Road trips are a simple and cheaper method of traveling and exploring places. But it is not as simple as it sounds. Packing and handling your luggage can be a nightmare if you do not plan and manage it properly.
This blog addresses the challenge by giving you actionable tips to manage your luggage during a road trip. You can use these tips to make your journey more comfortable and hassle-free.
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- Plan Your Itinerary
Make a list of the places you will visit and what you need on the trip. It will help you determine how much luggage you need to pack. Try to pack light so that you do not have to face the burden of moving the bags around.
Assign everyone a bag to distribute the weight when you have to leave your vehicle. Also, consider the space available in your car. If you are going on a long road trip, consider renting a bigger vehicle to have more storage for your luggage. Another option would be to install a roof rack on your car to accommodate weight when traveling. You can buy a roof rack basket here.
If you are traveling with kids, pack their essential items in your bag so that you can easily access them when necessary. Carry the bag next to you on the passenger seat.
- Use Small Packing Bags
It is common for people to pack their belongings in large suitcases when traveling. The big boxes can accommodate more items, and you do not have to worry about leaving anything behind. However, they can be bulky, especially when you are traveling alone.
On a road trip, carry small packing bags that can easily fit in the trunk of your car. This way, you can access your belongings without unpacking the entire suitcase. Packing cubes will also help you organize your items and save space in your bag.
Each packing cube carries a specific set of items to avoid mixing everything up. For example, you can have a cube for your clothes, one for your electronics, and another for your toiletries.
- Use Soft Bags
Hard-sided suitcases are ideal for protecting your belongings, but they can be a pain to handle. When traveling by car, consider soft-material bags that go into the trunk feasibly. An example would be a duffel bag or a backpack.
When packing your belongings in soft bags, use smaller items to fill the empty spaces. You can carry more things this way, and it will help protect your valuables from breaking.
If you use a backpack, distribute the weight evenly by packing heavier items at the bottom. For example, put your laptop in the middle and books on either side. Use the smaller pockets for carrying your phone, wallet, and other essential items.
- Vacuum-Seal Bags
You can use vacuum-sealed bags to save space in your luggage. These bags are airtight and help compress your clothes so that you can carry more in less space.
Pack your clothes tightly when using vacuum bags. Do not overfill the bags as they might burst open and damage your clothes.
If you are packing delicate items, use tissue paper or bubble wrap to protect them. Avoid using vacuum-sealed bags for carrying liquids as they might leak and spoil your clothes.
- Label Your Bags
When traveling with your family, you will need to carry more items than during a solo road trip. It requires you to pack more bags and keep track of everyone’s belongings.
To avoid mix-ups, label each bag with the name of the owner. You can also use different colors or patterns for each person. For example, you can use a red bag for your things and a blue one for your partner’s belongings.
Apart from this, you can include your contact information on the labels. If you lose any of your belongings, it will be easier for the authorities to contact you. Do not forget to label your electronics and other valuables.
- Do Not Overpack
It is easy to get carried away when packing for a road trip. You might want to take everything with you, but that is not advisable. Overpacking will only make it more complicated to handle your luggage and might even delay your journey.
To avoid overpacking, plan and identify your immediate needs and pack only those items. For example, if you are going on a beach vacation, carry your swimsuit, sunscreen, and sunglasses. Do not pack items meant for mountaineering.
Ideally, start with the essential items like an emergency kit, clothes, and toiletries. Once you have packed these items, see if there is enough space for anything else. Do not pack things you can buy on the way or avoid altogether.
Summary
A road trip is an opportunity to explore new places and have fun with your family or friends.
You should begin with a plan, just as you would with any artistic creation or scientific investigation. Make sure everything you plan to bring with you is there andaccounted for before throwing stuff in the trunk. You’ll save yourself the aggravation of filling the entire trunk just to realise you forgot a duffel bag and having to start the packing process again from scratch.
To make heavy objects like strollers pack as little as possible, first disassemble or collapse them. Then, in order to make the most of the space in your car, pack anything particularly large or having sharp edges in a separate box. Use soft, flexible items like blankets, pillows, or jackets to fill in any crevices.
But before you hit the road, you need to master how to handle your luggage and never miss a thing or ruin your opportunity. Follow the tips in this article and enjoy your Awesome journey.
