Pack Your Car... Save Money on Gas!

KIMA

Story Published: Jul 28, 2008 at 6:20 PM PST

By Heather Reese

Whether you’re headed out on a long road trip or just loading up for a quick getaway, Consumer Reports has some packing tips to help you save at the pump.

First, try not to carry things on the roof. Car-top carriers and roof racks create unnecessary drag and reduce fuel efficiency. Taking bikes along--use a rear-mounted bike rack. It produces less wind resistance.

As for luggage…You really should make an effort to pare down and lighten the load. And it’s safest to take the heaviest items you have and push them as far forward as possible in the cargo area. This will help handling.

And never stack cargo above seat level because it can come flying forward in a quick stop, not to mention that you can’t see out your rear-view mirror.

Another way to make your trip more fuel efficient—map it out ahead of time or use a GPS. You can figure out the most efficient way to go and a GPS will help you find gas stations, ATMs, and hotels, instead of wasting gas driving around looking for them.

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