Top Tips for Packing a Moving Truck
One of the most difficult parts of moving is figuring out how to pack a moving truck. While it may not seem that important, packing your moving truck properly is essential. If you don’t pack your moving truck correctly, items could shift and break. They might even fall out of the truck on your arrival to your new home. This could cause personal injury and damage your items even more. Moving tends to be expensive, and it is terrible to have to spend even more money on repairing damaged items or replacing broken furniture. Knowing tips for packing a large or small box truck can really help you figure out what works best for you and your move, so you can enjoy your new home and ensure the safety of your family and belongings.
1. Packing Boxes
Before you even consider how to pack a moving truck, you need to start packing up your belongings. If you use cardboard boxes, try to find some that are strong and hold their shape. Totes or other plastic containers need to be easy to stack and strong as well. When you use cardboard boxes, tape them well with strong packing tape. The most important part of packing with boxes is to pack them with heavy items at the bottom, with more fragile and breakable things on top. It also helps to pack heavier items like books in smaller boxes, while you can pack things like cookware in larger boxes. Never leave a box half-full! This could make the items shift and break. Wrap fragile items in protective materials like fabric or paper.
Strong, properly packed boxes make packing your truck ten times easier, whether it’s a large or small box truck. If you aren’t sure how to pack, here at Pack-Men, we can help you with that part of the move as well!
2. Smart Packing
One of the best tips for packing a small box truck is actually to pack clothes or other soft things like blankets for protection. If you pack your clothing or pillows in garbage bags, you can use them as filler or packing material around other items. Don’t do this with clothes that need to be carefully moved. This tip can also make it easier to pack items that won’t fit in boxes, like a kitchen chair or a vacuum. Wrapping these items in blankets or other protective material will help protect them during the move. Things tend to jostle around when you load moving trucks, even when everything is properly packed. Professional movers often wrap, tape, or separate items like these to protect them from damaging other more expensive items.
3. What Not to Put in the Truck
When you learn how to pack a moving truck, you’ll see that you can’t put just anything in one. Some things are just better off in your car with you, not inside the moving truck. Always put the most valuable items in your car with you, not in the moving truck. This includes items like small electronics, jewelry, important papers, cash, and more. You should also avoid putting anything in the truck that may cause fires, like lighters, gasoline, paint or paint thinners, matches, acetone, or alcohol. The inside of a moving truck can get warm during the move, especially during the summer months, so flammable materials could catch fire and destroy your other belongings. Other things, such as perishable foods and firearms should also stay with you in your car.
4. Empty Large Items
One of the most important moving tips to remember when you load moving trucks is to always empty any large items. This includes things like wardrobes, dressers, washers and dryers, refrigerators, freezers, and anything similar. For example, while sometimes it may seem easier to keep clothes in your dressers and just tape the drawers shut, you are looking at a disaster. This will make the items bulky, difficult to carry, and much more likely to break or fall open. Unless you have items like chests that lock, or suitcases that are packed with clothes, always empty large items before placing them in the moving truck.
5. Heavy Items
Be very careful when moving heavy items, whether in or out of the moving truck. Heavy items need to be properly carried and lifted, so you can avoid injuring yourself or others. If you aren’t sure you can carry something without assistance, ask for help! You can also use devices like dollies, handtrucks, wagons, or other carrying devices. Finding the right moving company to help you load moving trucks is another great way to ensure safety when moving heavy items. Professional movers know what to do with each kind of heavy item to make sure it is properly packaged. They can also help you place it in the truck, so it will not shift and damage anything else.
6. Moving Safety
Some of the best tips for packing a moving truck are for your safety. While this may not seem important, the clothes you wear when you pack a truck are important! Try to wear tighter, fitted clothing that won’t catch on the truck or the items you are packing. You should also wear supportive shoes that have closed toes, so you don’t injure your feet. If you have long hair, you may want to tie it back, so it won’t catch on anything as well. You may also want to wear gloves to protect your hands. You should also always make sure you drink plenty of water, eat enough so you have proper energy, and prepare well for your moving day.
Your Moving Day
One of the best tips for packing a moving truck is this: find a moving company that cares about you, and makes sure your move is safe, secure, and simple. Consider working with us at Pack-Men Movers! We are a legitimate, family-owned and operated business, that truly cares about you and your family. We offer many different services, so contact us for a free quote today!
