HARRISBURG, Pa. — The holiday season is here, and soon many people across Central Pennsylvania will flock to their local lots or tree farms to grab their Christmas trees -- if they haven't already.
On Monday, AAA Central Pennsylvania issued a reminder that getting your tree back home is no different than transporting furniture, appliances or other large objects -- and it can be dangerous if you're not careful.
"If not properly secured, a tree can cause vehicle damage such as scratched paint, torn door seals or distorted window frames, or it could fly off or out of the vehicle, becoming a danger to other drivers," the organization said. "AAA Central Penn reminds consumers not to be a Clark Griswold this holiday and to be prepared to transport your tree properly and safely."
AAA Central Penn is, of course, referring to the popular character from the classic holiday movie "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation." Clark Griswold is known for his enthusiasm for the holiday season, but he's NOT known for celebrating safely, like when he plugged in too many cords and fried the family cat, or when he transported his oversized Christmas tree without proper care.
"Luckily with a little preparation, the right tools and the right vehicle, you can avoid being a Clark Griswold this holiday and properly transport a Christmas tree," AAA Central Penn said.
Here are a few safety tips from the organization:
- Plan Ahead – Before heading out to buy a real Christmas tree, make sure to bring strong rope or ratchet straps, an old blanket, gloves and an appropriate vehicle. Recommended vehicles include vehicles with a roof rack, pickup trucks, SUVs, vans or minivans.
- Wrap and Cover It – Once you’ve found the perfect tree, 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.
- Trunk First – Place the tree on a roof rack or in a bed of the truck with the tree trunk facing the front of the vehicle.
- Secure It – Tie down the tree at its bottom, center and top using strong rope or nylon ratchet straps. Use fixed vehicle tie-down points and loop the rope or strap around the tree trunk or above a branch to prevent any side-to-side or front-to-rear movement. If a tree is improperly secured to a car, it can cost drivers as much as $1,500 in repairs. Twine, ropes or straps can wear away paint and tear rubber seals when routed through door or window openings. Closing a door over tree tie-downs may also permanently distort the window frame and tree branches can cause scratches to the paint.
- Tug Test – Once tied down, give the tree several strong tugs from various angles to make sure it’s secured in place.
- Nice and Easy – Drive slowly and take back roads if possible. Higher speeds can create significant airflow that can damage your tree or challenge even the best tie-down methods.
