Whether you are a first-time tailgater or a seasoned pro, there are a lot of things we have to pack in our vehicles. Food, drinks, furniture, electronics, and games are just the basics and even those can quickly fill up your tailgate car. However, you’d be surprised how much you can bring to the stadium if you make a good plan. The tailgating pros at Inside Tailgating are here to help! Here’s how to perfectly pack your tailgate car so not only can you bring everything, loading and unloading is a breeze.
Take Measurements Of Your Tailgate Car
No matter what size tailgate car you have, it’s always a good idea to know how much space you have to work with. Start by measuring all the areas of the vehicle you can pack things such as the trunk, backseat, and the boot. You’ll want to measure the width, height, and depth. You can also look at your vehicle specifications by searching the year, make, and model online. Once you have your measurements, you can begin making a plan.
Plan Your Tailgate Party
Now that you know how much space you have, you’ll need to determine what you are packing. The best way to do this is to plan your tailgate party. If you know what all you and your tailgating crew are going to do, then you can make a list of everything you need. When planning your tailgate, here are some questions to ask yourself:
● How many people are joining my tailgate?
● Will I make and serve food and drinks?
● What furniture do I need?
● What will the weather be like?
● What activities will we do?
Once you have your answers, you can begin compiling a list of everything you need. To help you get started here is a list of tailgating basics:
● Water
● Sunscreen
● First aid kit
● Fans, misting bottles, or heaters depending on the weather
● Grill and fuel
● Grilling tools
● Matches or a lighter
● Kitchen utensils like knives, spatulas, and whisks
● Serving dishes, silverware, and cups
● A cooler with ice
● Can opener
● Food, drinks, and seasonings
● Cleaning supplies like paper towels, wet wipes, and trash bags
● Tailgating chairs
These are just the basics. Feel free to add things like games, canopies, and even televisions and generators to your list. Once you have your list, you can assess if you have enough space in your car to have everything. If you do, it’s time to get packing!
Get Organized
When it comes to packing our tailgate car, we definitely want to stay organized so we don’t forget anything important. Worse yet, lose things in the car. To start the organization process, it’s always good to group like with like. For example, your grill, fuel, and grilling tools should all be packed together. This makes setting up very easy. Next, you’ll want to think about how you’ll pack things in your car. We love vehicle organizers for our tailgate cars because we can pack them ahead of time and use them for every game. Here are some vehicle organizers to check out:
Backseat Hanging Organizer
If you have an SUV or a hatchback, this backseat organizer offers three different storage containers with six different compartments. You could easily keep cleaning supplies in one, cooking supplies in another, and gear in the last. It also leaves you plenty of space to load your grill and cooler into the trunk.
Cab Commander
The Cab Commander is a dual-function organizer. It can hang on the back of the front seats or it can sit in the cab. It has plenty of pockets to organize your tailgating accessories. It also has an insulated area to hold a thermos, great for bringing coffee or batched cocktails to the game.
Waterproof Trunk Organizer
We love this organizer because it doubles as a cooler, making it ideal for tailgates. The organizer is expandable so you can use it for several tailgating accessories. It’s easy to load in and out of the car and offers a ton of space.
Car Cargo Net
Another great organizer option is a car cargo net. This net provides extra space in an unexpected place. It hangs from the ceiling. Though not large enough to hold things like your grill, it is a great way to keep things like your serving ware, cleaning supplies, and other small tailgating accessories, freeing up more storage room in your vehicle.
Using these organizers will not only help you keep track of everything, but they can also protect your vehicle from spills and damage.
Tips For Packing Your Tailgate Car Strategically
Now that you are all organized, it’s time to pack your tailgate car. Here are some tips to make it easy and protect your vehicle:
● Pack last what you need to take out of the vehicle first like your canopy and grill
● Place your grill on a protective heavy-duty waterproof liner to prevent staining your upholstery
● Never pack your grill while hot and always keep it in the trunk
● Make sure to put all food in airtight containers to prevent spilling
● Keep coolers flat so they don’t tip over and spill
● Bring plastic bags to wrap up anything dirty
● Label all your items and their containers
● Keep your tickets and reservations in the glove box so they don’t get lost in the shuffle
Following these tips will help you stay organized through the game and protect your vehicle from damage.
No matter what you are planning for your tailgate, bringing the right food, games, and accessories will ensure your tailgate is a success. Packing smartly will make hosting a breeze, so you can focus on what matters: Whooping the opposing team.
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Check us out and we’ll see you at the stadium!
