Putting heavy luggage on the top of the roof of a minibus is highly discouraged as it increases the risk of toppling over and instability during a sharp turn or brake. The heavy luggage not only increases the centre of gravity for the vehicle but also contributes to air wind resistance and disturbs the aerodynamics, putting the safety of all members on board at risk in the event of a major accident.
Here are some of the key reasons you should avoid loading up the luggage of your minibus:
- Unstable Driving: Travelling on a minibus with heavy luggage loaded on top of the roof is a major risk of toppling. This is because the minibus vehicles are already taller compared to the regular cars, and heavy luggage will increase their height, thus increasing the risk of toppling.
- Wind Resistance & Drag: Luggage in the roof of a minibus also creates a problem of increased aerodynamic drag. This hinders the driving performance of the vehicle because of higher wind resistance. The wind resistance makes the minibus vehicle harder to control, as the heavy luggage adds a burden of friction, with a challenge of steering.
- Lower Fuel Efficiency: Minibus vehicles have better fuel economy because of their better accommodation of multiple passengers, and moderate luggage in their storage section. However, loading the heavy luggage will cut its fuel efficiency, since minibus vehicles are not designed to carry heavy loads on the roof.
- Damage To The Vehicle: Adding luggage on the roof of a large minibus increases the risk of damage to the vehicle and burst tyres. This is because minibuses are engineered to carry medium to large groups of passengers with luggage. Plus, only a 750 kg weight trailer is allowed to tow for both the D1 and D license, which means you can not increase the weight beyond the limit.
- Structural Limitations & Risk Of Losing Luggage: Minibuses are limited in seating, boot space, and a towing weight limit of 750 kg only. The roofs of the minibuses are not designed to carry heavy luggage, since there is no mechanism to secure the luggage. This structural limitation puts your luggage at risk of loss or even road breakdowns at unfamiliar destinations.
- Passenger Comfort & Safety: You might not be able to secure passenger comfort and safety by loading heavy luggage on top of the minibus. Firstly, the heavy load of the luggage on the roof may damage the roof, thus increasing the financial burden of your trip. Plus, it can even make your journey difficult and unsafe to navigate because of an already overloaded minibus.
- Legal & Insurance Problems: Travelling on a minibus with luggage on the roof may put your trip on legal concerns. We hope your journey never suffers an accident, but in such a case, your insurance company will straightaway refuse to cover damage since putting heavy luggage on the roof of a minibus is strictly prohibited.
- Difficulty To Load & Unload Luggage: Since minibuses are taller, loading and unloading the luggage on the roof is quite difficult and unsafe. That is why experts always advise choosing the right minibus for your group, along with the consideration of luggage, so you do not have to worry about tying it up on the roof.
- Height Limits On The Highways: Often ignored but highly crucial is the fact that many road accidents are caused by putting heavy luggage on the roof. By adding additional luggage, you are increasing the height of the minibus, which goes against the vehicle height requirements on the road and can often run into collisions with bridges and tunnels on the road. This not only puts your group at risk but also risks others for potential injury in the surroundings and on the highway.
How To Secure Your Luggage For A Trip On A Minibus?
The best way to store your luggage for a minibus trip is in the interior storage, which is mostly at the rear of the vehicle. Some minibuses also offer overhead racks inside that can be tied up so the luggage does not fall on the heads of the onboard passengers.
If you are travelling with heavy luggage, special equipment like studio cameras, or sports items for athletes, always confirm the size of luggage storage for the minibus you are planning to hire. This way, you are not only saving time and money but also the last-minute worries of carrying the luggage unsafely.
Our fleet includes different types of minibuses and brands like Mercedes, Ford and Volkswagen available to hire for both passenger groups and luggage. All you need to do is share the travel details along with luggage details in the form, and our booking system will calculate a priority quote for your journey and personalised requirements.
