There is no inventory screen
The demo’s own store page is blunt: every item in the world is a real physical object. If you can lift it, you can load it. There is no grid inventory. That changes how you play:
- You carry one object at a time (plus a backpack with a couple of slots).
- You place objects in the car, trunk, back seat or trailer with hold left click; hold G drops what you carry.
- If the car rolls or you take a tight turn too fast, the load can spill onto the snow.
The community playthrough notes “there’s no inventory itself” at 2:55 and shows the physical carry/placement system at 6:42 and 12:24.
Where to put things
| Storage | Best for | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| Backpack | Food, water, small tools | A couple of slots only |
| Trunk / bed | Jerry cans, boxes, spare parts | Heavy; can spill on turns |
| Back seat | Medium items, clothes | Blocks passenger space |
| Trailer / RV | Bulk loot, mobile base | Harder to drive; burns more fuel |
| Cargo Box | Organized storage at a workbench | Costs 35 gear/scrap |
How weight changes the car
The official demo page says weight slows you down and burns fuel faster. In practice:
- Heavy loads climb icy inclines worse and can get you stuck.
- A full trailer makes tight turns dangerous; the load can shift or spill.
- Fuel range drops with weight; a heavy car needs more jerry cans.
- Braking distance grows; do not drive fast with a full bed.
How to load a car without losing the haul
- Put heavy items low and forward — jerry cans and parts in the bed, not on the roof.
- Keep the back seat for light/medium items; a passenger is more useful than a box.
- Do not stack above the bed rails if you plan to drive fast; the physics will punish you.
- Use a trailer for bulk, but drive slower and plan fuel stops.
- Recycle junk at the first bench instead of carrying it to the next POI.
Cargo Box and trailer
- The Cargo Box recipe in the official workbench screenshot costs 35 gear/scrap. It is the cheap storage upgrade; craft it early if you keep losing small items.
- A trailer or RV is the endgame storage: the store page says you can convert one into a mobile base. It is heavier and harder to drive; use it when you have the fuel and a clear road.
- The demo’s patch notes have repeatedly fixed shopping carts getting stuck in cars and trailer physics, so expect the cargo system to change in Early Access.
Co-op cargo tips
- One player loads, one drives. The loader can stay outside and hand items in; the driver keeps the engine warm.
- Do not put the driver’s repair kit in the trailer. Keep a Good Repair Kit in the cab.
- If a load spills, stop and pick it up before driving on; the snow hides small items.
- The passenger seat is useful for a navigator/repairer, not just cargo.