12/13/07 - Rack & Go’s guide to effective and safe road travel during the holiday season

AS SEEN ON CHANNEL 12 WESTCHESTER NEWS!

Follow these steps to safely transport all of your presents and gear to Grandma’s house this winter.

1. Understand what the options are for your car.

Take a look at your car or SUV’s roof.  Does it have factory rails?  Does it have a factory rack? 
Or do you just have a roof with nothing at all?

a. Factory rails are the molded pieces that run parallel to each other along the edges of the rooftop. 
          If that is the case, then you will still need “cross bars” in order to carry your gear.

b. A factory rack is the factory rails with “cross bars” that run across the roof, connecting the two
          rails, in which case you will be able to carry most of your gear with standard aftermarket
          equipment (cargo bags, baskets, boxes, ski and snowboard carriers).

c. Nothing on your roof, means that your roof has no attachments and is shiny and smooth. 
          In order to get your gear, gifts and gadgets from here to there you will need an aftermarket
          kit specially designed to fit the roof of your car.

If any of the above apply you can carry cargo effectively.  Armed with this knowledge, however, you will
be able to better negotiate the multitude of options available for you to stow and go.  Understanding what
your car is equipped with, will save you time and return trips to the store to purchase the right rack product
the first time out.

2. Look underneath your car’s rear bumper to see if there is a receiver hitch installed. 

A hitch comes in many shapes and sizes.  If you are not sure if you have one or not, consult your owner’s
manual or call your dealer.  If you do have a hitch, the next step is to find out if it is a 1-1/4” or 2” hitch,
as different products will be available to you depending on the size of your hitch.

A popular misconception is that all cargo must be carried on the roof.  This effectively eliminates a lot of
people who either have ceiling height issues in their garage or are intimidated about lifting items above
their head onto the roof of their car.  There are a variety of cargo boxes and bike/ski racks that are
“hitch-mounted” off the back of the car. 

The benefits of carrying your cargo off the rear of the car are many.  Besides not having to lift heavy
objects onto the roof of your vehicle or worrying about low bridges, tunnels or parking garages, you are
also helping the environment and saving money on gas because “hitch-mounted” products are more aero-
dynamic and will cause less drag on your vehicle at high speeds on the highway.

If you do not have a hitch, but like the idea, they can be purchased and installed on most makes
and models of vehicles.

3. Make a detailed list of everything you plan on carrying. 

Take into consideration the sizes and shapes of the different things you will be bringing with you as
well as the weights of the items.  Are you carrying items that are odd shaped?  If you are carrying
skis, how long are they?  If you are carrying snowboards, will they have bindings on them? 

These are all factors that will help to determine what cargo product will work best for you.  If the items
you are carrying are odd shaped, maybe a cargo bag that can be stuffed would be better then a hard-
shelled box!  If you need to carry down-hill or Nordic skis and boots and gear, a longer box might be the
better route to go… and if you need to carry all of the above, you probably need longer load bars to hold
a box and ski/snowboard carrier.  Again, armed with the right information for your needs, a good sales
person will be able to get you on the road with your gear safely and securely stowed away.

4. Security is an important point to consider when traveling with all your valuable gear in tow. 

Are you taking a long trip, requiring an overnight stop?  The last thing you want to deal with is taking
everything off the car when you pull into a motel lot late at night!  Are you planning on driving to the
ski resort each morning? Why deal with lugging your skis to your room, when they can be safely stored
on the roof of the car? 

Locks can be purchased for the racks, hitches, boxes and ski/snowboard/bike carriers so that your gear
will be securely locked to the roof or rear of your car when you are not nearby, allowing you the freedom
and flexibility to enjoy your holiday with out becoming a pack mule, lugging your stuff everywhere you go!

5. Last, but not least, think about your Planet. 

If you pre-plan your road trip either by mapping it out, or using a GPS you can pick the shortest, quickest
and least trafficked road.  You are not only less likely to get lost, but you can save on gas and emit fewer
harmful toxins.  Also consider renting a hybrid for your road trip this holiday season.  There are a lot of car
rental companies and organizations like Better World Club offering hybrids now.  And definitely drive the
speed limit!  Not only will you arrive safely, but you will conserve your fuel…

In the season of giving, take an opportunity to give back to the Planet!

For more information on how to Rack Your World please visit http://www.RackandGO.com, call Rack & GO and
speak with one of our Open Road Specialists (866.517.RACK) or stop by our White Plains showroom at
10 Robertson Avenue, located across from the Westchester County Center on Rte 119, off exit 5 on I-287.