How to Safely Load a Removalist Truck When Performing a DIY Move
By Mobile Truck Rental|September 23, 2024
Moving can be overwhelming and stressful for many people. Every stage, from finding a suitable new home to packing up your belongings, comes with its own set of challenges and risks. This requires careful planning, thorough preparation, and efficient execution. Even one mistake during the move can lead to a cascade of issues.
This is especially true if you've decided to manage every aspect of your move on your own. To avoid wasting time and effort rearranging items to make them fit or, worse, arriving with damaged belongings, it's crucial to know how to load your truck properly.
Here are some tips for loading your moving truck to prevent headaches and ensure a smoother move.
Choose the Right-Sized Truck
You’ll want a truck that’s large enough to fit all your items but not so large that they shift and get damaged during transit. On the other hand, a truck that’s too small might require multiple trips or cause you to cram everything in, increasing the risk of breakage. A good rule of thumb is to rent a truck with about 15% more space than you think you need. Rental companies often provide guidelines to help you choose the right size.
Load the Largest and Heaviest Items First
Start by loading heavy items that require two people to lift, like large appliances, sofas, and other bulky furniture, closest to the truck’s cab. This will protect more fragile items and leave space for smaller belongings. To keep the truck balanced, place these items upright and on opposite sides.
Load Longer Items Next
Lean long items, such as mattresses, headboards, and tables, against the walls of the truck to save space. Use mattress covers to protect sofas and beds from stains or tears.
Use Padding for Protection
To prevent items from shifting during transit, use padding and moving blankets to fill any gaps between them. You can also use moving straps to secure larger objects in place.
Disassemble Furniture
Take apart larger furniture like bed frames, desks, and cabinets to make them easier to pack and transport. This also reduces the risk of damage and allows you to maximize space while distributing weight evenly. Be sure to store any screws, legs, or handles in a plastic bag to avoid losing them.
Stack Boxes by Weight
Once the heavy items are loaded, it’s time to load your boxes. Start with the heavier boxes, placing lighter ones on top to avoid crushing anything. Tuck fragile items like mirrors, picture frames, or flat-screen TVs between furniture legs to prevent damage. Fill gaps with soft items like bags of clothing, bedding, or towels to keep delicate items from shifting.
While a DIY move can save you money, there’s always the risk of damaging your belongings if you’re not careful. Properly loading your moving truck will make the process less stressful and help ensure your belongings arrive safely.
If you need to hire a removalist truck for your next DIY move, contact the team at Mobile Truck Rental. Specialists in small truck hire Gold Coast and cheap truck hire Sydney.
This is especially true if you've decided to manage every aspect of your move on your own. To avoid wasting time and effort rearranging items to make them fit or, worse, arriving with damaged belongings, it's crucial to know how to load your truck properly.
Here are some tips for loading your moving truck to prevent headaches and ensure a smoother move.
Choose the Right-Sized Truck
You’ll want a truck that’s large enough to fit all your items but not so large that they shift and get damaged during transit. On the other hand, a truck that’s too small might require multiple trips or cause you to cram everything in, increasing the risk of breakage. A good rule of thumb is to rent a truck with about 15% more space than you think you need. Rental companies often provide guidelines to help you choose the right size.
Load the Largest and Heaviest Items First
Start by loading heavy items that require two people to lift, like large appliances, sofas, and other bulky furniture, closest to the truck’s cab. This will protect more fragile items and leave space for smaller belongings. To keep the truck balanced, place these items upright and on opposite sides.
Load Longer Items Next
Lean long items, such as mattresses, headboards, and tables, against the walls of the truck to save space. Use mattress covers to protect sofas and beds from stains or tears.
Use Padding for Protection
To prevent items from shifting during transit, use padding and moving blankets to fill any gaps between them. You can also use moving straps to secure larger objects in place.
Disassemble Furniture
Take apart larger furniture like bed frames, desks, and cabinets to make them easier to pack and transport. This also reduces the risk of damage and allows you to maximize space while distributing weight evenly. Be sure to store any screws, legs, or handles in a plastic bag to avoid losing them.
Stack Boxes by Weight
Once the heavy items are loaded, it’s time to load your boxes. Start with the heavier boxes, placing lighter ones on top to avoid crushing anything. Tuck fragile items like mirrors, picture frames, or flat-screen TVs between furniture legs to prevent damage. Fill gaps with soft items like bags of clothing, bedding, or towels to keep delicate items from shifting.
While a DIY move can save you money, there’s always the risk of damaging your belongings if you’re not careful. Properly loading your moving truck will make the process less stressful and help ensure your belongings arrive safely.
If you need to hire a removalist truck for your next DIY move, contact the team at Mobile Truck Rental. Specialists in small truck hire Gold Coast and cheap truck hire Sydney.
