Christmas Eve is a week away (how did that happen so fast?). That means it’s time to deck the halls – past time, really – and if you haven’t already brought home a Christmas tree, now would be the time to do it. However, it’s not like picking up the groceries; to get your tree home safely and in good condition, there are a few tips you should know. And luckily, your favorite Orlando Toyota dealership is here to explain them.

Six tips to transport a Christmas tree

Tip #1: Plan ahead. Before you go all Buddy the Elf, make sure you know how you’re going to get your tree home. Do you have a truck with a bed to use, or will you attach it to the roof of your car? Planning ahead will save you time, stress, and money when it’s time to transport your Christmas tree.

Tip #2: Keep an eye on the weather. Make sure the weather is good when you pick a day to transport your Christmas tree. It won’t hurt it to drive it through the rain, but it’ll definitely leave it wet and you’ll have to try and dry it out before you can bring it inside of the house. And driving a Christmas tree through high winds is never a good idea, FYI.

Tip #3: Make sure the tree is somehow wrapped. Most Christmas trees will be wrapped up in netting so you can easily get it home in one piece (make sure you cut that netting up after you’re done with it, too #savethewildlife). However, it’s always smart to have a big blanket on hand just in case you aren’t provided with netting. You can roll the tree up in the blanket to protect both the tree itself and the bed or top of your Orlando Toyota from scratches and sap.

Tip #4: Use those roof racks. Do you have roof racks on your Orlando Toyota? If so, put them to use and attach your Christmas tree to them to make it simple to get home. If you don’t, you’re going to have to tie the tree directly to the roof of your car. Open the car doors and loop your rope or twine through that way to get a firm tie-down (and also so you don’t tie the doors shut LOL). You’ll want to tie down the tree at three points – the top, middle, and bottom. And make sure you have the trunk of the tree at the front of your car – this will help prevent wind damage to the tree’s branches as you drive.

Tip #5: If you’re using the bed of a truck, secure the tree. If you’re lucky enough to have a Toyota of Orlando truck at your disposal, you can simply place the tree in the bed of it. However, you should still use the tie-down points to secure it down to the bed just in case a gust of wind catches it on the way home.

Tip #6: Take your time. Drive slow, especially if your Christmas tree is on the roof. Don’t speed and be sure to take turns slowly and avoid slamming on the brakes.

Merry Christmas from Toyota of Orlando!

Questions? Need supplies to transport a Christmas tree? Toyota of Orlando is your go-to. Call us today at (407) 298-4500 or stop by and see us at 3575 Vineland Road, just off I-4 near the Millenia Mall!

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Are you hitting the road this weekend? Christmas is just a few days away, and while your commute to work this week might be easier than usual (no school, fewer people at work) things are about to pick up. Tons of people hit the road on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to visit friends and family, attend parties, get in last-minute shopping, and more. This means more traffic, a higher chance of accidents, and more stress on your plate… unless you follow these useful tips from Toyota of Orlando for driving in Christmas traffic!

Five tips for driving in traffic this Christmas weekend

Tip #1: Leave plenty of extra time. We all know that traffic is going to be nuts, especially on Christmas Eve and the day after Christmas. Make sure that wherever you’re going, you leave yourself plenty of time to get there. You know you’ll be driving in traffic due to more people on the road and also a much higher chance of fender benders. Give yourself cushion when it comes to time so you aren’t speeding or driving aggressively to get where you’re going on time.

Tip #2: Make sure your ride is ready for the road. Is your Orlando Toyota ready to hit the road this weekend? If you’re heading out of town to visit friends and family, you need to ensure that your car is up to date on auto services like oil changes, tire rotations, brake service, and battery service. The last thing you want to do is have a breakdown when you’re trying to get to your celebration.

Tip #3: Check the weather and traffic. Make sure to check the weather and traffic BEFORE you leave the house. Bad weather and heavy traffic can cause delays, so if you know about them ahead of time, you can either reroute your trip or give yourself more time to get to your destination. Plus, it’ll mentally prepare you for the road conditions so you’re not stressing as much about it.

Tip #4: Don’t let distracted driving get the best of you. It’s easy to get distracted any time you’re behind the wheel, but especially so on Christmas. Excited kids in the backseat, people calling and texting you, Christmas lights, finding the right Christmas music on your Spotify… we get it, but distracted driving is one of the biggest causes of accidents. Use voice-to-text to reply to messages, make a Christmas playlist before you leave the house, and keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road.

Tip #5: If necessary, prep for winter weather. If you’re heading north, make sure that both you and your car are prepped and ready for winter weather. You’ll want to check your fluids, tires, heater, and defroster to ensure they’re in good condition, and then mentally prepare yourself for driving on in snow and ice.

Prep your car for driving in traffic at Toyota of Orlando

From our family to yours, safe travels and Merry Christmas! If you need last-minute auto service to get ready for driving in traffic on the holiday, visit Toyota of Orlando today. We’re open seven days a week at 3575 Vineland Road, just off I-4 near the Millenia Mall, and you can reach us at (407) 298-0001.

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