Strap It On and Lock It Down
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Written by Nichole Myers & Travis Mai
When taking a trip, many families encounter cargo that will not fit inside the vehicle. Whether there is just too much stuff to fit in the trunk or the item is simply too large, this could place a large burden on any family trip. This cargo can be anything from bikes and coolers to your camping equipment. Sometimes you can prioritize the items you're packing and opt to leave some of the non-critical items at home, other times, that's not an option. There are several things to consider when you need to get this extra cargo from point A to point B.
Coolers & Other Small Cargo
First, let's address coolers and other small cargo items like some of your camping equipment. There are a couple different ways to carry this type of cargo. Roof racks and cargo carriers work great for hauling some of that "extra" stuff. Bungee cords are handy, and usually pretty cheap, but they aren't always the best choice. The reason most of us love our bungee cords is because, let's face it, they're stretchy. You know you can rely on that 12" bungee cord to stretch beyond its 12" range. But the down side is that they CAN flex and stretch. The stretch of bungee cords can allow cargo to move and shift, which could result in the loss of your beloved cargo. I always recommend using something similar to a ratchet strap. These have very little stretch and can be tightened enough to prevent movement of the cargo. In some cases more than one strap may be necessary.
Next, let's take a look at hauling those bikes. No one wants to see their bikes tumble down the interstate, so take the time to read up on how the bike rack manufacturer recommends you position and attach the bikes. The bikes are going to bounce with your vehicle as you hit bumps, so make sure they are secured tight. Hitch mounted bike racks are going to have more movement since they are extending off the back of the vehicle, and the further they extend the more they're going to move. You can purchase a "Bike Rack Stabilizing Strap" to help absorb or eliminate some of that extra movement. This strap is usually attached to the upright of the bike rack and is then fastened back to a point on the vehicle. Attaching the strap back to the vehicle and tightening it up will limit the up and down movement of the bike rack, therefore limiting the jostling the bikes themselves will encounter. Keep in mind that even though your bikes and your bike rack are secure, you need to make sure your hitch is up to the challenge. If the load exceeds the rating of the hitch you could face larger problems that just dealing with a lost bike.
Now you've got all your cargo secure, but how are you going to keep it safe during those inevitable stops along the way? According to The FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting Program's annual publication, Crime in the United States, 2003, there were seven million thefts reported in the 17,000 counties surveyed. In 2003 there were roughly 285 million citizens in the US. That means that in a given year you have a 1 in 42 chance of being a victim of theft. To put that into perspective, the odds a dollar spent by a household headed by a person with a high school diploma will be used to purchase fruits or vegetables eaten at home are 1 in 80.85 (US, 2005). It is my assumption that that most of us at some point in time have had something stolen. It has been my experience that the number one stolen item in the towing industry is the ball mount. These thefts typically take place in parking lots. A great product to use to deter these thefts is a Hitch Lock. A Hitch Lock is essentially a lockable pin that goes through the hitch and accessory. There are thousands of different locks out there for thousands of applications.
It is never a good idea to leave accessories such as a ball mount or cargo carrier attached to the hitch when not in use. Not only does it make it more susceptible to theft, it also, depending on the length of time and amount of usage, could rust itself stuck. This is caused by moisture between the surface of the accessory and the inside of the receiver tube. This process can be greatly accelerated if you live near the ocean or drive on heavily salted roads during the winter months. As you can see in this video, once you have one stuck it is next to impossible to get it out.
Many times when we go camping with the family boat or camper, there are times when we need to leave the trailer behind. Typically if you are at a campground there is no need to worry about theft as there are so many people around. However, this does not mean immunity. So if you need to run back to the nearest overpriced gas station for that bottle of ketchup you left on the counter next to the fridge, you should consider purchasing a Trailer Lock or Coupler Lock. A Trailer Lock is basically a ball that locks into your trailer's coupler making it impossible to hook up to another vehicle. A Coupler Lock is for the most part a pad lock that is designed to fit through the coupler's latching mechanism disabling it from being able to latch on to the ball. Although both are effective, I would suggest the Trailer Lock over the Coupler Lock because it isn't very difficult to take a hammer to the coupler's latch and break it off.
As all of us know, safety first is always the way to go. You don't want to leave your boat in the water at the campground because someone stole your trailer. When using bike racks be sure to use a "Stabilizing Strap." Little Jimmy is not going to be a happy camper if his bike gets run over by the vehicle behind you. Remember to travel responsibly and tightly secure all external cargo. When securing cargo it is very important to have the right tool for the right job. Using a bungee to strap down a heavy cooler is like bringing a book on your honeymoon for entertainment, it might get job done but it's no way to properly pack for a vacation.
