Do you need some tips on how to pack a moving truck? There are many to distribute your furniture and belongings, to create extra room and maximise the trucks’ storage space. The fewer trips back and forth, the better, right? If you have decided to DIY, laying out the items evenly to distribute the weight is important. For a step-by-step guide to packing and loading a moving truck like a pro, keep reading. Good luck and enjoy the process!
What size moving truck to rent.
Try to avoid choosing a truck that is too small for your belongings. While a smaller truck may be cheaper to rent, it will only end up costing you extra time and money in the long run. If a truck is too small to hold your belongings, you’ll be forced to make multiple trips back and forth. This will cost extra time and money in fuel and your precious energy. When in doubt, call a truck rental representative for details on sizing. Plan the truck size at least one month before you move.
Before packing the truck
Prior to packing a moving truck, gather all necessary packing supplies. Be sure to include sturdy boxes, plastic wrap, packing tape, a dolly, furniture pads, and moving blankets. You can buy most of these items from Bunnings in one easy go. Proper protection is vital as items do move during transit. This may mean adding moving blankets and padding to fill in the gaps between your boxes and belongings. Other important packing supplies to have on-hand include a mattress bag to cover your mattress and moving straps for holding items in place.
Goods friends come in handy
Ask friends and family for help with the loading and unloading process. Don’t be a martyr and think you can do it on your own. It’s never a good idea to lift and carry heavy furniture, boxes and other items by yourself. Not only could you potentially injure yourself, but you could also end up with a move that takes forever. Having friends and family to help will dramatically speed up the moving process.
Disassemble furniture
Furniture items take up quite a bit of space on a truck. To save room, make sure to disassemble and take apart all the furniture items. This should help maximize your space in the truck, as well as distribute the weight of heavy furniture more evenly. To start, you can disassemble dining tables by taking off the legs. This will allow you to store the dining table and its legs in an upright position on the truck. Next, disassemble all bed frames and headboards, as well as desks and dressers. If you’re unable to disassemble large furniture, try storing moving boxes and other items inside drawers or on top of the furniture to avoid crushing smaller objects.
Largest and heaviest items should be loaded first
When you are ready to begin loading start with the largest and heaviest items first. This will include any mattresses, bed frames, tables, chairs, refrigerators, washer/dryers, couches, sectionals and coffee tables you plan to move. Given the weight and size of these items, they should be on the bottom of your moving truck, so as not to crush and damage your other boxes and belongings. Be sure to also place heavier items towards the front of the truck (near the cab where the driver sits).
Place couches, headboards and tables in an upright position
Large furniture items take up more cubic feet in a moving truck when laid in the truck horizontally. To save space in your truck, place all couches, headboards and tables in an upright, vertical position. It’s also a good idea to provide extra padding and protection around these furnishings. We suggest using moving blankets or plastic wrap to protect upholstered couches and chairs. Not only will this prevent your big-ticket items from becoming damaged while in transit, but it will also protect your smaller boxes and belongings from becoming crushed.
Roll up rugs
All rugs should be rolled up and secured in plastic wrap to save room on the truck. Before rolling up your rugs, make sure that they are properly cleaned to avoid spreading bad odors. To properly roll a rug, you should roll it with the top side facing out. This will help to avoid damaging or straining a rug’s backing. Once the rug is rolled up, tie it securely and place it upright in the truck to save space.
Load lightest items last
Next, start loading the medium to lightweight items. This will include any moving boxes, appliances and smaller furniture items. Pictures, mirrors and TVs must be properly protected before loading onto the truck. A few other things to remember when loading lighter items onto the truck: place mattresses in mattress bags, pack kitchen appliances in their original boxes to keep track of them, and put collectibles, jewelry and valuables in a separate, clearly-labeled box.
Distribute weight evenly
Make sure that the weight is evenly distributed throughout the back of the truck. This is probably the most important packing tip of all. Distributing the weight evenly throughout the truck will make it easier to load and unload without an avalanche of boxes falling over. It will also be much easier to control when driving on the road. To double-check that all weight is distributed evenly, make sure that the heavier items are located towards the cab and against the walls. Medium-heavy items should go on top of heavier items, and lighter items should go at the very top and towards the front of the truck.
Click Here for Our Great Monthly Rates on Storage Units!
or Call 0403 503 519 and ask for a Quote
Dolphin Storage is a member of the Self Storage Association of Australasia
