Packing up your Van

There often comes a time when you need to transport lots of things in your van. Whether you are off on a family holiday or been to the DIY store to pick up things for the house, you often need to fit large numbers of items in your vehicle. When these occasions arise it is important to make sure that you know how to pack your van correctly and how to alter your driving habits to suit a heavier load.

The first thing to consider when packing up the van is how to fit everything in securely. If there are loose things rattling around in the boot they could distract the driver or even get in the way of driving safely. One way to get round this is to pack things in boxes or in the rear foot wells so there is limited opportunity for them to move around.  Avoid putting things on the parcel shelf as they could block the drivers view or fall forward and hit passengers if you need to stop suddenly. When packing things in, try and place the heavier items lower down and place the lighter items on top. This technique will help keep the centre of gravity lower and thus minimise the effects of a heavier load on the van’s handling. Make sure that the driver’s view points are not obscured and that they have good visibility. Also ensure that all passengers are comfortable in the van and that the extra baggage is not affecting their safety.

Remember that you should never go over the Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM) of your vehicle. MAM is the maximum weight that the vehicle can hold based on its tyres, suspension and body build. When calculating the MAM everything is taken into account including the load in and on the van and the passengers. You can normally find this information on the VIN plate or in your handbook.

Once the van is packed up safely you should make sure that tyre pressures are correct to handle the extra weight. Consult the handbook to find out the right pressure, but remember that you may need to readjust them again once you have taken things out of the van. When you get on the road, you should take a defensive driving stance, as the handling and performance of your vehicle will be affected by the additional weight. Stopping distances will also be affected so make sure that you leave big gaps between you and other road users. The final point to remember is that packing your van incorrectly could invalidate your motor insurance. If you overload you van or pack irresponsibility, your van insurance company may not pay out in the case of an accident. If you have any questions regarding their policies then contact your van insurer directly to ensure you are driving safely.