Packing a moving truck the wrong way can cost you! Fragile items may get broken. Appliances or furniture can be scratched. If items are not loaded efficiently, significant space can be left unused, necessitating additional moving trips. Worst of all, accidents can occur because of faulty weight distribution. Read on for some helpful tips on how to effectively pack a moving truck!
Essential Preparation
Fifty percent of packing a moving truck the right way involves pre-planning and essential preparation. The materials needed include:
- Boxes
Boxes of similar size offer the advantage of stacking up easily, and building more secure “walls” of boxes inside the truck. When packing boxes:
- Group together items of comparable weight and size
- Bubble-wrap fragile items
- Place heavier items at the bottom of the box
- Packed boxes should not weigh more than 30 pounds
- Packing Tape (LOTS of it!)
- Padding
Furniture pads, paper padding, plastic stretch wrap, and bubble wrap are available to protect furniture, antiques, mirrors, pictures, table tops, and other items.
- Moving Equipment
A flat dolly, appliance dolly, or handcart can be key in reducing the danger of back strain or muscle pain. Moving equipment allows you to move large items or multiple boxes in one trip.
- Blankets and Tarps
- Ratchet Straps and Tie Downs
Ratchet straps and tie downs are used to secure furniture and boxes, preventing them from shifting or falling during transit. Along with binding tiers together, professional movers often create a web-like pattern, using rope, every few feet inside the moving truck.
Moving professionals suggest boxing as many items as possible. All items that are not boxed, including upholstered, wood, or metal furniture, should be covered with furniture pads, wrapped in paper padding, or plastic stretch wrap. Use packing tape and plastic wrapping to fasten the paper padding and moving pads.
Many types of furniture travel better if they are dismantled. Bed frames, head and foot boards, dresser mirrors, and kitchen tables can be taken apart with their specific hardware bagged separately. Table legs and bed rails can be rolled in carpets and easily transported. Shelves should be removed and protected separately.
Packing the Moving Truck
The right way to pack a moving truck is to pack it from the floor to the ceiling, with the heaviest pieces on the bottom. A tie down should be used to wrap every two – three foot tier of items. Efforts should be made to pack everything tight enough to stay in place, but not tight enough to crush them. Pads, and blankets, can fill spaces between items.
Load large items first. Professionals recommend loading heavy appliances first, positioning them against the wall closest to the truck’s cab. Appliances should be packed upright, with hoses removed.
- Couches, table tops, mattresses, and other long items can be placed vertically against the longest walls of the truck.
- The heaviest and largest boxes should be positioned on top of the appliances and furniture.
- Bed frames, and foot and head boards, can be placed between the mattresses.
- Drawers should be removed from dressers, carried out separately, and reloaded in the dresser once they are in the truck
- Heavy boxes should be located in the middle of the truck with lighter ones stacked on top of them.
- Fragile household items, or those with unwieldy shapes, should be positioned last, on top, and tied down securely.
For more packing and moving tips, contact Tender Touch Toronto Movers. Let Tender Touch help you pack your moving truck the right way. Call toll free, today.
