How to load the car not to alter stability and dynamic behavior

Quien dice vacaciones, dice descanso y, para lograr esta premisa, es importante para aquellos que viajen en un vehículo realizar la carga del equipaje de manera correcta y segura, para no estropear ese tiempo de tranquilidad y disfrute.

“It is essential that vehicles, whether loading, passenger or individual transport, are correctly loaded.There are several technical aspects, such as the modification of the height of the center of gravity or overload of both the rear axle and the striker, which will affect the dynamic behavior of the vehicle.At a higher height of the center of gravity, the vehicle has a greater tendency to rolled and overturn.If any of the axes is overloaded above the weight admitted by the vehicle manufacturer, the braking reaction, the sensitivity of the steering will be modified and the dynamic tendency of the vehicle could be changed by transforming it into a sub -virant (tendency to make the vehicle “Go to tube ”without following the direction's trajectory) or survival (tendency to“ go from tail ”, skiding the rear axle),” explained the president of the Latin American Road Observatory (Ovilam), engineer Fabián Pons.

Traffic Law 24.449, prohibits in its article 48 subsection q) “Transport any load or element that disturbs visibility, dangerously affects the aerodynamic conditions of the vehicle, hide lights or indicators or protrudes from the allowed limits” and, in paragraph y) “circular withVehicles that have front and/or rear defenses, outstanding hooks, or any other element that, exceeding the borders of the bumpers or sides of the body, can be potentially dangerous for the rest of the users of the public road.

Ovilam works and observations conclude that there is a lot.

Errors and solutions

The most common and dangerous error in terms of loading is that it is poorly tied.“Either in the holders such as truck cargo boxes.It is very common to see accidents, often serious, because ‘a matt.Another serious error is to carry more passengers than allowed by the characteristics of the vehicle or transport them in the cargo box of a truck or a truck.It should be understood that a car, like any other vehicle, has its space and load limitations, and they must always be respected, ”Pons contributed.

Also, it is common to see this in the cabin."Placing luggage anywhere, overloading the car and carrying the pet loose, without binding it to a safety belt, it is dangerous: in case of an accident or a sharp braking, it will suffer great damage," said Waypack Argentina's director,Carlos Giordano.

As Pons explains, it is important to know that by the principle of inertia, before a braking the objects will want to maintain the trajectory they carried.If those objects are loose, they will be projected forward hitting everything they find in their path.When a vehicle clashes frontally at 60 km/h, loose objects generate a force equivalent to 17 times its weight.

That is, a simple notebook that weighs 2 kg, transported without being well stored, will be a 34 kgm of strength projectile.

In addition, the factory manual of all vehicles includes the maximum allowed weight, which makes the amount of passengers (depending on the number of safety belts) and the maximum load capacity.For this reason, the engineer Pons clarifies that with an overloaded vehicle the braking distance will increase and if those loads are not well tied, when the brain is going to transfer the weight to the front axle, which will produce a destabilization of the rear axle.

Consequently, you have to know what is the right way to shit a vehicle.For this reason, the president of Luke for Life, Dr.Alberto Silveira, said that “the holidays begin with the preparations for the trip, and they are enjoyed since we left home.When loading the luggage, the precaution of consulting the vehicle's instruction manual must be found in terms of the weight and dimensions of the load advised and strongly hold the load so that it does not move, taking care that the weight is even distributed ”.He also said that “you should always make sure that no loose, sharp or heavy object is carried that can injure someone in case of abrupt braking or collision.Even a cell phone will hit the occupants and against the windshield or the board, being able to cause serious injuries.A loose or poorly fixed matafuegos within the cabin can be a deadly projectile in case of accident.This must be located within the reach of the driver, within the cabin, with a safe support that prevents its detachment and ensures its permanence and fixing even in case of collision or turnover, while facilitating its use.It should not be fixed on the ceiling parantes ".

To locate the luggage in the car, from the National Road Safety Agency they indicated distributing the weight of the luggage equally;Place the heaviest objects down and against the rear seat and not leave loose things inside the car.

