How to Haul a Christmas Tree With or Without Roof Racks

how-to-haul-a-christmass-tree-on-your-roof

We’re not likely to have a white Christmas here in the Valley, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get into the holiday spirit by decorating your home. Buying a fresh tree is a classic holiday tradition, but it can also be a little bit frustrating if you’re not properly prepared for the experience.

Don’t spoil your outing by letting it become stressful. Before you head to the tree lot this year, make sure you know what to expect so you can focus on enjoying the holiday cheer instead of feeling like the grinch.

Know Before You Go

We’re so used to buying standardized items that it can actually be a little bit surprising when you see how many types and sizes of Christmas trees there are. It will be a lot easier to navigate all of the options when you already know which size is appropriate for your home. Here are a few things to think about in terms of the size of your Christmas tree:

The Width

How wide is the space where you’re planning to put the tree? Will you have to fit the tree through any hallways or narrow spaces to get it there? You can always get the tree wrapped to make it easier to get into your space, but you’ll have to get it out, too.

The Height

Make sure the tree isn’t too tall for your room. If you’re planning to put a topper on it, make sure the tree is short enough that it can still fit under the ceiling once the topper is in place. If you’re putting your tree in a stand, account for the fact that your tree won’t be resting all the way on the ground.

Trunk Length

Consider the space from the bottom of the trunk to the lowest branches. This may not seem like a big deal, but you may need several inches of clearance to get your tree into its stand, especially if you’re using a tree collar around the stand. You can always cut branches off at home, but it’s a lot less messy if you can make sure the dimensions are all correct before you get the tree into your home.

What You’ll Need

You’ll need a car that’s practical and reliable enough to transport a Christmas tree safely. You’ll also need a few things to help get the tree on top of the car:

    • Bungee cords or twine
    • Box cutter (if using twine)
    • Blankets, tarps, or something similar

We also recommend you wear appropriate clothing. Some types of Christmas trees can be pretty prickly, and they’re almost all sticky. You can help reduce your exposure to that by wearing long sleeves, pants, gloves, and good shoes.

Prevent Damage From Christmas Tree on Car Roof

Perhaps the most important thing during this process is to protect your vehicle. It feels great when you’re finally back in your driveway with the tree, but that moment might be ruined if you get the tree off and find the top of your car covered with scratches. That’s where the blankets come into play.

Wrap your tree with blankets or tarps before putting it on the roof of your vehicle. This will help keep the tree compact if you weren’t able to put it in netting at the tree lot, and it will also create a barrier between the branches and your paint job. Whether or not you have a roof rack, this is an important step to prevent your new Chevy from getting scratched or sticky.

Prevent Damage to Christmas Tree on Car

Once you’ve made sure to protect your vehicle, it’s time to think about protecting the tree. Tie the tree securely so that it can’t slide around or get shaken up on the roof. It’s also important to make sure it doesn’t get wind damage as you’re driving home. You can avoid wind damage to the Christmas tree on your car with two simple tips:

    1. Have the trunk facing the front of your car. This prevents the branches from getting bent as much.
    2. Wrap the tree tightly. If the lot doesn’t have netting, use your blanket or tarp to hold the branches down so they can’t get caught by the wind.

Secure Christmas Tree on Car Roof

If your tree falls off of the vehicle, the damaged tree won’t be your only problem. This could damage your vehicle or even cause an accident. Tie the tree down securely in multiple places, making a loop around the trunk if possible. Tie the twine or attach the bungee cords securely to your roof rack, then make sure the tree can’t slide. Try moving it from front to back and side to side to confirm that the tree can’t go in any direction.

How to Transport a Christmas Tree Without a Roof Rack

If you’re wondering how to tie a Christmas tree to your car without a roof rack, you might be relieved to know the process is actually very similar. The main difference, of course, is that there’s nothing on top of your vehicle in terms of connection points for your twine or bungee cords.

Instead, follow the same process, but close your rope, twine, or bungee cords into the doors of the vehicle to secure them. You might even want to tie off your twine or cords inside of the vehicle for maximum security. Close the door on your rope instead of rolling up the window on it. Running cords through your window is less secure, might make it hard to open the doors, and could potentially damage the windows on your car.

Finally, keep in mind that the blanket or tarp will be even more important if you don’t have a roof rack. A rack at least keeps most of the weight of the tree off of the roof of your car, but now you’re putting the weight directly against the paint. It shouldn’t be a problem as long as there are no branches touching the vehicle.

Driving With Christmas Tree on Car

If your tree is going to hang very far off of the vehicle, you might want to put a bright, reflective flag on the end. This helps other drivers see it more easily. Other than that, just focus on taking things slowly, so you don’t tumble your tree off of the car. Avoid highways if at all possible, and try not to make any sharp turns at high speeds. Also, accelerate and brake more gently than usual if possible.

Test Drive a Practical Chevy in the Valley

Like most things, Christmas trees are easier to transport when you have a practical vehicle. That’s why so many people from Phoenix, Maricopa County, and the surrounding areas choose dependable Chevrolet vehicles.

Find your nearest Chevy dealer to come test drive a new Chevy, and we’ll work with you to make sure you find a vehicle that can handle everything you throw at it. Whether it’s hauling a Christmas tree on your car or hauling a trailer, you’ll be able to get all the capabilities you need.

Featured Image: Kristen Prahl / ShutterstockÂ