Trunk Packing Tips

Sometimes it can see like packing your trunk feels like a grown up version of Tetris. You try to be strategic as you make every last suitcase and bag fit perfectly into your car. Some clearly consider themselves master trunk packers. However, if you're anything like me, you start tossing bags and random items haphazardly into the car and hope it all fits.

If your packing skill are more like mine, here are a few packing tips that will you avoid the chaos and stress of packing your car and will make sure you fit everything you need in the car neatly.

·         Rather than carry items out to your car one at a time to pack, make sure all of your bags and items you will be packing are outside next to your car at the same time. Doing this allows you to organize your bags by bags that need to be easily accessible, bags are the heaviest, items are oddly shaped, and are there any bags or items you can combine to save on space.

·         Be sure to clean your car before you start packing. There's no need to have extra items that you have to manage while trying to pack.

·         Always start by putting your largest or the oddly shaped suitcases or bags in first and push them towards the center. This way you can see what space you have left to work with, and you can place smaller items on the side

·         Put the handles of the suitcases facing out. This makes unloading easier.

·         If you can, pack soft luggage. Using soft luggage rather than hard luggage allows the bag to have some give (unless you are packing something fragile). Hard suitcases really limit the different ways you can pack.

·         Fill in the open spots like a puzzle. Think about smaller bags, flexible items like pillows and folding chairs for those open spots.

Look for other places in the car to stash items. From in between seats and under your feet-unless you are driving-there are many places throughout the car where you can pack. So don't limit yourself to just the trunk