Lay down an old blanket or a moving blanketto protect your vehicle from scratches.
How to transport christmas tree without roof rack.
If you can have the tree wrapped in burlap or netting.
The typical roof rack can carry a load from 110 to 220 pounds says joel batchler an engineer in charge of roof carriers at general motors.
Point the trunk to the front.
Whether on a roof rack or in the bed of a truck always point the trunk of the tree toward the front of the vehicle.
Get your christmas tree netted before leaving the lot to make it more manageable and if it s going on the roof the tree s trunk should be pointed toward the car s front end.
Take a piece of rope and wrap it a few times around the trunk and pull each end of the rope to opposites sides of the vehicle.
Repeat this step by stretching segments of rope across the tree and through the windows until you have 3 or 4 pieces of rope running horizontally.
Not every lot will necessarily have this available.
Those without a roof rack should first open all their car doors not the windows then tie the tree snugly to the roof with rope.
Pull the rope through the open doors not the windows.
If you don t have the proper vehicle to take your tree home find a friend with a more capable vehicle.
A toyota truck bed should also give you plenty of versatility for tying everything down.
For trees that extend more than a couple of feet beyond your car s bumpers tie a reflective flag to the end to alert other drivers.
Depending on your model you may be able to fold your rear seats flat leaving extra room for a tall tree.
We don t recommend tying a tree on your car s roof without a roof rack.
Also dress for the occasion with old clothes and gloves.