Luggage in the backseat?

InternationalMama

New member

• Jul 26, 2009

• #1

So we'll be going on a road trip in a few weeks in a hatchback. I've been reading about how unsecured luggage in the car can be deadly in a crash, but have been coming up empty-handed when I search for ways to secure the luggage.

I don't think we'll be able to fit everything in the trunk space (which is also open to the backseat at the top as far as I know) so we would have luggage on one of the back seat or at least on the floor.

What do other people do on road trips? Does anybody have any suggestions for how to best secure luggage in the car? Is it okay to put luggage in the back seat area? If not, what do people do instead? Alas, there is no roof rack. Any tips would be helpful!

(I couldn't decide if this was too OT for upstairs so I thought I'd just post it here.)

 

gecikuh

Senior Community Member

• Jul 26, 2009

• #2

personally i do not put luggage in the backseat. i'm not sure how expensive luggage racks for the roof are....do you know anyone with one that you may be able to borrow??


i would either take less stuff or find a luggage thingy for the roof. those are the only alternatives i can think of at the moment, but would try pretty hard to work it out before putting luggage in the passenger compartment. just my :twocents:

 

Melizerd

New member

• Jul 26, 2009

• #3

I have a sturdy cargo net for my vehicle. In an accident I think it might break but it would slow things down. I have an HHR and it's like a station wagon all open.

I don't put luggage in the back seat either.

 

Pixels

New member

• Jul 26, 2009

• #4

I've put luggage in the back seat. If it's small enough, I buckle it in as best I can. Or at least put it on the floor.

A roof rack loaded with luggage changes the center of mass of the vehicle. It raises it significantly, increasing your chance of a rollover.

 

Rosey

New member

• Jul 26, 2009

• #5

I've put luggage on the floor and tied it down as best I could around the front seat hardware. I have also buckled in a diaper bag but now we need all the seats.

I wouldn't do the roof rack because of what pixels pointed out and weather issues-having to keep it all covered in case of rain.

 

K

kathysr98

Active member

• Jul 26, 2009

• #6

We recently traveled in a Ford Explorer, all open. We tied most everything down with bungee cords or seatbelts.

 

Mama Jo

New member

• Jul 26, 2009

• #7

I have an accumulation of old LATCH straps from expired seats that I've used to tie things down, too. They're more adjustable than bungee cords, and you can wrap them around the legs of the front seat, and around and through the handles of the luggage on the floor. Or if you don't have backseat passengers and the luggage is on the seat, if you have lower anchors, you can hook to that too.

 

bobandjess99

Senior Community Member

• Jul 26, 2009

• #8

I try to buckle in anything if possible. I've transported a bike in the front of my car, belted in just like a person.

 

S

southpawboston

New member

• Jul 26, 2009

• #9

pixels99 said:

I've put luggage in the back seat. If it's small enough, I buckle it in as best I can. Or at least put it on the floor.

A roof rack loaded with luggage changes the center of mass of the vehicle. It raises it significantly, increasing your chance of a rollover.

Click to expand...

unless you're overloading your roof rack, the change in COG is relatively small, and if the car is a small hatchback to begin with, it probably has a rollover rating less than that of most SUVs. i don't worry too much about rollover risks caused by roof racks. we've used roof racks extensively and never felt a difference in the driving dymanics. most racks have a 100 or 150 lb limit FWIW. we use the rack mainly for bikes (~60 lbs for two bikes), and bulky boxes that we can't fit in the trunk with other road-trip type stuff.

it would be helpful to know the make, model and year of the car in question, as this is a car-related question. perhaps specific recommendations can be made knowing what car this is.

 

InternationalMama

New member

• Jul 26, 2009

• #10

southpawboston said:

it would be helpful to know the make, model and year of the car in question, as this is a car-related question. perhaps specific recommendations can be made knowing what car this is.

Click to expand...

It's a 2009 Nissan Versa.

I realize now that this probably should have gone in Car Safety. Sorry! I normally only stick to the car seat part of the forums and i knew you would all have good ideas. (It turned out it was car seat related. Latch strap! Brilliant idea.)

These suggestions have all been really helpful. Thanks.

 

S

southpawboston

New member

• Jul 26, 2009

• #11

i like the versa and considered it once instead of my 3. doesn't the versa come with a hatch cover? some cars provide a roll-up type of vinyl covers which won't protect the occupants at all in a crash, but other cars provide a stiff plastic or fiberglass cover which can be quite secure. i'm not sure what comes with the versa, but if it's one of the stiff fiberglass-type panels that hinges open when you open the hatch, that's already a laye of protection that station wagons and SUVs don't have...

 

UlrikeDG

Admin - CPS Technician Emeritus

• Jul 26, 2009

• #12

InternationalMama said:

I realize now that this probably should have gone in Car Safety. Sorry!

Click to expand...

That's ok. I went ahead and moved it for you.

 

InternationalMama

New member

• Jul 27, 2009

• #13

southpawboston said:

i like the versa and considered it once instead of my 3. doesn't the versa come with a hatch cover? some cars provide a roll-up type of vinyl covers which won't protect the occupants at all in a crash, but other cars provide a stiff plastic or fiberglass cover which can be quite secure.

Click to expand...

I could be misremembering the lack of cover. I will double check this. I hope you're right. Thanks for the info!

UlrikeDG said:

That's ok. I went ahead and moved it for you.

Click to expand...

Thanks. I probably got more responses on a Sunday by posting it downstairs, but this way more people can benefit from the suggestions. I really wasn't finding anything about this when I searched google.

 

InternationalMama

New member

• Aug 12, 2009

• #14

Southpawboston: You were right, the Versa does come with a hatch cover, but the person who owns this Versa had removed it because it's inconvenient. :thumbsdown:

We ended up renting a Chevy Impala to be sure we'd have enough room for the luggage, car seat etc. That car has a lot of trunk space!