When packing for a move, utilizing your moving truck effectively and efficiently will save you from making numerous trips. For tips on how to pack a moving truck like a pro, keep reading!
Gather the Essentials
To make packing a smooth process, you need to have all the necessary tools set and ready to use before you actually start packing. So gather items like:
- Boxes – sturdy cardboard boxes will help keep your items organized and protected throughout your move. Reusing cardboard boxes might seem like it’ll save you money in the long run, but used boxes are weak and can easily collapse and damage your items. Try and use new cardboard boxes if you’re able.
- Tarps – tarps or moving blankets can be used to wrap your furniture to prevent damage during your move.
- Dolly – having a dolly on hand is especially useful to move awkward, heavy items or a number of boxes at once.
Your belongings may shift while in transit, so making sure you’re using the proper protection and tools will ensure all your belongings make it to your location safely.
Disassemble Large Furniture
Your furniture can take up quite a bit of space on a truck. So to save room (and avoid multiple trips), disassemble and take apart the furniture items you can. This can include taking legs off of dining tables, taking bed frames and headboards apart, and disassembling desks and dressers. When disassembling a piece of furniture, store screws and nails in small jars or plastic bags and tape them to the furniture. Once you’ve moved, the item can be easily reassembled without having to search for screws.
If you’re unable to disassemble a large furniture piece, try storing moving boxes and other items inside drawers or on top of the furniture to maximize the space in your truck.
Load Largest and Heaviest Items First
When you pack a moving truck, the largest and heaviest items need to go in first to ensure you have a safe move. If your heaviest items are packed too far back (close to the opening), it can make it harder to control the vehicle at high speeds. That’s why we recommend loading your heaviest and largest items toward the front, right up against the cab.
If you’re loading appliances, start with things like your fridge, washer, and dryer. Since these are all rectangular, they should neatly fit together like Tetris. If you’re not loading appliances, this could mean your bed frame, couch, sectional, and tables go in first. When loading these heavy items, make sure not to stack them on top of each other either. They should be the “base” layer of your truck so as not to crush and damage other boxes and belongings.
Put Certain Items Upright
Some large items take up more cubic feet in a moving truck when laid horizontally. So to maximize space when you pack a moving truck, place headboards and tables in an upright, vertical position. For these items, providing extra padding and protection around these furnishings is a good idea.
Load Lightest Items Last
Once your heavy items are on the truck, it’s time to load the medium and lightweight objects. This includes moving boxes, smaller furniture items, and unstackable items like lawnmowers and bikes. Pictures, mirrors, and TVs need to be properly protected before being loaded onto the truck, so ensure they are wrapped up/packaged well.
A few other things to keep in mind when loading small items onto your truck: place mattresses in a mattress bag (it may seem unnecessary, but trucks are dirty), and pack kitchen appliances in original boxes if you can to keep track of them. When putting lighter items onto the truck, stack them on top of furniture and appliances and not underneath where they could be crushed. Finally, pack a moving day essentials bag in an easy-to-reach spot on the truck.
Distribute Weight Evenly
We mentioned it a little before when talking about loading your heaviest items, but weight distribution is one of the most important steps to packing a moving truck. Distributing the weight evenly throughout the truck will make it easier to control the vehicle while on the road. It will also make it easier to load and unload without an avalanche of boxes falling over.
To double check the weight is distributed evenly, make sure you’ve placed all the heavy items towards the cab, and medium and lighter items are towards the front of the truck. If you get in the truck and start driving and feel something is off, it most likely is. Stop the truck and see if you can rearrange your items to fix the issue. The more evenly the weight is distributed, the safer your ride will be.
Whether you need a moving truck or a storage unit, All Secure Storage has you covered!
Make your Move Easier with All Secure Storage
No matter where you’re moving your things, you’ll be able to pack a moving truck safely and properly with these tips!
Need a moving truck for your move? No worries – All Secure Storage has your back. We not only offer easy moving truck rentals, but we offer self-storage units as well. All Secure Storage is the go-to storage provider for the Western Slopes. With a convenient location in Montrose, we’ve got your moving and storage needs covered.
