Camping season is a fascinating time of year, but sometimes our vehicles aren’t large enough to transport all the essentials. Therefore, many choose to install a roof box, as it can provide a significant amount of extra storage. But, before initially embarking on a trip, you must know how to pack a roof box for camping.
There isn’t a substantial amount of considerations when packing a roof box for camping. These include the total loading weight (all bars associated with the cargo box, the additional storage, and the vehicle’s roof), load heaviest items first, evenly distribute weight, and think about using holding straps.
The above information is more than sufficient to successfully load a roof box for camping without encountering any issues during transportation. However, to see a further, more in-depth explanation of the above, we recommend you become knowledgeable on the below:
Packing a Roof Box for Camping: Complete Guide
Guaranteeing optimal safety for other road users, the camping cargo, and your vehicle is considerably important. Therefore, we’ve broken down a complete guide to packing a roof box for camping into six straightforward steps:
1. Know the total loading weight
First, start with understanding the total loading weight. Although this is the most vital, you’ll be surprised by how many people fail to obtain the proper total weight limit. Instead of only focusing on one capacity recommendation, you’ll need to consider a few. These include:
- Cargo rooftop box
- Crossbars
- Roof rails
- The vehicle’s roof
By reading the relevant manuals with the above equipment, you’ll understand the true loading weight. To safety load, think about this example; the cargo box has a loading capacity of 70 kg, and the crossbars 55 kg. In this circumstance, loading below the crossbars recommendation of 55 kg is safer than loading to the roof boxes max capacity.
2. Create a rough mind plan
Once you’ve determined the above, developing a rough mind plan is essential. A mind plan is simply creating a strategy in your head for those unaware. For this, understanding what you’ll access first, how it’ll be loaded and strapped down, are all factors you’ll need to consider.
Implementing a mind plan will limit confusion and friction during the packaging stages. It’ll undoubtedly save you from climbing a step ladder, loading, and unloading cargo. Therefore, take the time to carefully think of a packing plan while actioning the below recommendations.
3. Load heaviest and non-awkward items first
When creating this mind plan, constantly strategize for the heaviest and most non-awkward items to be loaded first. These will allow for a solid loading base and promote even distribution from the beginning (more about this below).
There are many ways to pack a roof box, but one that stands out from the rest is limiting stand-alone items. Instead of loading individual towels, poles, clothes, and other camping equipment, consider rounding them up into duffel bags.
By doing this, you’re making a group of awkwardly shaped items into a non-awkward, rectangle shape. Undoubtedly, using duffel bags will make the loading and unloading process much more seamless. In addition, it applies an extra layer of protection to the cargo.
4. Evenly distribute weight
Evenly distributing the cargo’s weight plays a significant role in safety and performance. When developing a mind plan for your load, this will need to be thought about carefully. If the weight isn’t evenly distributed, movement can occur, the vehicle’s performance can drop, and it becomes less safe.
When loading, it’s best to start building layers. Select a few pieces of camping equipment that aren’t awkwardly shaped and weigh the same. Afterward, begin evenly distributing the weight and creating a foundation for your cargo. By packing the camping equipment this way, you’ll promote even distribution, limiting the adverse effects uneven weight can cause a vehicle.
5. Implement straps and holders
Additionally, take full advantage of straps and holders. Movement within a cargo carrier box is far from ideal. It’ll potentially break cargo, the box itself, or shift weight distribution when performing turns, etc.
Undeniably, all the reasons mentioned should be enough to finalize whether you should implement straps and holders. Encountering either of these will dramatically affect performance and potentially cause unnecessary damage or dangers during transportation.
Whatever straps you use will be better than not using any. Although most cargo boxes have these pre-installed, there are always a few that don’t. Therefore, we recommend using these lashing straps. Apart from these, regular ratchet straps (small ones), bungee cord, or anything else which can be utilized to hold down cargo is also sufficient to use.
6. Double-check and travel
Now you’ve become knowledgeable on the above; you should have a general idea of how to pack a roof box for camping. However, before traveling, it’s vital to double-check everything. Doing this will reduce any potential risks that could present themselves during transportation.
There are several elements you’ll want to check to ensure optimal safeness. These include the following:
- Load balance and overall stability of the cargo
- All roof box fixings, guarantee these are tightened and non-defected
- Check all attachment bars for any defects or looseness, such as the crossbars, roof rails, etc.
- Perform a straightforward push test, try rocking the cargo back and forth. If movement occurs, something needs tightening or fixed
- Lastly, double-check the camping equipment is locked up within the cargo box
You’ll guarantee that the cargo gets a green light of approval for transporting by performing these last checks. It’s essential to include this within your packing routine, as it’ll limit the number of issues you could be presented with during transportation.
Conclusion
After reading the above, you should have a broader, more comprehensive understanding of how to pack a roof box for camping. Undoubtedly, it doesn’t require a degree or any extensive knowledge. Instead, it’ll need some basic research and practices to ensure optimal safety.
Now you’ve obtained sufficient information about this; you should feel more than comfortable to embark on your first camping trip with a roof box. So, what are you waiting for? Start traveling today, knowing your cargo is safe.