Adhere to the minivan's safety load capacity specified in the owner's manual. Some minivans also list the safety load capacity within the door frame on the specification sticker. If the safety limit for your particular limit is 700 lbs. and you are traveling with five adults and the weight total weight for the five of you equals 700 lbs. already, you cannot safely add luggage for five people into the minivan.
Refrain from placing heavy items on the roof luggage carrier of minivans. Heavy items on top will change the center of gravity of the vehicle and will cause unsafe driving conditions. Many luggage carriers boast that they can hold up to 500 lbs. in the luggage carrier, but before attaching a cargo basket or luggage carrier, check with the weight safety capacity for the safe weight maximum allotment for the minivan that you own.
Distribute weight evenly throughout the minivan when traveling with several adults who have various weight differentials. Instead of placing the lighter adults in the back and all of the heavier adults in the front, place a heavy adult in the back and a light adult in the front to assure the van's center of gravity. This will keep driving conditions safer.
Pack small items such as laptops, hair dryers, briefcases or books into solid boxes or plastic containers with snap-on lids. Each of these items can easily become a deadly projectile if thrown at a high speed, in case of an accident.
Place larger items on top of the boxes that contain the more lightweight, smaller items to hold them into place.
Strap the larger items into place using luggage belts or cargo anchors. Test the items for a secure hold.
Strap items tightly into place, such as backpacks, diaper bags and purses in the back cargo area. These items could also be tightly strapped beneath the middle seats in a secured fashion, but they should not be placed in the front floorboard area or placed loosely between the two front seats.
Place the heaviest items in the center of the minivan. This helps keep the center of gravity in the center of the vehicle and lessens the chance of a rollover.
Wedge and strap these heaviest items in tightly, between the middle seats, or remove the middle seat completely if your van has a middle seat bench. If you must remove the middle seat, the heavy item needs to be tied into place safely.
Keep all heavy items on the floor only, of the minivan. Do not place the items on the seats or on the roof of the vehicle.
