(Radio Iowa) – Many Iowans will head out to a Christmas tree farm this weekend, and while finding the perfect tree may seem like the hard part, just getting it home safely can be the real challenge. Brian Ortner, at Triple-A-Iowa, says a tall tree can be just as challenging to transport as furniture or large appliances. Planning ahead for the job, he says, is a big plus. “Before you head out to buy a tree, make sure you have some strong rope or ratchet straps with you, an old blanket, some gloves, and of course, the right vehicle helps, too,” Ortner says. “One with a roof rack is ideal, but if you have a pickup truck or an SUV, van or minivan, it can work just as well for you for a lot of different reasons.”

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Ortner suggests using a large tarp or a big blanket to wrap the tree up before you try to secure it to the roof of your vehicle. “The reason to wrap it is loose branches are out there, and it just helps with the transport process,” Ortner says. “Loose branches can be secured with rope or twine to help protect the tree from damage, but also the blanket or the coverings help prevent scratches to your paint and protect the car from any other damage, and prevent those loose branches from maybe flying off in the road.” Given how the branches will catch the wind one way and not the other, he says to place the tree on the roof rack or in the bed of the truck with the trunk end facing forward, and make certain it’s secure.

“You want to tie down the tree at its bottom, its center and the top using strong rope or nylon ratchet straps. If you can, avoid the nylon offered by many tree lots, bring your own straps or securing devices with you,” Ortner says. “Use fixed vehicle tie down points. If your roof rack has those loops on it, take advantage of those.” Before starting for home, give the tree a “tug test” from various angles to make sure it’s not going to fly off and cause a crash. Ortner also suggests you drive slowly and take back roads if possible, as higher speeds can create significant airflow that can damage your tree or challenge even the best tie-down methods.