route Planner

Route Planner

Route Planner

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How to load your car

Taking your car on holiday rather than flying means you can bring more stuff, but before you rush ahead and pack the kitchen sink, think about your safety and comfort. You don't want to end up making a long car journey with zero visibility for the driver, and with everyone else squashed in with less space than rush-hour commuters on the London Underground.

To ensure the driver can see out of the back window, try to avoid packing above the line of the seat backs. As well as obscuring the view, anything packed higher than that is at risk of flying forwards in a crash (or after sudden or emergency breaking) and hitting someone on the head. If your boot is just too small, consider using a roof rack or a roof box.

Roof racks

Roof racks are a great way of carrying large or awkward items, but take care not to exceed your car's maximum permitted roof load. Check the car manual to find out what that is, and don't forget to include the weight of the roof rack itself. These limits are usually quite low, and so roof racks are generally best suited to bulky but light items, such as sleeping bags or clothes.

If you are putting something on the roof, make sure it is securely attached with tie-downs or strong cord - you don't want to free up the rear view only to be able to watch you clothes fluttering away down the motorway.

Make sure nothing sticks out dangerously at either side, or to the front or back. Once you start driving, the airflow will try to lift up the front of the load on your roof, so make sure you use extra bindings at the front to keep it firmly tied down.

It is possible that no matter how well you paid attention in Cub Scouts, the fixings will work loose over the course of a long journey, so stop and check them regularly. Also, don't forget about the roof rack when you drive under low signs or entering covered car parks, particularly if your car is already a tall people carrier.

Packing the boot

Make sure things are secure so items don't slide around every time you brake or turn a corner. Pack heavier and larger items first. Not only will this make it easier to fit everything in, but putting the heaviest stuff at the bottom will also help to keep the car's centre of gravity lower, which will minimise the impact of the load on the car's handling.

Really heavy items in the boot should be pushed up against the back seats. This avoids the car being too heavy at the back, which could affect the steering, and it also means there is less chance of them bursting through if you have an accident.

Don't forget your passengers' comfort. Install child seats first as it may be more difficult once you've packed in everything else. It is generally good advice to leave plenty of room for children as squeezing stuff in tight around them is likely to make them restless during the journey.

Need to get to the spare wheel?

When you are packing, consider the possibility that you may get a puncture during the journey, which is more likely if you have a heavy load. Think about how you will get to the spare wheel in an emergency. Using a small number of bags for your belongings rather than throwing everything in loose, for example, will save you a lot of hassle when you have to unload in the dark at the side of a road.

If you are packing a heavy load, check your car's handbook to see if you need to adjust the tyre pressures. If you do, remember to adjust them again after the trip. Your car's handling and performance will be affected by a heavy load, and stopping distances will be increased, so drive with added caution and allow plenty of space between you and the vehicle in front.

Don't forget to ensure that you have adequate breakdown cover for your journey, be it in the UK or Europe.

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