Avoid headaches when hauling Christmas trees

If planning to purchase a real Christmas tree this holiday season, consumers are urged to have a plan to get it home safely.

When transporting a live tree, if the tree is not properly secured, a tree can damage the vehicle or worse, fly off and become a danger to other drivers. Before buying a tree, make sure to research the proper way to transport it or ask a professional to secure it.

Nearly one in five real Christmas tree buyers reported having a tree fall off, or out, of their vehicle, when trying to get it home. Additionally, 44 percent of Americans admit to transporting a tree using unsafe methods, such as tying the tree to the roof of their vehicle without using a roof rack and placing the tree in the bed of their pickup truck unsecured.

Road debris – which could include objects like improperly secured Christmas trees that fly off cars, landing on the road or on other cars – caused more than 200,000 crashes from 2011-14, resulting in approximately 39,000 injuries and 500 deaths.

Vehicle damage that results from an improperly secured Christmas tree, such as scratched paint, torn door seals and distorted window frames, could cost up to $1,500 to repair.

It’s best to transport the tree on top of a vehicle equipped with a roof rack, but a pickup truck, SUV, van or minivan can work just as well, by using the following tips: • Come prepared, taking along strong rope or nylon ratchet straps, an old blanket and gloves.

• Once the perfect tree is found, have the lot wrap it in netting before loading it. Loose branches can also be secured with rope or twine to help protect the tree from damage.

• Before loading the tree, cover the roof with an old blanket to prevent scratches to the paint and protect the car from any damage.

• Place the tree on the roof rack or in the bed of the truck, with the tree trunk facing the front of the car. If the vehicle does not have a roof rack and is large enough, place the tree inside.

• Tie down the tree at its bottom, center and top, using strong rope or nylon ratchet straps. Avoid using the nylon offered by many tree lots. Use fixed vehicle tie-down points, and loop the rope or strap around the tree trunk above a branch, to prevent any side-to-side or front-to-rear movement • Once tied down, give the tree several strong tugs from various angles, to make sure it is secured in place and will not come loose.

• Drive slowly and take back roads if possible. Higher speeds can create significant airflow that can damage the tree, or challenge even the best tie-down methods.