Renting a truck when it is time to move is no problem. There are plenty of companies that rent box trucks at cheap daily rates. Unfortunately, those same companies do not offer lessons in how to properly pack the trucks they rent. Yet how you pack is as important as the truck itself.
Whether you are traveling 25 miles or a hundred, everything from road vibration to taking turns can cause the contents in the back of your truck to shift. That could mean damage to your precious furniture and household items. But if you know how to pack, you can all but eliminate damage.
Here are some helpful tips to get you started:
Table of Contents
1. Choose the Right Size Truck
Believe it or not, packing a moving truck like a pro begins with selecting the right size truck. If the truck is too small, you might find yourself attempting to jam things in near the end of your packing. If it is too large, you will leave too much room for things to move around.
You can find online resources for calculating the size of the truck you need. If that doesn’t work for you, talk to the consultant at the truck rental company. Explain how big your current house is and roughly the number of boxes you will be taking, along with a list of your furniture. The consultant should be able to point you to the correct size.
2. Gather Your Supplies
A truck-packing job is only as good as the supplies you use along the way. Get yourself some sturdy boxes, for starters. You will also need some packing peanuts or foam padding, a few moving blankets, and some ropes, bungee cords, or cam straps. I personally recommend cam straps from Rollercam.com.
Also known as tiedowns, the cam straps will be key to keeping heavy furniture and boxes in place. Look for cam strap combinations that include hooks for anchoring to the sides of the truck.
3. Start with Bigger, Heavier Items
Safety comes first when loading a moving truck. That means balancing the load as best you can. Start with your bigger, heavier items. Load them onto the truck first, moving them all the way to the back. You can stack smaller and lighter items on top.
4. Place Furniture in an Upright Position
When you are packing furniture, always place it in an upright position. If you can remove the legs from your sofa, living room chair, and dining room table, do so. Removing the legs reduces the chances of breaking them in transit.
You remembered moving blankets while assembling your supplies, right? This is the time to use them. Cover each piece of furniture separately. Not only that, do so before you load the next piece of furniture beside the current one. Moving blankets should protect furniture on all sides and the top.
5. Use Boxes to Balance the Load
Once you have your bigger, heavy items on board and your furniture just where you want it, it’s time to start packing boxes. The boxes will go on top of the other items first. Use them to balance the load. For example, stack lighter boxes on top of a heavy washing machine and heavier boxes on a lighter sofa.
Attempt to fill in all empty spaces as best you can. When you finish a layer, secure it with a strap. Tighten your straps just enough to make them snug but not enough to do any damage. When all is said and done, you should have a very secure load ready to make the journey.
