It’s that time of year with Christmas is right around the corner, and if you are a “real tree” family, this one is for you! So very many of us love the look and smell of a real tree. The holiday season begins with picking out the “perfect tree” at your favorite Christmas tree lot. Sadly, millions of drivers face expensive damage and even serious injury to themselves and others due to improperly secured Christmas trees to their vehicles.
Here are some good tips to remember before you head to cut down the perfect tree!
Use the right vehicle – It’s best to transport a Christmas tree on top of a vehicle equipped with a roof rack.
Use quality tie downs – Bring strong rope or nylon ratchet straps to secure the tree to your vehicle’s roof rack. Avoid the lightweight twine offered by many tree lots.
Point the trunk towards the front – Always place the tree on a roof rack or in a pickup bed with the bottom of the trunk facing the front of the vehicle.
Tie the tree down – Secure it at its bottom, center, and top.
Give it the tug test – Before you leave the lot, give the tree several strong tugs from various directions to make sure it is secured in place and will not blow away.
Drive slowly and easily – Higher speeds create significant airflow that can damage the tree and challenge even the best tie-down methods.27-35-105. Projecting loads on passenger vehicles.
No passenger-type vehicle shall be operated on any highway with any load carried thereon extending beyond the line of the fenders on the left side of the vehicle nor extending more than six inches (6″) beyond the line of the fenders on the right side.
27-35-106. Extension of load beyond vehicle front.
The load upon any vehicle operated alone, or the load upon the front vehicle of a combination of vehicles, shall not extend more than three feet (3′) beyond the front wheels of the vehicle or the front bumper of the vehicle if it is equipped with such a bumper.