What You Need to Know about Packing a Moving Truck
DYI moves are popular, and you can certainly do it. But as we have mentioned in other blogs, you may want to give serious thought to packing and moving the contents of your home with only the help of friends and family.
Consider what it costs you in time, energy, stress, and compare those to the bottom-line financial costs. You could be surprised and motivated to call a couple of moving teams for quotes.
After doing their research, many people hire professional movers. Or if their budget does not allow them to do that, they pick up supplies from the moving company and do it themselves.
It’s an economical option, but it requires you to pack your boxes and the truck properly so that your items don’t shift and break during the drive. The steps below will offer some important tips for packing a moving truck. This includes loading heavy items safely to filling empty space.
Before You Begin
Have a plan in mind for your entire move. Organize it from beginning to end. Draw a map of your new home’s floor plan listing or penciling in where everything will be placed.
Pack your boxes completely. If any of your boxes have space, fill that with crushed paper or old clothes. When boxes are not packed correctly, they can shift, break down, or fall apart. You also want to make sure they are taped shut well.
This is where using name-brand packing tape makes a huge difference. Once you have your boxes packed, you want to wrap items like tables and bookshelves with blankets and plastic wrap.
Avoid the temptation to hurry. Mistakes happen in moving when you rush and don’t take time to follow your plan. Properly packing your items on the moving truck can save time, money, and stress.
Pack your Truck Correctly and be a Winner!
You will—
Maximize Your Efforts: If you pack a truck well, you will maximize space and reduce the number of trips you need to make from one location to another. Again, this saves time, money, and physical effort.
Lessen the Risk of damage: A well-packed truck is a safer truck! Take time to do it correctly. Go a little slower and you will be glad that you did. When you hurry, chances are something will get broken.
Move with Efficiency: Trucks that are packed well are easy to unload. Yes, there is still a need for strength, but the process is safer and goes faster. You don’t worry about something toppling down on you!
Save Money: By reducing the number of trips, you need to make and minimizing the risk of damage to your items, you save money. The truck is returned sooner and there are no repairs at your new destination.
Make Sure You have the Right Truck Size
A moving team would use your home’s square footage in their calculation for the size truck you will need.
Confirm that you have the right truck for the job. A truck that’s too small means that you will need to make multiple trips, while a truck that’s too large can lead to wasted space and higher fuel costs. A truck that is too large means there will be extra room and the chance that items can shift, slide, and fall.
To determine the right size truck, consider the number of rooms, the size and amount of furniture, and any large items that will go with you. Most truck rental companies post size guides on their websites. Be honest in your estimations.
Gather Necessary Packing Materials
You will need to purchase packing materials such as furniture pads, boxes, and packing paper. You may need to rent moving/lifting straps and dollies. Ropes will be needed to tie down boxes that could come loose in the truck during your move. Ratchet straps add additional security.
Invest in a padlock to secure the back of the truck.
Take Inventory of Your Belongings
Create a list of your items that includes size, weight, and any special considerations. Take photos for security reasons. Note which items are delicate or expensive. If you plan to transport anything that normal relocation teams won’t move, check your truck rental company policy.
Your rental agreement should prohibit transporting certain items, such as hazardous materials or extra-large items.
Label Boxes Clearly
Permanent markers work best in this process. Label boxes with room location, any special instructions, and the room where it belongs. You can get creative and use color-coded labels to help you quickly identify which boxes contain fragile items or need to be unpacked first.
Keep a Clear Pathway
Make sure you have a pathway to the door and out to the truck. Remove obstacles and any tripping hazards, to ensure a fast safe move.
Take a Strategic Approach • Load Heaviest Items First
Start by loading appliances and large furniture like sofas, dressers, and bed frames first. Place them toward the front of the truck, near the cab, and along the sides.
By loading heavier items first, you ensure that your items are properly secured and won’t shift during transit.
Once you have secured heavy furniture, move on to large but lighter items, such as box springs and headboards. Then, load boxes. Start with the heaviest boxes and stack lighter boxes on top. Never stack heavy boxes on top of fragile items.
Protect Your Furniture
Wrap your fragile furniture pieces in moving blankets and pads. Secure these in place with packing tape or straps. This will help prevent scratches, dents, and other damage during transit.
Fill Gaps Between Items
Fill in any extra room between items with blankets, pads, and even pillows. The goal is to prevent any shifts during transit. If one large item shifts, then others will too, and you could see your furniture damaged or worse, broken.
Secure Items with Straps and Tie Downs
Use moving straps! They are your safety line, and they keep your items secure. But also, be sure not to over tighten them because that can cause damage or breakage, too.
Packing a moving truck properly is essential for a great move! Keeping your items free of damage means your stress level stays low!
Repeat after us: Have a moving plan in place, pack the heaviest items first, tie everything down, fill any gaps between items that could shift, and drive slowly and safely. Plan your travel route in advance so that you know where any road hazards are located.
Most importantly, enjoy the move and your new home! At Lambert Moving Systems, we understand that each move is unique and requires personalized attention. This is why we take the time to understand your specific needs and tailor our services accordingly.
From packing and loading to transportation and unloading, our dedicated team will handle every step of the process with utmost care and precision. Lambert uses top-quality packing materials and modern equipment to ensure the safety and security of your belongings throughout the entire journey.
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