How many times have you done this?  You’re getting ready to go on vacation so you pack all of the stuff you want to bring with you, haul it out to the car and start packing, pushing and shoving it in.  Only to find - SURPRISE! - all of that stuff doesn’t fit and you have to take it all out and try again.  Happens every time.

Well, even though you probably won’t use everything that you packed (like that designer formalwear, for when the President invites you to a state dinner at the last minute), it would be nice to have it, just in case.  Here’s how to make sure that you can cram in all of the stuff you need (and the rest of it that you don’t).

• Empty your car of anything unnecessary; i.e. clean it out.

• Pack your suitcases and backpacks to the point where they’re filled, but not overfilled (that is the point where you have to physically lay on it to close it).

• Consider what it is that you want to bring:  Bicycle, skis, snowboards, etc.  If you need specialized equipment to carry it, you better think of that well in advance of your trip.

• Buy, borrow or rent extra storage space, like a rooftop carrier or a trailer.  Bear in mind that it’s important to measure the size of your roof and know your towing capacity before hand.  And you should consider how you’ll attach said rooftop carrier or trailer to your car.  Does your car come equipped with roof bars or fittings?  Do you have a hitch already installed?

• Once you’ve got the roof carrier, learn how to properly pack it and install it.  The heaviest items need to be loaded in a way that the weight load is evenly distributed.  Fill up the empty spaces with towels and sheets so that you can minimize shifting.

• Change your driving habits to take into account the extra weight of your vacation cargo, as well as the additional height of your roof carrier.  The car’s center of gravity will be different now, and you’ll be more vulnerable to wind.  And even though there are no restrictions regarding your speed, take it a little slower than normal, at least at first, to get a better feel for a car that may now be a lot heavier than you’re used to.

Bon voyage!