Regarding the trunk, the heaviest goes in the center and the most light outward;Thus, the center of gravity of the car goes down, which will be safer;In addition, “the trunk transports load to the limit set by its manufacturer.We always recommend that, if heavy objects are going to be transported there, they are tied with ropes or tensioners with Criquet.In vehicles with folding backups (especially those divisible into two parts), it is very commonsame, ”said Ovilam president.

As Pons indicates, to carry the load in a car, it is advisable to transport it only in the trunk.“The fact of carrying a load in the carrier of a car could be punishable by law, in accordance with whoever interprets it;But, in addition, it will negatively modify at the height of the center of gravity and will alter the aerodynamics of the vehicle generating an additional brake that will be reflected in greater fuel consumption and in a potential instability of it ”.

Useful accessories

However, in the market there are various accessories designed to carry load on the ceiling as a co -echipage bars or hermetic and aerodynamic suitcases, among others.“In a sedan, bearing bars can be placed and transported in the boxes or roof trunks part of the luggage.A 4x4 truck admits more load and the use of car holder bars to transport roof trunks, surf boards, kayaks, among other objects, "Giordano contributed and commented that" when the trunk is small, the family enlarges and the trip is long, the option is to place on the ceiling of the vehicle a set of quality, original or compatible bars, or a roof -holder grill, trunks and more, that are proportional to the vehicle.At this time, the use of these accessories has increased, as well as those for the transport of surf tables and kayaks.And the roof and trunk carriers, and for the pickup in the load box to take them to summer destinations ”.

According to Giordano, the most required products this season have been various models of Waypack Delta trunks from 80 to 460 liters (from $ 23.000 to $ 44.600);Aluminum and Steel Bars (from $ 4900 to $ 16.000);Truck grills and fixing straps of different measures with Zamac Strap buckles (2.40 m and 25 mm wide up to 6 m and 30 mm).

A fundamental aspect, as Pons highlighted, is that by adding kilos the inflation pressure of the tires must be modified according to what the manufacturer establishes.These data are found in the user manual and also in traces that are commonly in the central stop of the driver's side or at the fuel loading mouth.“Fuel consumption increases especially when it circulates in a transit that requires many braking and accelerations or when loading is transported in the holder.The percentage of increase will depend on the height and weight of the load, on the speed of circulation, of the winds, etc..

So, before starting any trip you have to take the time to load the vehicle with responsibility and common sense to avoid any type of disastrous consequence.

4x4 stow

Before the rise of 4x4, José Mujica, director of X-Perience Tour and an expert in driving vehicles, indicated the correct way to load these units.

“Loving our 4x4 is one of the most relevant tasks in this activity, the correct load of the bagays, in jargon, is essential to obtain great benefits.By optimizing the distribution of weight, the location according to the use, grouping by category and knowing exactly the weight that we are going to load, we can maintain the order ordered throughout the trip, we will prolong the useful life of our things and circulate with greater security.

“We do not fill the 4x4 as we close luggage, the ideal is to have all the load ready next to the vehicle before locating anything.Know what the heaviest are the most and their priorities for use is important.Have what we are going to use regularly.

The heaviest will always be underneath so as not to raise the center of gravity of the 4x4, which in itself is high.It is fundamental and more when we take a curve.

That very heavy goes as close or if possible just above the rear axle, the 4x4 area prepared to receive more load.If it goes at one end, the shock absorbers can suffer and the vehicle will tend to lean for that side, more in the curves.Lugs with clothing usually go up the heavy load, always using chiqueras or ropes to hold them well.

Do not leave heavy or loose elements or at risk of moving inside the cabin and never carrying glass bottles inside.

The most important recommendation is about the weight of the load and the correct configuration of the tire inflation pressure.All tires, as a rule, must indicate on their side, the maximum load capacity to their maximum cold inflation pressure.

By adding weight, we must inflate the tires equitably so that it maintains the original benefits.You have to do some calculations to know what pressure is ideal ".•