Smart loading hacks for your spring projects

It's peak home-project season and whether you're carting stuff off to the tip or bringing back purchases from Bunnings, chances are you'll be using your car to haul it.

But do you know how to load it properly? Loading a car the wrong way doesn’t just make the drive less comfortable, it can increase risks, attract fines, and even compromise safety for you and others.

Here's how.

Packing safely and maximising space

Safe packing begins with weight and restraint: keep the centre of gravity low, secure items so they won’t shift in a sudden stop, and balance the load to minimise weight transfer.

Pack heavy items on the bottom, lighter items on top and spread the weight evenly. Pack everything snugly to avoid movement (bubble-wrap, newspapers or plastic bags are great for filling gaps). If an item can move, it needs to be secured or contained.

Knowing your car

Split-fold seats can expand or divide your load space, and some cars also have sliding rear seats, flip-up bases for taller items, or hidden storage under the floor. If you don't know all your car's load-carrying tricks, check the owner's manual.

Using roof racks correctly

If you're using roof racks, there are two numbers to know – the maximum rated load of the rack and the maximum load rating of the vehicle the rack is being mounted to. When considering the latter, remember to factor the rack itself into calculations.

When loading the rack, lay items as flat as possible, keep heavier items more centred and avoid overly heavy and tall or flat, wide and long items – more weight and height mean a higher centre of gravity and greater wind resistance (i.e. inferior handling, higher fuel consumption). Excess overhang increases the chance of wind lifting the load. Where possible, carry large or flat items inside the car or tray.

The art of tying loads down

If something is really big and/or heavy, you can't just hope it'll stay in place – you need to secure it.

Avoid using ropes for all but really light stuff; what you want are tie-down restraints, which are available in different working load limits (WLLs) and feature a ratchet that allows you to create tension on the strap to secure the load.

Different loads require a different combination of straps but you essentially want to prevent forwards, backwards and sideways movement while having a WLL that exceeds the weight of the cargo. The tighter and more vertical the straps are, the better.

Staying on the right side of the law

In addition to ensuring a load is secured and won't come off your vehicle or negatively affect its stability, you must ensure you're not loading beyond your gross vehicle mass (GVM) or, if towing, its towing capacity or gross combined mass (GCM) – look to your owner's manual for guidance.

Your load can't cover lights, indicators, reflectors or your number plate and it can't protrude in a way that could injure people, damage property or obstruct others' paths (look to your state's road authority for the numbers). Some legally protruding loads are required to have a brightly coloured flag or, at night, red light attached.

Carrying green waste? You need to place it into green-waste bags or use a tarp or net to keep it covered and contained or you could risk a fine.

Safe, secure loading helps your vehicle handle as intended. Spending a few extra minutes to balance and restrain cargo reduces distractions and supports safer driving for you and everyone on the road.

_Disclaimer
^{Viva Energy Australia Pty Ltd (“Viva Energy”) has compiled the above article for your general information and to use as a general reference. Whilst all reasonable care has been taken by Viva Energy in compiling this article, Viva Energy does not warrant or represent that the information in the article is free from errors or omissions or is suitable for your intended use.}

_{This article draws on guidance from leading road safety and motoring bodies. For more detail, see:}

• National Transport Commission Load Restraint Guide for Light Vehicles
• Royal Automobile Club of WA