The best ways to transport luggage outside the boot

Transporting luggage outside the boot often becomes the last option for many drivers due to lack of knowledge. Today we will show you the best ways to do it.

Using the car for long journeys is increasingly common, especially on holidays, and many people decide to travel together to save money. As a result, we often end up with excess luggage that fills part of the rear seats and overloads the car in a bad way. The practice of sports that require large equipment such as surfboards or skis has also become more popular.

Many of these items cannot be transported without the help of external accessories for the car, since, quite simply, in many models these objects do not fit inside.

Today we will give you several tips so that you can learn the best ways to transport your luggage without needing to use the boot. But first, we recommend that you read this article, where we recommend the best ways to transport your luggage for your trips.

ROOF BARS: these iron bars approved are fitted to the roof of the vehicle so that all kinds of things can be placed on them. They are perhaps the most useful accessory on the list.

TRAILERS: are a great option for carrying a large amount of luggage or even for small removals. You do not need a licence higher than B; however, if you carry more than 3,500 kg you will need to obtain the B-96 authorisation. Bear in mind that driving a car with a trailer is different, and you will need to take into account the specific regulations and the agreed speed for this type of accessory.

SURFBOARDS: thanks to the roof bar you can comfortably carry the board without it taking up additional space inside the vehicle. It is without doubt the most recommended way to do it. Using a cover and placing it upside down to avoid damage is the most recommended way of doing it.

BICYCLES: although they can be transported inside the vehicle, the most recommended option is to use a roof bar to carry them, especially if the car is already loaded with luggage. They can be placed either on the roof or on the rear of the vehicle, as long as we make sure they do not affect the visibility of the number plate or the visibility in general.

ANIMALS: although most animals can be transported inside the vehicle following the appropriate safety measures (more information in this article), large animals such as horses, etc., must be transported in a special trailer designed for them.

CARAVANS: a caravan is a trailer in itself, so we must take special care with the distribution of its load so that, during the journey, it does not suffer stability problems and the items we carry do not break. It is advisable that most of this load is placed at the front of it. When hitching it to the towing vehicle, the caravan’s stabilising legs must be retracted, the lights, the safety cable and the stabiliser, if it has one, must be connected. When it is time to leave, you must release the parking brake of the caravan. It is also advisable to fit additional mirrors to the vehicle that adapt to the overall dimensions and make it easier to see all angles.

MOTORBIKES AND QUADS: a trailer is required to transport this type of vehicle. Make sure the trailer is properly secured. Make sure the load is centred to avoid imbalance. Finally, the vehicle must be secured with straps, tensioned and passed around the fork, the chassis, the swingarm, the front wheel or the bumpers.

PLEASURE BOATS: Always bearing in mind the weight of the load and its dimensions, which will directly affect the type of trailer and the licence needed to transport it, the safest way to load a boat, if it is in the water, is to park the vehicle on the shore leaving the rear wheels of the trailer submerged in the water. It is necessary to secure the boat very well to the trailer, so that it cannot move during the journey and to avoid possible swaying. If there is any water left inside, it must be emptied.