STOWING GEAR

NZ Truth, Issue 1210, 7 February 1929, Page 18

STOWING GEAR

Preserve Balance of Car v. Many a oar which has given its owner uninterrupted driving pleasure during the year seems to become possessed of seven devils when loaded with passengers and luggage for the holiday tour. [ JSUAX.LY the luggage is the trouble. Car designers spent many weary years evolving' the present-day easy-, to-drive car, which seldom skids, pulls at the steering, or is m any way tiresome to control. The finest point to be arrived at was weight distribution — passengers, engine, fuel tank, and everything else considered— yet all this work can be nullified by carelessness m distributing lOOlbs. or so of luggage. Rear grids are all right m their way, but they should not be loaded very heavily. The weight is usually carried a long way behind the rear axle,' where obviously it exerts a leverage .which is very likely to cause spring trouble. Also, it tends to lift the front of the car, making steering erratic. Another effect is to cause the rear wheels to slide more readily on curves. To dispose of a couple of suit-cases the rear carrier is excellent, provided the cases are well wrapped to exclude dust. As much weight as possible should be concentrated m the centre of the car — on the floor of the back portion — but the bulk of the luggage will probably have to be accommodated on the running boards. Even this location requires some care. Balance things equally by placing half the luggage on the forward end of the left board, and the other half on the rear portion of the right. « Thus one door : to; toack. and. front seats will be left accessible. ■'■■'']' To get the greatest possible driving comfort, some care, should be given to the placing of the passengers. Heavyweights m front is the rule, and even balance should be considered m allotting the back seat places.