Transporting Your Christmas Tree

Every holiday season presents its own litany of challenges, whether it’s finding all the right gifts or converting your living room into a domestic winter wonderland. For any home decor, the centerpiece is always the Christmas tree and its adornment of lights, ornaments, and tinsel. The decorating part is easy – getting it there is hard. Always in the giving mood, AutoExtra.com offers some ideas on how to secure a Christmas tree to your automobile with ease so you and your loved ones can enjoy the season fully.

Before you leave:

Before departing to pick up your tree, there are a few important things to remember that may help make your tree transport simple and easy.

Measure: Not only is it important to measure the height of the room that you will display your tree, it’s also a good idea to measure your car’s storage area. Common sense says you can’t fit a seven-foot tree into a four-foot trunk. It may be necessary to seek out an alternative vehicle if your car is not large enough to safely transport a larger tree.

Dress Appropriately: You always want to dress for the winter weather but you should also factor in that you will be handling an oversized, prickly object as you prepare for transport. Tree handling can cause skin irritation, so put on a sturdy long-sleeve shirt. To protect your extremities from needles and tree sap, wear a strong pair of work gloves. If you will be cutting down your own tree be sure to wear sturdy shoes with comfortable socks because you may be on your feet for a while and need solid traction.

Rope and Flag: Take a strong round of rope or twine to secure the tree. If any part of the tree hangs outside of the vehicle, try to tie it down and keep the trunk or hatch closed (or at least secure). If the tree extends past the bumper of your automobile you can mark the end of the tree with a red flag. Consult your local Department of Motor Vehicles for specific cargo requirements and laws.

Other Considerations: There are a few more things you may want to consider before venturing out for your tree. First, if you plan on transporting your tree inside your car you may want to remove or lower your rear seats to accommodate the extra cargo. Second, it’s a good idea to have an old blanket on hand – whether putting the tree in your trunk or on your roof – to protect your car from tree sap and needle marks.

Securing the tree to your roof: If you must secure the tree to the outside of your vehicle there are a few things you should keep in mind. Due to liability concerns most tree market employees will not tie the tree to your vehicle so make sure you have some help. Wrapping an old blanket around the tree is a good way to prevent it from scratching your car’s paint. A common way to transport a tree is to place the base towards the front of the vehicle. Not all vehicles are exactly alike and therefore hauling a Christmas tree will be unique to each automobile. There are several methods of transporting a Christmas tree and below are a few suggestions that may help.

Roof Rack: If your car has a roof rack, you could tie the rope around the rack several times until the tree is secure. Most roof racks can easily handle the weight of any Christmas tree.
Frameless Windows: If your vehicle has frameless windows rolling them down and feeding the rope through the car to the other side may be the best way to secure the tree to your roof.
Framed Windows: If your vehicle has window frames, opening all of the doors and feeding the rope through the car to the other side is another method of securing the tree to your roof. If you find this way works best you should check that all doors close securely and are lockable.

Returning home: Once you return home vacuum the interior of your vehicle and check the exterior for tree sap. It’s a good idea to use a tree sap remover as soon as possible to avoid any damage to your car’s paint – specific sap removal products can be found in most auto parts retailers.

Stay tuned to future posts from AutoExtra.com with advice on long road trips and the latest trends in the automotive industry. Remember: We’re all you need.

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