Vacation and an SUV

[Kaitlyn'sMom]

New here!

I drive a Honda CR-V, so there's no barrier between the cargo area and the back seat. DH and I are going on vacation soon and I'm nervous about having all the baby gear (you know, everything and the kitchen sink) plus our large suitcase(s) right behind DD's RF carseat (a SnugRide that she's almost outgrown). I'm starting to wish I had bought a sedan instead of an SUV, no matter how car-like it is.

Should I bite the bullet and spend some dough on a car-top carrier? Bungee everything down in the cargo area? Have DH install some sort of cargo cover?

Help, please!

[skaterbabscpst]

Car top carriers tend to make the vehicle even more top-heavy, increasing the rollover risk. Pack hard, heavy items low in the cargo area, as close to the seats as possible, lighter items (like pillows,ect) on top. If you have a hitch, something like THIS (http://www.etrailer.com/c-cc2.htm)is great for attaching a cooler so you can have drinks and snacks without them being a projectile.

[BW1426]

I'd bite the bullet and order a cargo cover. You should be able to find one for the CRV. What year is yours?

[southpawboston]

Car top carriers tend to make the vehicle even more top-heavy, increasing the rollover risk. Pack hard, heavy items low in the cargo area, as close to the seats as possible, lighter items (like pillows,ect) on top. If you have a hitch, something like THIS (http://www.etrailer.com/c-cc2.htm)is great for attaching a cooler so you can have drinks and snacks without them being a projectile.

the thing you linked to causes more problems to the balance of a vehicle than a top carrier. those hitch mount carriers place weight far behind the rear axle, causing a cantilever effect. this reduces the weight on your front axle-- which is where 95% of your braking comes from. i would go as far as to say those are unsafe.

a top carrier does increase the center of gravity, but only slightly. i never notice any adverse handling even with a full load on my top rack and two bicycles. on the other hand, i had to use a hitch-mount carrier once on my mom's subaru outback to carry a wheelchair, and i was SCARED driving it. not only did it weigh down the rear axle and lift the front one (causing severe balance problems), it also caused the headlights to aim too high. i will never use one of those again.

[KAK22]

I have a CRV and do have a rolling cover to at least hide things back there. I don't count on it to keep DD protected though.

I bought cambuckles at WalMart and have everything strapped down with those. You can also shove as much as possible in the backseat between the front seats and your DDs RF seat! I love that hidden storage space!

I am also dreaming of a car with a trunk again!

[skaterbabscpst]

the thing you linked to causes more problems to the balance of a vehicle than a top carrier. those hitch mount carriers place weight far behind the rear axle, causing a cantilever effect. this reduces the weight on your front axle-- which is where 95% of your braking comes from. i would go as far as to say those are unsafe.

a top carrier does increase the center of gravity, but only slightly. i never notice any adverse handling even with a full load on my top rack and two bicycles. on the other hand, i had to use a hitch-mount carrier once on my mom's subaru outback to carry a wheelchair, and i was SCARED driving it. not only did it weigh down the rear axle and lift the front one (causing severe balance problems), it also caused the headlights to aim too high. i will never use one of those again.

Obviously if you overload it that's the case, but if all it's used for is a cooler filled with snacks and drinks, I disagree that it's dangerous.

[beeman]

If the rear rack is not loaded to more than 5% of GVWR (see door sticker) with the weight of the rack, there should be no worries of overloading, and will have the same effect on the vehicle as a properly loaded trailer :twocents: .

[skaterbabscpst]

Exactly. And at that point the munchies are accessible without being projectile dangers inside the passenger cabin. (Because a cooler full of drinks is HEAVY.)

[Kaitlyn'sMom]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions! It took a while to reply while I was waiting for account approval. We have decided to get some of the ratcheting straps to use as tie-downs in the cargo area, as we have the four D-ring hooks in the floor.

[SafetyKitsPlus.com]

I have a cargo carrier that we use on top of both family vehicles. Its from Yakima and it is awesome on long trips. Yes its up high and hard to get to and it decreases mileage but we couldnt go on long road trips with our 3 daughters and sometimes two dogs without it.

Also, you might want to look at getting a cargo net to keep the items in the back in place. Honda offers one here but I only show the link so you get the ideal. There are better cheaper cargo nets out there that will work well for your need.

Honda Cargo Net for CRV (http://automobiles.honda.com/cr-v/accessory-detail.aspx?Accessory=CRV0008027)

[beeman]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions! It took a while to reply while I was waiting for account approval. We have decided to get some of the ratcheting straps to use as tie-downs in the cargo area, as we have the four D-ring hooks in the floor.

Keeping items from moving is easier than stopping a moving item. As long as your straps are tight, this is an excellent option :thumbsup: .