Smart Packing Solutions for Life on the Road

For many families, road trips are a yearly tradition that takes them to beautiful locations across the country. While good music, great company, and delicious car snacks are crucial to a successful adventure, how you pack your vehicle can have a significant impact on the journey. 

From packing cubes and roof racks to car mounts and clever cargo boxes by Intrepid, implementing practical and efficient solutions when packing your car for extended trips and life on the road will ensure maximum comfort, function, and safety. 

Know What Your Car Can Handle

Before implementing any type of packing solution, you need to consider the vehicle you are using and, realistically, how much storage space it has. If you overestimate your car’s carrying capacity and overload it with items, you can significantly impact its performance, capability, and, most importantly, its safety. 

Take this time to research the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) and payload capacity of your specific car, typically located on a small sticker on the inside of the driver’s door or in the owner’s manual. These numbers indicate the maximum amount of cargo your car is designed to carry, including passengers, roof racks, and car mounts. 

Pack Car in Zones

The easiest way to pack your car in a way that best utilizes the available space is by dividing your vehicle into separate, smaller zones, prioritizing the importance of each zone based on its accessibility. 

Items such as phone chargers, sunglasses, money, and car snacks can be stored in front consoles for quick and easy access. Footwells behind and under the front seats are perfect for storing items you may need quickly when the situation permits, such as first aid kits, roadside emergency kits, rain jackets, and extra walking shoes. 

Multi-pocket organizers that attach to the back of seats are ideal for holding books, toys, tablets, and snacks for young children. If space permits, items like jumper cables and bungee cords can be stored alongside your spare tire or jack to ensure everything is kept in the same place. 

Anything you will need only when arriving at your destination can be placed in the trunk. Bicycles can be mounted on secure racks, and bulky, odd-shaped items can be stored on a roof rack or in the luggage compartment. 

Utilize Packing Solutions

Life on the road can become extremely chaotic without you realizing it. An effective way to stay organized is to use packing cubes, labeled bags, and small storage boxes to ensure that everything you pack has an easy-to-find home, especially in an emergency or when you are pressed for time. 

One of the biggest mistakes you can make is burying the items you need most often. However, staying well-organized will eliminate the need to unpack and repack your belongings when looking for something specific.

Maximize Trunk Space

Your trunk is one of the most essential places to organize space efficiently. Use soft-sided luggage as opposed to rigid suitcases for more flexibility to fill irregular spaces. Use all compartments, including side pockets and under-floor storage, to hold items that require easy access. When packing larger items, create a level surface for better organization of smaller and lighter objects. 

Furthermore, similar to packing your interior car space, it is crucial to pay attention to weight distribution to ensure optimal handling and speed control, especially when traveling on winding roads or terrains with multiple inclines. 

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Use a Rack

You do not need to drive a large truck or SUV with ample storage space to comfortably live on the road or embark on road trips. Investing in a roof box or roof rack provides additional storage space, or adding a hitch-mount rack to the back of your vehicle gives you options for storing bicycles, cooler boxes, and other unusual or bulky items that take up excessive space. 

Even if your car can safely hold all your belongings, a roof rack allows you to store non-essential objects outside of the vehicle while driving, removing any rearview mirror obstruction and giving you more flexibility when packing the interior space. 

Pack for Stops

If you plan to make overnight stops before reaching your primary location, pack a smaller duffel or tote bag for each passenger containing PJs, a change of clothes, toiletries, and other essentials that may be needed. Store these bags in a location where they can be easily retrieved and repacked. For safety reasons, it is worthwhile to pack your valuables in one bag that can be taken inside for the night, too. 

Stack Heavy to Light

Similar to how you pack a suitcase for traveling, when filling a vehicle, it is best to start with the largest and heaviest pieces at the bottom, layering softer items on top. Heavier bags should be placed towards the center of the car axis to reduce any risk of handling issues while driving.

Ensure that small, loose, or light items are properly strapped down to prevent them from flying around the car should you suddenly stop. Pack items you will need quickly last, whether they are heavy or light, to minimize how much you will need to unpack to access them.