Vehicle’s driving characteristics will change when fully loaded
Aug 18, 2026Safety on the road / News & Campaigns / Mobility StoriesTime and again, poorly fastened racks, boxes, bicycles, or surfboards come loose while driving and fling across carriageways, putting the remaining traffic at risk. “For safe driving, proper mounting of racks, boxes, and cargo is absolutely essential”, emphasizes Martin Kugele, cargo expert at DEKRA. This means observing the manufacturer’s operating instructions and using the supplied tools. Racks or rails need to match any special mounting components. All connections must be fastened firmly. All fastenings need to perfectly withstand vibrations even during prolonged driving and must remain secure even when hit by strong gusts of wind.
In addition: Never exceed the weight permissible for the vehicle’s roof or rear-end load. Check your vehicle’s owner manual. Depending on your vehicle’s size, maximum roof load will lie somewhere between 50 and 100 kilograms. This is your vehicle’s permitted limit for the entire rack assembly and cargo together!
Under no circumstances should the pre-departure check be overlooked before setting off. Are all fasteners in place and firmly locked? Is the folding rear rack definitely engaged? Has
the cargo inside the roof box been lashed down firmly and cushioned to the front to prevent it from sliding about, even under hard braking? Don’t forget to check your cargo from time to time during the journey.
Keep in mind that your vehicle’s driving characteristics will change when fully loaded. A higher center of gravity will cause it to tilt more than usual when cornering. Braking distances will be longer and crosswinds will have greater impact. Look out: Greater speeds increase the forces acting on the cargo exponentially. Kugele notes: “Limiting your driving speed to 130 km/h is recommended. Also check the information provided by the manufacturers.”