Having a lot of boot space available can make the hustle and bustle of the Christmas period a little easier. Whether it’s taking home a Christmas tree, packing in presents or simply carting around luggage for the whole family, a large amount of boot space is always welcome.
You’ll find a good amount of space in all vehicles here at David Hayton but if you’re looking to make your Christmas as hassle-free as possible, then have a look through these key tips and tricks.
Packing properly
It can be quite tempting to throw everything into a car’s boot and hope for the best, but being a little more methodical in this area can pay dividends. Certainly, a little bit of Christmas car-packing Tetris can make a difference and make sure you’ve got easy access to everything you need.
For instance, try putting your heavier, sturdier items lower down in the boot. Not only will this provide a better platform for the rest of your luggage, but it’ll ensure that your car’s centre of gravity is lower and keep its cornering performance intact. Just remember to avoid putting anything that you might need during the trip down here as it’ll be a pain to get them out again.
Then, put those lighter or easily packable items up top. We’re thinking of clothes, blankets and rucksacks which can all be positioned with little bother.
Make sure attachments are properly connected
Christmas is a time when accessories such as roof boxes and bike racks come into their own. Whether you’re strapping a tree to the roof or using up the extra storage space of a roof box, these extras can help to make your car even more practical - and you can fit them to a variety of vehicles, too.
Always make sure to double-check that these have been fitted correctly and remember to keep to the manufacturer’s recommended loading weights. Overloading these accessories could have a negative impact on a car’s performance.
Don’t overload
When you’re heading out for the Christmas break it’s easy to overpack. Be that extra clothes for a night away or those must-have presents, taking everything with you is tempting. But overloading a vehicle has serious - and potentially dangerous - consequences, so it’s something to be mindful of when packing your car during the festive period.
Don’t push your boot space to the limit and always make sure you have proper sight lines out of the vehicle. You can find the car's Gross Vehicle Weight Rating - or the maximum permitted weight of a fully loaded car - inside the gap between the driver’s door. You’ll need to keep within this when loading up your car.
Make sure items can’t move about
Again, when it comes to safety, it’s worth making sure that everything inside the car is properly tied down and restrained. You may want to use some of the tie-down points available in a variety of vehicles which, combined with bungee cords or straps, can help to keep items secure.
Don’t leave luggage in a precarious position, too, and be careful when opening the car’s boot after a long trip since items could fall out.
Consider a change
If your current car isn’t offering quite as much boot space as you’d like, then it could be a good idea to make a change. We’ve got various vehicle makes and models here at David Hayton, so if you’d like to make the switch to something more practical then get in touch. But above all else, have a happy and festive Christmas!
