"Plus, I always stash an old towel or blanket between heavier stuff and the car interior...saved me a few scratches already."
Couldn't agree more about the towel trick—it's surprising how quickly even minor vibrations can wear through paint or upholstery on a long haul. Another tip I've found helpful is keeping a small roll of painter's tape handy. If I notice something shifting or rubbing unexpectedly, a quick layer of tape can prevent damage until I find a better solution. Might seem trivial, but it's saved my interior more than once on cross-country trips.
Painter's tape is a solid idea—never thought of that one before. Though, honestly, I've always been a bit skeptical about how much towels actually protect against heavier gear shifting around. I usually just secure everything down tight with bungee cords or cargo nets. Learned that lesson the hard way after a toolbox took a joyride across my backseat... upholstery still has scars from that trip. Guess it doesn't hurt to double up precautions though, especially on those longer drives.
"Learned that lesson the hard way after a toolbox took a joyride across my backseat... upholstery still has scars from that trip."
Haha, been there—my leather seats still cringe whenever I load up gear. Cargo nets are lifesavers, but I've found those rubberized mats help too. They grip surprisingly well and keep things from sliding around. Ever tried those, or do you think they're overkill?
Haha, yeah, rubber mats are definitely underrated. I used to think they were overkill too until a cooler full of ice tipped over on a road trip—talk about a soggy mess. After that, I grabbed one of those heavy-duty rubber liners, and honestly, it's been great. They're easy to clean and hold stuff in place pretty well. But cargo nets still win for oddly shaped gear or smaller items that like to roll around.
One thing I've found helpful on longer drives is packing heavier stuff low and centered. Seems obvious, but you'd be surprised how much smoother the ride feels when the weight distribution is balanced. Learned that from lugging around camping gear in my old wagon...makes a noticeable difference on winding roads.
Rubber mats sound handy, but honestly, I've never bothered with them. I just toss an old blanket back there—cheap and easy to shake out. Maybe I'm missing something, but seems like overkill unless you're hauling ice coolers regularly...
